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.

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)
• 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

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