Higher Animal Technician - £37,456-£42,084 p.a. + benefits

Job summary

We are currently looking for a Higher Animal Technician to join our Research and Development Function within the Scientific Research and Innovation group.

This is a full-time opportunity, on a permanent basis. The role will be based in South Mimms, Hertfordshire.

Government departments and agencies are working towards implementing a minimum 60% attendance in office sites.

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 Scientific Research and Innovation Group Research & Development function will deliver statutory mandated strategically aligned, sustainable and impactful Regulatory Scientific research that is applied primarily to biological reference materials development and medicines control testing and areas of international and national priority for future biological medicines.

Biological Services, within Analytical and Biological Sciences supports three sub-groups of SR&I; Standards Lifecycle, Control Testing and R&D in all aspects of in vivo experimentation. The division houses a range of species across two floors at different containment levels up to and including containment level 3 (CL3) and Specified Animal Pathogen Order 4 (SAPO4). A highly trained and professional technical team care for the animals and perform the scientific procedures, underpinned by a specialist support team, ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare are maintained at all times.

Job description

What’s the role?

The role will support the needs of the Scientific Divisions by supporting a specialised area of work, performing in-vivo procedures and husbandry duties both to a high standard, across a large range of species and containment levels.

Key responsibilities:

• Daily organization and operation of specialised area within Biological Services.
• Staff training and supervision.
• Performing a diverse range of in-vivo scientific procedures on a variety of laboratory animal species including at higher containment.
• Maintaining the high standards of care and welfare of a variety of animal species, including non-human primates (NHPs), with the expectation of contributing to the provision of weekend and Bank Holiday cover for the care of animals.

Who are we looking for?

Our successful candidate will:

• Apply high degree of self-organisation in day-to-day working situations.
• Have experience in supervising a specialised area including staff training.
• Have practical and proven experience in the use of a Home Office Personal Licence involving a range of common laboratory animal species, scientific techniques, and biological containment levels.
• Be knowledgeable of ASPA legislation, and relevant sections (in detail) of the Guidance, along with how the regulations are implemented in practice.
• Hold a minimal professional qualification of Certificate of the Institute of Animal Technology (CIAT), or equivalent.

Person specification

Method of assessment: A=Application, T=Test, I=Interview, P=Presentation

Behaviour Criteria:

• Delivering at Pace (A, I)
• Developing Self and Others (A, I)

Experience Criteria:

• Experience in supervising specialised area. Experience of mouse breeding areas and colony management, in vivo imaging capability, immunocompromised and humanised mice is desired (A, I)
• Practical and proven experience in the use of a Home Office Personal Licence with a range of common laboratory species and techniques and at a range of containment levels, for in vivo testing (A, I)
• Practical experience of working in the animal technology field, including daily husbandry, handling and restraint, dealing with health issues and evidence of a commitment to high standards of animal welfare (A, I)
• Substantial experience in prioritizing, working to deadlines, and making the best use of time whilst applying a high degree of self-organization in day-to-day working situations (I)

Technical Criteria:

• Minimal professional qualification of Membership of the Institute of Animal Technology (MIAT), or relevant equivalent. Registered Animal Technician status (RAnTech) is desirable (A)
• Holds a current Home Office Personal Licence or has recently held a Home Office Personal Licence with evidence of appropriate training, competency and proven experience (A, I)
• Proven training and competence records for species, techniques and working at different containment levels (A, I)
• Good knowledge of ASPA legislation, and relevant sections (in detail) of the Guidance, along with how the regulations are implemented in practice (A, I)
• Up to date on developments in education and training on laboratory animal science and welfare (A, I)

If you would like to find out more about this fantastic opportunity, please read our Job Description and Person Specification!

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Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,456, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency contributes £10,851 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• 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 [phone removed]
• 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 Motoring , Boundless by CSMA
• Variety of staff and Civil Service clubs
• On-going learning and development

Things you need to know

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