Job summary
A full-time post has become available within the Toxicology Department, to work on the EU Horizon 2020 project GOLIATH: "Beating Goliath: Generation of novel, integrated and internationally harmonized approaches for testing metabolism disrupting compounds", which focusses on developing in vitro test methods that will contribute to the assessment of the role of Metabolic Disrupting Chemicals (MDCs) in obesity and metabolic disorders including insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease metabolic disorders.
UKHSA are involved in all the work packages, but are leading on (pre-) validation of the in vitro tests, detailed reviews, and the development of an Integrated Approach to the Testing and Assessment (IATA) of MDCs, ultimately intended to enter the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Test Guideline Programme.
We are looking for candidates with a relevant PhD, or equivalent qualification or experience relevant to toxicology and chemical risk assessment and particularly data analysis, ideally in the endocrine disruptor field.
The candidate is expected to contribute to the support of the other partners by keeping a good track of data streams, assess and review data quality, weight of evidence and uncertainties, data analyses and integration into AOP/mechanistic and IATA frameworks and contribute to writing reports and scientific articles, finalising the project outputs.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will support
- the organization, synthesis and critical analysis of the information being generated in the work packages and as part of established external collaborations, developing and characterising mechanisms and modes of action of metabolic disrupting chemicals;
- developing the strategy for using these newly developed, and existing assays, with the formulation of an IATA;
- coordinating and negotiating input into an OECD detailed review paper on metabolic disruption; and providing back-up with the management of the (pre-)validation activities.
The work on this project will be based at RCE, with travel to partner sites/ meetings in Europe twice a year, and potentially participation in relevant OECD meetings, generally in Paris, France.
About us
The UK Health Security Agency exists to protect and improve the nation's health andwellbeing andreduce health inequalities. We do this through world-leading science, knowledge and intelligence, advocacy,partnershipsand the delivery of specialist public health services. We are an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care, and a distinct delivery organisation with operational autonomy. We provide government, local government, the NHS, Parliament,industryand the public with evidence-based professional, scientific and delivery expertise and support.We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.
UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.
Job description
Job responsibilities
A detailed job description / main responsibilities is attached in a separate document. Applicants are strongly advised to use the criteria in the job description/person specification (available online) as sub-headings in their application to make it clear how they meet each of the selection criteria.
Eligibility Criteria :
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
Pay
New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.
The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase.
Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.
For further details please refer to the Information Sheet- Starting Salaries & Benefits attachment.
Security Clearance Level Requirement:
Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard.
Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered.
Job description
Job responsibilities
A detailed job description / main responsibilities is attached in a separate document. Applicants are strongly advised to use the criteria in the job description/person specification (available online) as sub-headings in their application to make it clear how they meet each of the selection criteria.
Eligibility Criteria :
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
Pay
New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.
The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase.
Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.
For further details please refer to the Information Sheet- Starting Salaries & Benefits attachment.
Security Clearance Level Requirement:
Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard.
Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- PhD qualification (or equivalent) relevant to the field of toxicology and endocrinology and/or experience of working at a similar level in a relevant area
Desirable
- Masters in Toxicology, Endocrinology, Bioinformatics or Statistic
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Experience of assessing health risks from chemicals
- Ability to critically assess relevant data and information to assess the toxicity of chemicals
- Awareness of broad public health and environmental issues
- Experience in in vitro cell culture
Desirable
- Experience in test method (pre-)validation
- Experience in public health
- Regulatory experience
- Experience in industry
- Experience of teaching or training
Skills and Capabilities
Essential
- Clear communicator with excellent writing, report writing and presentation skills; capable of constructing and delivering clear ideas and concepts concisely and accurately for diverse audiences
- Ability to critically analyse, assess and synthesize literature data and other information relevant to assessing the toxicity of chemicals.
- Attention to detail combined with the ability to carry out statistical analysis and extract key messages from complex analysis with support
- Self reliant and self motivating
- Ability to meet deadlines, and plan work over short, medium and long-term timeframes
- Strategic thinking - ability to anticipate
- Skills for project management
Desirable
- Good computational skills with high level data sets such as metabolomics or high throughput sequencing sets.
- Able to handle difficult situations
- Able to handle media inquiries
Equality and Diversity
Essential
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- PhD qualification (or equivalent) relevant to the field of toxicology and endocrinology and/or experience of working at a similar level in a relevant area
Desirable
- Masters in Toxicology, Endocrinology, Bioinformatics or Statistic
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Experience of assessing health risks from chemicals
- Ability to critically assess relevant data and information to assess the toxicity of chemicals
- Awareness of broad public health and environmental issues
- Experience in in vitro cell culture
Desirable
- Experience in test method (pre-)validation
- Experience in public health
- Regulatory experience
- Experience in industry
- Experience of teaching or training
Skills and Capabilities
Essential
- Clear communicator with excellent writing, report writing and presentation skills; capable of constructing and delivering clear ideas and concepts concisely and accurately for diverse audiences
- Ability to critically analyse, assess and synthesize literature data and other information relevant to assessing the toxicity of chemicals.
- Attention to detail combined with the ability to carry out statistical analysis and extract key messages from complex analysis with support
- Self reliant and self motivating
- Ability to meet deadlines, and plan work over short, medium and long-term timeframes
- Strategic thinking - ability to anticipate
- Skills for project management
Desirable
- Good computational skills with high level data sets such as metabolomics or high throughput sequencing sets.
- Able to handle difficult situations
- Able to handle media inquiries
Equality and Diversity
Essential
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.
Additional information
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
