Scientist - Molecular and Immunochemistry - £31,064 p.a. + benefits

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency

Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 13th October 2024

 

Details

Reference number

371573

Salary

£31,064
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Job grade

Executive Officer

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

MHRA - Science, Research and Innovation Group

Type of role

Science

Working pattern

Full-time

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

South Mimms, Hertfordshire

Job summary

We are currently looking for a Scientist – Molecular and Immunochemistry to join our Control Testing 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.  

 

Who are we? 

 

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency enhance and improve the health of millions of people every day through the effective regulation of medicines and medical devices, underpinned by science and research.  

The Science, Research and Innovation Group delivers public health impact, world-leading research innovation, and a unique proposition via an ambitious Science Strategy which will balance innovation against sustainability and affordability. It is divided into 6 sub-Groups, Innovation Accelerator, Clinical Investigations and Trials, Research and Development, Standards Lifecycle, Control Testing and Quality Assurance and Health & Safety.

Working in the Control Testing Function, the role will provide scientific support as part of a team of analytical scientists focused on immunochemical assays used for the evaluation of biological medicines as part of independent batch release. There is a requirement for excellent coordination and communication with all teams in the Control Testing function as well as in the Research & Development (R&D) and Biological Standardisation functions to support analytical requirements for the Agency.

Job description

What’s the role?

The role primarily facilitates the independent control testing of biological medicines, including blood products and vaccines, helping to ensure patients have access to new and existing products. However, the role will work with colleagues across the Agency to provide specialist scientific and analytical expertise to support product related activities such as R&D, biological standardisation, clinical trials and product approval, independent medicines testing and adverse event investigations. Responsible for responding to and assisting with the planning and managing of day-to-day resource to achieve outcomes to meet relevant agency Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). The role will be responsible for accurate data entry and review in support of product testing.

 

The Molecular and Immunochemistry team will perform a range of assays with a range of read-outs including, but not limited to, ELISA-based assays, immunodiffusion, quantitation of mRNA by fluorescence and will provide support to other Control Testing teams.

Key responsibilities: 

 

  • Perform analytical tests in compliance with ISO17025.
  • Manage day-to-day registration (logging) of samples supplied for laboratory testing and data entry into a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).
  • Maintain laboratory stocks of reagents and consumables.
  • Responsible for equipment records.

Person specification

Who are we looking for? 

 

Our successful candidate will have:

 

  • Experience of working in a laboratory.
  • Experience of one or more of the laboratory methods listed in the job description.
  • Excellent team working and communication skills.
  • Good planning and time management skills.
  • Ability of working accurately and with attention to detail.

 

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 

Alongside your salary of £31,064, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency contributes £8,999 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 

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. 
  • Test, there will be a practical pipetting assessment included as part of the interview if you reach this stage.

 

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. 

 

Use of AI in Job Applications

 

 

Applicants must ensure that anything submitted is factually accurate and truthful. Plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.

 

 

If you require any disability related adjustments at any point during the process, please contact careers@mhra.gov.uk as soon as possible. 

  

Closing date: 13 October 2024

Shortlisting date: 14 – 26 October 2024

Interview date: 5 – 13 November

 

Candidates will be contacted within a week of the sift and the interviews completed to inform them of the outcome.

 

If you need assistance applying for this role or have any other questions, please contact careers@mhra.gov.uk 

 

Candidates will be subject to UK immigration requirements as well as Civil Service nationality rules. Further information on whether you are able to apply is available here

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check as well as animal rights and pro-life activism checks. People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government. 

Any move to the MHRA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility here.

 

Successful candidates may be subject to annual Occupational Health reviews dependent on role requirements. If you have any queries, please contact careers@mhra.gov.uk.

 

In accordance with the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles our recruitment and selection processes are underpinned by the requirement of selection for appointment on the basis of merit by a fair and open competition. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should firstly contact Mira Mepa, Head of Recruitment and Operations, Mira.Mepa@mhra.gov.uk.  

 

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk 

 

info@csc.gov.uk 

Civil Service Commission 

Room G/8 

1 Horse Guards Road 

London 

SW1A 2HQ 



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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

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 also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

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).
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 : The Recruitment Team
  • Email : careers@mhra.gov.uk

Recruitment team

  • Email : careers@mhra.gov.uk

Further information

In accordance with the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles our recruitment and selection processes are underpinned by the requirement of selection for appointment on the basis of merit by a fair and open competition. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact the Resourcing Team at Careers@mhra.gov.uk, in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk - info@csc.gov.uk - Civil Service Commission Room G/8 1 Horse Guards Road London SW1A 2HQ

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