JOB SUMMARY

This is a rare opportunity to support the unique scientific research which is conducted at UKHSA Porton Down.
Together the Countermeasures Development, Evaluation, and Preparedness Division and the Diagnostic and Pathogen Characterisation Division at Porton have approximately 300 staff and play a crucial role in pandemic preparedness, including the development of vaccines, assays and diagnostics for pathogens with pandemic potential.
Broadly, the divisions undertake research into understanding these infectious diseases, with work conducted within over 100 containment level 2 and 3 labs.
To ensure that the divisions continue to meet Health and Safety (H&S) legislation, a safety manager is required to lead the existing team of three safety coordinators. This role will work collaboratively with senior management to drive continuous improvement in H&S and is critical in maintaining and continuing to develop the strong safety culture within the agency.

JOB DESCRIPTION

• Lead in the ongoing management and continual improvement of H&S across the two divisions
• Lead on regulatory inspections and interventions e.g. HSE impacting the divisions
• Lead on improvements to safe working systems and H&S change initiatives for laboratories including standards and guidance
• Develop strategy to respond to HSE inspection findings, monitor action completion and report progress to senior management.
• Develop biosecurity management for the divisions
• Lead and manage proactive and reactive monitoring to assess compliance, identify areas for improvement and prepare strategies to address shortcomings.
• Provide laboratory H&S representation at site meetings
• Lead in emergency and unplanned events, including leading the investigations of accidents and incidents
• Lead on identification, development, coordination and delivery of H&S training requirements
• Represent laboratory H&S, working with other divisions (e.g. Engineering, Estates and Facilities) to ensure laboratories are maintained to the required standard and continual improvements are made.
• Oversight and review of risk assessments, procedures and other laboratory documents across the divisions
• Management of safety coordinator team

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

Health and Safety