Animal Technician

CTI Clinical Trial and Consulting Services; England; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

The UK Health Security Agency is seeking an experienced Animal Technician to provide high-quality animal care within their Biological Services Group. This role requires strong technical expertise and adherence to health standards, focusing on welfare and environmental enrichment for Non-Human Primates. Successful candidates will ensure compliance with Home Office regulations and maintain high standards of care and safety.

Benefits

Civil Service pension scheme

Flexible working options

Learning and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience in animal care and husbandry.
• Ability to maintain high standards of animal welfare.
• Understanding of regulatory requirements related to animal research.

Responsibilities

• Perform routine animal husbandry and care.
• Document health issues and assist with veterinary responsibilities.
• Maintain records and ensure compliance with safety regulations.

Skills

Animal care

Attention to detail

Communication

Teamwork

Education

IAT level 2 qualification or NVQ level 2 in animal care/husbandry

Job description

Idmiston, South West England, SP4 0JG

Job Summary

High Containment and Biological Services operate within and supports the wider UKHSA mission to provide health security for the nation by protecting from infectious disease and external hazards. The Biological Services Group provides high containment in-vivo research services, with the primary aim of protecting the UK public from a range of health risks. Ongoing areas of work include vaccine batch release testing, influenza, COVID-19, tuberculosis, anthrax, and emerging human pathogens.

Based at one of the two unique Non-Human Primate (NHP) breeding colony facilities the Animal Technician role will provide technical and husbandry expertise in a team responsible for the delivery of the scientific and specialist technical activities within the Biological Services Group.

As an experienced animal technician, you will be providing high quality animal care and environmental enrichment for the NHPs. You will be guiding routine work, overseeing junior staff and performing regulated procedures under ASPA. Working with the wider colonies team, you will be maintaining the highest standards of animal welfare ensuring the NHPs and facilities are Home Office compliant. This role is primarily a physical role, ensuring the environment is clean and nutritional requirements for the NHPs are fulfilled. Weekend work (paid as overtime) is on a rota and will be introduced after a period of induction to the facility.

Site access requirements stipulate that our employees must be UK Nationals who are able to gain a high level of security clearance. For this reason, only UK Nationals will be able to apply for this role. This role will require full UK security clearance and you should have resided in the UK for the past 5 years.

Job Description

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Work with the colony team performing routine animal husbandry, continually striving to maintain the highest standards of care and welfare of all animals.
• To recognize, report and record ill health and welfare issues in Macaca species and be responsible for the Named Veterinary Surgeon (NVS) duties, documenting and communicating issues to relevant team members, e.g., line manager, NACWO or NVS.
• As a Personal Licence (PIL) holder, prepare for, and contribute to, study work completed under Home Office Licence, including those using infection agents at ACDP containment level 2 and 3, undertaking associated safety precautions. Complete necessary documentation associated with study work completed.
• Support with basic necropsy examination and removal of specified tissues.
• Contribute to the process of ordering of drugs used at the colonies and maintenance of the drugs supply in line with policies and legal requirements.
• Maintain and regularly update written records and computer databases containing breeding records and duties performed, within specific guidelines. Regular submission of breeding data for ethical review.
• Assist with the supervision of junior staff and specific designated areas such as the post-mortem room, prep-room, surgical procedures room, X-ray processing room, sample receipt and storage areas, (the post holder takes full responsibility of areas in the absence of the Supervisor).
• Participate in the regular review of Standard Operating Procedures, Codes of Practice and Risk Assessments.
• Ensure equipment used within the facility is maintained and serviceable for use at all times, reporting faults as identified and moving equipment as required by projects.
• Take part in rota system for weekend and public holiday working and essential ‘out of hours’ scoring of animals in study.
• Complete necessary training to undertake role safely, as identified through the training matrix, in discussion with your line manager and maintain own training record. Perform all duties within guidelines laid down by the Home Office, Health and Safety Executive, defra and MHRA.
• To perform any other duties required by the Line manager commensurate with grade
• To maintain health and safety competence to the national occupational standard ‘Make sure your actions reduce risks to health and safety’ (NOS HSS1).
• To fulfil the requirements of UKHSA Values and Behaviours commensurate with grade and comply with UKHSA policies and procedures.
  
  

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.

