Description We are currently looking for two Senior Scientists - Vaccines to join our Research & Development function within the Science, Research & Innovation group. These are full-time opportunities, on a 30 month fixed term contract/internal move or temporary promotion basis. The roles will be lab based in South Mimms, Hertfordshire. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas. 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 Science, Research and Innovation Group delivers public health impact, world-leading research innovation, and a unique proposition for patients and users 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. The roles are within the Vaccines Team, in the Conjugate Vaccines or Vesicular Vaccines group. The posts are funded by The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The candidates will join dynamic and growing research teams focusing on vaccines against encapsulated bacteria including group B streptococcus (GBS), group A streptococcus (GAS), Haemophilus, meningococcus and gonococcus, pneumococcal, shigella and salmonella diseases. What’s the role? The purpose of the roles is to support and actively participate in vaccine-related research and standardisation. This includes the management of research projects, development of standards and reference reagents and the presentation of research data at conferences and in scientific publications. The roles will also provide support for the delivery of projects managed by other team members providing a stimulating environment that will support personal development. Key responsibilities: Provide analytical and scientific expertise in the area of encapsulated bacteria and conjugate vaccines, including assay development, standards and reagents preparation, characterisation and calibration. Develop and validate assays for assessing and calibrating of Salmonella reference standards and reagents. Organise international collaborative study for evaluation and calibration of Salmonella reference standards and reagents. Support collaborations with other groups in the Vaccines Division and with external organisations, including vaccine developers, academic and research institutes to facilitate standard development and R&D activities around assays development. Who are we looking for? Our successful candidate will have: A PhD degree in chemistry, microbiology or immunology or equivalent experience. High degree knowledge and hands-on experience in analytical chemistry relevant to conjugate vaccines and the principles for reference standards preparation. Practical experience in one or more of: immunological assays, mammalian or bacterial cell culture, recombinant protein production and purification, neutralisation or bactericidal assays. Strong analytical and data management skills with the ability to interpret complex data sets. 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 careersmhra.gov.uk The selection process: 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. 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 competency-based 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 careersmhra.gov.uk as soon as possible. Closing date: 19 January 2025 Shortlisting date: 27 January 2025 Interview date: 6, 7 and 10 February 2025 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 careersmhra.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 careersmhra.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.Mepamhra.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk infocsc.gov.uk Civil Service Commission Room G/8 1 Horse Guards Road London SW1A 2HQ