Higher Scientist - Vaccines - £34,841 p.a. + benefits

at  Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency

JOB SUMMARY

We are currently looking for a Higher Scientist - Vaccines to join our Research & Development team within the Science, Research & Innovation group.
This is a full-time opportunity, on a permanent basis. The role will be lab based in South Mimms, Hertfordshire. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas.
Government departments and agencies are working towards implementing a minimum 60% attendance in office sites.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Our successful candidate will be able to demonstrate that they meet the following criteria:

• Practical experience in one or more of: analytical chemistry techniques, chromatography and immunological assays
• A BSc degree in chemistry or relevant scientific discipline
• Good analytical and data management skills with the ability to interpret complex data sets
• Hands-on analytical methods used for the characterisation of polysaccharides conjugate vaccines and vaccines against diseases caused by encapsulated bacteria
• Working Together: Encourage joined up team work within own team and across other groups. Establish professional relationships with a range of stakeholders

If you would like to find out more about this fantastic opportunity, please read our Job Description and Person Specification!
Please note: The job description may not open in some internet browsers. Please use Chrome or Microsoft Edge. If you have any issue viewing the job description, please contact careers@mhra.gov.uk
Benefits

Alongside your salary of £34,841, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency contributes £10,093 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Annual Leave: 25 days annual leave on entry, rising by one day for each completed year of service to a maximum of 30 days and pro-rata for part-time staff. PLUS 8 bank holidays
• Privilege Leave: 1 day
• Hours of Work: 37 hours (net) per week for full time staff in all geographical locations, including London and pro rata for part-time staff
• Occupational Sick Pay (OSP): One month full pay/one month half pay on entry, rising by one month for each completed year of service to a maximum of five months full pay/five months half pay
• Mobility: Mobility clause in contracts allowing staff to be mobile across the Civil Service
• Civil Service Pension Scheme. Please see the link for further information http://www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk/ For enquiries relating to the Civil Service Pension Schemes please contact MyCSP’s Pension Service Centre directly on 0300 123 6666
• Flexible working to ensure staff maintain a healthy work-life balance
• Interest free season ticket loan or bike loan
• Employee Assistance Services and access to the Civil Service Benevolent Fund
• Eligibility to join the Civil Service Motoring Association (CSMA)
• Variety of staff and Civil Service clubs
• On-going learning and development

Things you need to know

SELECTION PROCESS DETAILS

We use the Civil Service Success Profiles to assess our candidates, find out more here.
-

Online application form, including questions based on the Behaviour, Experience and Technical Success Profiles. Please ensure all application questions are completed in full; your application may not be considered if any responses are left blank. Our applications are CV blind, and our Hiring Managers will not be able to access your CV when reviewing your application.

• Interview, which can include questions based on the Behaviour, Experience, Technical and Strengths Success Profiles.

Applicants are assessed on whether they meet any mandatory requirements as well as the necessary skills and experience for the role. Applications are scored based on the answers provided- ensure you have read these thoroughly and allow sufficient time. You can view the competencies for this role in the job description.

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)

WHAT’S THE ROLE?

The role will support the delivery of regulatory science research programmes relating to encapsulated bacteria and polysaccharide conjugate vaccines. This will include development of new assays used for the characterisation and evaluation of vaccines and assisting other team members with day-to-day management of resources, to achieve shared outcomes to meet relevant agency objectives.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Perform a wide variety of laboratory techniques, with a focus on analytical chemistry and chromatography techniques, ensuring adherence to relevant health and safety policies and quality system requirements as appropriate
• Work closely with product manufacturers and colleagues across SR&I to ensure that the Agency fulfils its independent batch testing function safeguarding supply of medicines to patients
• Maintain professional and productive relationships with external stakeholders (including industry, academia, government departments, regulatory agencies and non-profit philanthropic organisations) to facilitate research collaborations, contract testing services and management of products
• Analyse and interpret complex data sets, keeping accurate records, to build evidence and inform design of future experiments; actively communicate findings through written reports, scientific publications and delivery of scientific presentations