Colony Senior Technician

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 Colony Senior Technician will provide technical and supervisory expertise in a team responsible for the delivery of high standards of animal welfare within the Biological Services Group (BSG). Managing the day-to-day care of the animals and staff supervision are central to this role. Situated near Salisbury, 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.

This will be a Lab based role at our Porton Down Site (Manor Farm Road, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JG).

*Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available.*

Working Pattern - Full Time, Part Time, Job Share, Flexible Working

Responsibilities section:

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities, and duties:

• Assist the Colony Team Leader to organise and deliver a high quality NHP scientific breeding colony and maintain safety across the colonies for both animals and staff in order to meet the business requirements of BSG.
• Working with the colony team in performing routine animal husbandry, actively encouraging the promotion of additional enrichment and care packages for the NHPs held at the colonies to promote the highest quality animal welfare.
• Providing support to the animal technicians in their day-to-day duties and acting as the key point of contact between animal technicians and BSG Project Team Leaders/ NVS as necessary.
• Carry out Named Animal Care and Welfare Officer (NACWO) duties for specified areas of the BSG facility, in line with legislative requirements. Liaison with the Colonies Team Leader, Named Veterinary Surgeon (NVS), Home Office Inspectors, Personal and Project Licence holders on any element of animal related issues. This will include the interpretation of health / welfare status in the context of Project Licence requirements, clear documentation and attendance at relevant meetings including AWERB meetings.
• Perform necropsy examination and removal of specified tissue as part of a specified study plan. To support the NVS in post-mortem examinations and surgical interventions when necessary.
• Act as study supervisor; taking responsibility for the effective delivery of specific packages of work performed within the facility, working within the study plan and legal frameworks.
• Conducting a variety of specialised experimental procedures under Home Office Licence, on NHPs in the colony adhering to agreed study plans.
• Participate in the preparation, including drafting elements where appropriate and review of relevant Standard Operating Procedures, Codes of Practice and Risk Assessments.
• Assist with the delivery of the supervision and specific training of colony staff in techniques necessary for the safe care of NHPs and conduct of studies using potential infectious agents as part of study programmes. Ensuring colony documentation is completed to a high standard in line with legal requirements and best practice.
• Take responsibility for ensuring the health and safety of the colony, including reporting faults, and of the colony team in line with the law, UKHSA policies, Codes of Practice, SOPs and other good practice and guidance.
• Responsible for maintaining adequate stocks of frequently used items and controlled drugs and the update of the associated usage log sheets.
• Perform all duties within guidelines laid down by the Home Office, Health and Safety Executive, Defra and MHRA.
• Take part in rota system for weekend and public holiday working and covering the "on-call" (24 hours/7days) rota as requested.

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.

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