The Pirbright Institute

Central Services Unit Operations Manager

Post Ref: IRC93070
£27,792 to £29,566 depending on qualifications and experience plus a £3,000 Pirbright allowance.

The Pirbright Institute, an institute of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), is a unique national center that works to enhance the UK capability to contain, control, and eliminate viral diseases of animals through its highly innovative fundamental and applied bioscience. We thereby support the competitiveness of UK livestock and poultry producers, and improve the quality of life of both animals and people.

The Pirbright Institute is currently situated on two campuses, Pirbright Laboratory in Surrey and Compton Laboratory in Berkshire. The process of transferring Compton Laboratory activities to Pirbright is underway.

The Central Services Unit resides as part of the Engineering and Estates function and services specific scientific support activities. Reporting to the Head of CSU, the post holder will be expected to manage the day to day operations of the Unit and ensure that all support functions supplied by the CSU are delivered to the science users. The Operations Manager will have a team of multi-skilled staff who perform functions such as media and cell culture production, glass wash, general cleaning and laundry services. The Operations Manager will be expected to support the Head of the CSU transition into new facilities being built at Pirbright. The post holder would be expected to be on-call.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Manage the day to day activities of a multi-disciplinary team consisting of science services (media and tissue culture) and domestic staff (Glass wash, cleaners and laundry)
• Manage science requirement for cell banks, cell cultures and cell supplies
• Manage cell production for surveillance and diagnostic activities, including the production of Bovine Thyroid (BTY) cells
• Manage procurement activities
• Management of the Clinical Waste Programme within the main restricted area
• Maintain the CSU Quality assurance programme and work with QA department to ensure the maintenance of Quality Standards (ISO 9001) for the management of media and cell culture systems affecting science/research programs and bio-containment/bio-safety systems
• Establishing a process to ensure (where necessary to ensure valid results) maintenance, monitoring and measuring equipment is calibrated or verified at specified intervals or prior to use (determined by process criticality) against measurement standards traceable to national and/or international measurement standards

This job description is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. The jobholder will carry out any other duties as may be reasonably required by his/her line manager. The job description and personal specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the Human Resources Division and The Pirbright Institute.

All employees shall actively participate in the Institute- wide quality assurance system in conjunction with the Institute’s Quality Manager. Employees are also expected to safeguard their own health and safety and security by following policies and all employees are responsible for the Health and Safety and security of staff under their management.

Qualifications and Experience

• Education (A-Levels or equivalent)
• Experience in an industry based, hospital or academic based environment in autoclaves and/or tissue culture and media production
• Vocational training courses such as auditing, report writing, international quality standards, quality management systems and various ISO standards
• Knowledgeable about international standards such as the BS 7799 Information Security Management System standards, ISO 14001 Environmental standards, and ISO 9000 quality management standards
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to perform a variety roles
• Extremely professional, customer friendly and amenable
• Reliability under pressure with good problem solving skills

BENEFITS OF THE POST

The post is graded at a Band D and is an indefinite contract. The salary is ££27,792 to £-29,566 depending on qualifications and experience. This is a Full Time role of 37 hour week, Monday to Friday.

On appointment, you are eligible to join the Research Council’s Pension Scheme. You have the choice of either:

• An attractive, career average, defined benefit pension scheme. The bulk of the cost of this scheme is met by the employer: or
• A partnership pension with a contribution from the employer. Our basic contribution is based on your age, and we pay this regardless of whether you choose to contribute anything. You do not have to contribute if you do not wish to but, if you do, we will also match your contributions up to an additional 3% of pay.

You will be entitled to receive a Pirbright Living Allowance of £3000 per annum. Please note this allowance is pensionable but not reckonable for annual pay award or promotion and is a discretionary payment which can be withdrawn or reduced by management.

Annual leave is 27 days on appointment plus 10.5 days public and privilege holidays. The Institute has a subsidised child care scheme, staff restaurant and free parking.

Any offer of employment will be subject to security screening, health clearance and references.

HOW TO APPLY

It is Pirbright Institute policy to use an online application form, please ensure that you complete an application form as CVs will not be accepted as a standalone.

To apply please click below and email Pirbright for an application form to be completed and returned back to the same email address (please quote 12P0094).

To find out more information about the Pirbright Institute please visit our website: www.pirbright.ac.uk