Your Key Responsibilities Will Include

• Work with the colony team performing routine animal husbandry, continually striving to maintain the highest standards of care and welfare of all animals.
• To recognize, report and record ill health and welfare issues in Macaca species and be responsible for the Named Veterinary Surgeon (NVS) duties, documenting and communicating issues to relevant team members, e.g., line manager, NACWO or NVS.
• As a Personal Licence (PIL) holder, prepare for, and contribute to, study work completed under Home Office Licence, including those using infection agents at ACDP containment level 2 and 3, undertaking associated safety precautions. Complete necessary documentation associated with study work completed.
• Support with basic necropsy examination and removal of specified tissues.
• Contribute to the process of ordering of drugs used at the colonies and maintenance of the drugs supply in line with policies and legal requirements.
• Maintain and regularly update written records and computer databases containing breeding records and duties performed, within specific guidelines. Regular submission of breeding data for ethical review.
• Assist with the supervision of junior staff and specific designated areas such as the post-mortem room, prep-room, surgical procedures room, X-ray processing room, sample receipt and storage areas, (the post holder takes full responsibility of areas in the absence of the Supervisor).
• Participate in the regular review of Standard Operating Procedures, Codes of Practice and Risk Assessments.
• Ensure equipment used within the facility is maintained and serviceable for use at all times, reporting faults as identified and moving equipment as required by projects.
• Take part in rota system for weekend and public holiday working and essential ‘out of hours’ scoring of animals in study.
• Complete necessary training to undertake role safely, as identified through the training matrix, in discussion with your line manager and maintain own training record. Perform all duties within guidelines laid down by the Home Office, Health and Safety Executive, defra and MHRA.
• To perform any other duties required by the Line manager commensurate with grade
• To maintain health and safety competence to the national occupational standard ‘Make sure your actions reduce risks to health and safety’ (NOS HSS1).
• To fulfil the requirements of UKHSA Values and Behaviours commensurate with grade and comply with UKHSA policies and procedures.
  
  

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• IAT level 2 qualification or NVQ level 2 in animal care/husbandry or equivalent level of qualification or 2 years experience working with laboratory animals
• Theoretical and practical training for working in an in-vivo setting
• Significant experience of working in an animal-based environment achieving the highest level of animal welfare and maintaining staff safety
• Detailed knowledge of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
• Working within a Quality system environment (ISO / GxP) and experience of working to SOPs, COPs, RAs etc
• Able to communicate effectively with peers, managers and scientists, both verbally and written formats
• Able to prioritise own and others work
• Commitment to continuing professional development
• Willingness to undergo vaccinations as determined by project work
• Ability and willingness to undergo full UK Security Clearance
• Able to travel independently to work
• Available to work weekends / bank holiday
• Understanding of why animals are used for research purposes
  
  

Alongside your salary of £27,275, UK Health Security Agency contributes £7,901 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• 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 employer contribution of 28.97%
  
  

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Ability,

Stage 1 - Application & Sift

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the 13 essential criteria listed, and this will be in the form of a:

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• Up to 1000-word Statement of Suitability
  
  

This should outline how you consider your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.

The Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.

Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:

• Meets all essential criteria
• Meets some essential criteria
• Meets no essential criteria
  
  

Piles Meets all essential criteria will be moved through to the shortlisting stage.

Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on:

• Significant experience of working in an animal-based environment achieving the highest level of animal welfare and maintaining staff safety
  
  

Please do not exceed 1000 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number. If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview. Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered.

Please note you will not be able to upload your CV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible. Please do not email us your CV.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview (success profiles)

You will be invited to a (single) face to face interview. In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

Behaviours, Experience and Ability will be tested at interview.

The Behaviour's Tested During The Interview Stage Will Be

• Working at Pace (lead)
• Working Together
• Making Effective Decisions
  
  

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Location

This role is being offered as office/lab based at our Scientific Campus in Porton.

For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 5 years as the role requires Security Check (SC) clearance. UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder / Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

Eligibility Criteria

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).

Reasonable Adjustments

The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone.

To help you during the recruitment process, we will consider any reasonable adjustments that could help you.

An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work.

This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme.

If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should:

Contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs.

You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Your application may be rejected and/or you may be subject to disciplinary action if evidence of plagiarism is detected. Examples of plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence (AI), as your own.

Organisation info

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of 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.

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

Internal Fraud check

If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant’s personal details – name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional circumstances. Currently this is only for External candidates to the Civil Service.

International Police Check

If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and it could be time accrued over that period.

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

Nationality requirements

This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
  
  

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

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).

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 Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

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).

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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job Contact

• Name : Harry McCullagh
• Email : [e-mail]
  
  

Recruitment team

• Email : [e-mail]
  
  

Further information

[e-mail] If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/