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Job Title – Quality Officer
Profession- Science
Directorate – Culture Collections
Full Time equivalent - 37.5 hours
No of Roles – 1
Contract Type – Permanent
Location – Porton Down, Wiltshire SP4 0JG
Working Pattern – Full Time /Part Time / Flexible Working/ Hybrid Working/ Job Share
Grade & Salary – Grade HEO. National banding £29,160 - £35,612
New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.
The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.
This role is to be appointed under Civil Service Terms & Conditions. Full details on the T&C’s are found https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/.
Closing Date – 13/08/2023. 23:55pm. Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered
Interview Date – W/C 04/09/2023 Please note, these dates are subject to change.
Introduction
At the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) our mission is to provide health security for the nation by protecting from infectious disease and external hazards. We are a trusted source of advice to government and to the public, focusing on reducing inequalities in the way different communities experience and are impacted by infectious disease, environmental hazards, and other threats to health.
Our mission is challenging, innovative and in the spotlight. We will work to ensure our people have the diverse skills, experiences and backgrounds we need to thrive, that our employees are representative of the communities we serve and feel valued and enabled to play their part in delivering our work.
Creating our working culture is an ongoing process which we are developing by listening and learning together, hearing and acting upon diverse voices and opinions to develop a common sense of identity and effective ways of working.
The Culture Collections is a Biological Resource Centre that provides a service maintaining and supplying strains of cultured cells and microorganisms for public health research. It is structured as a fully integrated service, underpinning science with significant scientific, manufacturing and business activities and operates from laboratories across the UKHSA and from a specialist cryo-storage facility on the Porton site
Job Overview
The Quality Officer will report directly to the Quality Assurance and Regulatory Manager Culture Collections to ensure the application of the management and coordination of the quality systems based on ISO 9001:2008 and ISO17025:2005. The Quality Assurance group has responsibility for managing and facilitating ISO 9001:2008 and ISO17025:2005 compliance applicable to Culture Collections on the UKHSA Porton and UKHSA Colindale..
Job description
Main Duties of the Job
- The supervision of staff and the delivery of the service in the most efficient manner.
- The training of staff in Quality Assurance.
- The practical guidance and coordination of cross-function teams in the Culture Collections with quality issues.
- The supervision and organisation of the delivery of work to specification and to schedule.
- The origination of written procedures, report forms, risk assessments and all types of working documentation.
- The recording, analysis and reporting of results, data, and information.
- The use of electronic quality management systems for example document control.
- The identification, recommendation and introduction of new procedures and processes.
- The maintenance of a continuous improvement plan for facilities and equipment to ensure technical competence and fitness for purpose so far as the financial budget allows.
- The supervision of work to ensure it achieves/complies with the highest standards of quality.
- To support and implement the Corporate and local Quality Management Systems.
- The maintenance of a programme of continuous improvement.
- The design and implementation of a Safe System of Work. To ensure compliance with all policies and procedures relating to Health and Safety.
- To contribute to strategic planning by representing the Quality team as required from time to time.
- Purchasing and expenditure up to defined limits, as however directed by the Quality Assurance and Regulatory Manager
- The preparation and presentation of regular, written progress reports to senior management, including Key Performance Indicators and progress against objectives.
- Making formal, illustrated presentations of Quality Assurance and its outputs to staff, management or stakeholders as required from time to time.
- The conduct of internal and external ISO-based quality audits according to a defined audit schedule and at senior manager request.
To liaise with operational teams to define procedures and processes that can form the basis of an internal auditing programme.- To write audit reports and agree programmes of corrective actions with the appropriate operational groups.
- To monitor and report on the progress of corrective action programmes.
- To design and implement Key (Quality) Performance measurements. To regularly report these measurements and identify trends.
- To work with operational teams to define programmes of continuous improvement. To assist and advise the teams to deliver these improvement programmes.
- To supervise the delivery of defined elements of the quality management system as directed by the Quality Assurance and Regulatory Manager from time to time such as data or protocol review.
- To train operational teams in elements of the quality management system as agreed with the Quality Assurance and Regulatory Manager.
- To undertake special projects as agreed with the Quality Assurance and Regulatory Manager from time to time.
- To deputise for the Quality Assurance and Regulatory Manager in their absence if required.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (AMEND IF REQUIRED)
- Identify, discuss and action own professional performance and training / development needs with your line manager through appraisal / individual development plan. Attending internal / external training events
- To participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e. fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training.
KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
The post holder will develop working relationships and communicate regularly with a wide range of individuals, clinical and non-clinical, internal and external to UKHSA. This will include;
Internal
The Quality Officer will liaise and interact with other managers and staff both within and across Culture Collections and UKHSA generally
External
Post holder shall communicate and liaise with external customers, collaborators, suppliers, consultant and other third parties as however required from time to time to prosecute the Culture Collections and UKHSA business
We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.
UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.
Person specification
Essential Criteria:
HNC or equivalent in life sciences- Sound practical experience of working in an analytical/production/research laboratory
- Current good scientific practice
- Communications, written and verbal
- Good interpersonal skills
- Computer literate
- Analytical and problem solving skills
- Planning and organizational skills
- Ability to train staff
- Ability to work unsupervised
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.
Desirable Criteria:
Basic auditing qualification- Sound practical experience of auditing
- Knowledge of other quality standards such as GxP
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
Things you need to know
Selection process details
You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed and sifted in line with the essential criteria.
This vacancy is using Civil Service Competencies and will assess your Behaviours and Experience
Stage 1: Application & Sift
As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide a Statement of Suitability in no more than 800 words providing examples of how you meet the essential criteria. It should also detail what you and your experience can bring to the role.
Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview
Stage 2: Panel Interview
All applicants that progress to interview will be assessed on behaviours / experience / technical / ability – through the Civil Service Competencies Framework. The interview will be conducted onsite at Porton
The Competencies you will be tested on are:
Strategic cluster – setting direction:
People cluster – engaging people:
Performance cluster – delivering results:
1. Seeing the big picture
2. Changing and improving
3. Making effective decisions
1. Leading and communicating
2. Collaborating and partnering
3. Building capability for all
1. Achieving commercial outcomes
2. Delivering value for money
3. Managing a quality service
4. Delivering at pace
Reserve List:
Candidates who pass the interview criteria but are not offered a post will be kept on a reserve list for 12 months and may be contacted if similar roles become available.
If you are interviewed for the post and do not meet the required threshold for the specified grade, your application may be assessed against a similar, lower grade role and you may be offered the post should one be available.
DBS - People working with government systems must complete Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks which includes a disclosure and barring security check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed for this role is BPSS however there may be a requirement for this role to be SC cleared and you should familiarise yourself with the criteria of security clearance.
This role is Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants. Appointments to roles within UKHSA will be made in accordance with the Civil Service nationality rules. These can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- Nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
- Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
- Certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Government baseline personnel security standard
It’s important to note that there are currently exceptions to applications being considered if your conviction relates to any of the following:
- life sentences
- arson
- sexual offences
- hate and terror offences
Some departments will also consider the specific offence against the nature of the business, i.e., a conviction for fraud may rule you out for a finance role
Contact Details – [email protected]
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
- certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Apply and further information