Named Training Competency Officer

Under the terms of the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (Amended 2012) (ASPA) the post holder will be appointed as the Named Training and Competency Officer (NTCO). Working to the Research Governance Ethics & Integrity Manager, you will be responsible for ensuring that everyone dealing with animals under ASPA at QUB, is adequately educated, trained and supervised until they are competent, and they continue to undertake appropriate further training to maintain their expertise.

As the NTCO, you will work in partnership with the other Named Persons under ASPA (NVSs, NACWOs and NIO) and the Research Governance, Ethics & Integrity Manager. The post-holder be a key member of the University’s Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Body (AWERB) to ensure training is standardised across all personal licensees, and regulated procedures are the most refined. They will also draw upon their strong interpersonal skills to work effectively with all levels of staff from the senior academics within scientific groups to individual postgraduate students and technician colleagues.

The NTCO role will involve development, implementation and management of local training modules highlighting how ASPA is delivered in the Biological Services Unit (BSU), alongside facilitating inductions into working at the BSU and promotion of a Culture of Care within the establishment underpinned through promotion of the 3Rs.

About the person:

The candidate will have:

• Academic and/or vocational qualifications e.g. HND/HNC NVQ 4, degree or equivalent standard) in a relevant subject.
• Valid UK Home Office/ Department of Health Personal Licence (or equivalent qualification).
• Substantial experience in working with animals in a higher education or industry setting, particularly in a broad range of procedural skills.
• Experience in performing training and assessments of procedural techniques.
• Experience in producing high quality, accurate training material.
• Experience with Management Information Systems, preferably relating to animal breeding/husbandry/competencies.

To be successful at shortlisting stage, please ensure you clearly evidence in your application how you meet the essential and, where applicable, desirable criteria listed in the Candidate Informationon our website.

What we offer:

Beyond a competitive salary, the University offers an attractive benefits package including a holiday entitlement of up to 8.4 weeks a year, pension schemes and development opportunities. We support staff wellbeing with flexible working options, work-life balance initiatives and support for physical and mental health. You can find more detail on all of this and more at on our website.

Queen's University is committed to promoting equality of opportunity to all. We subscribe to Equality Charter Marks such as the Diversity Charter Mark NI and Athena Swan and have established staff networks such as iRise (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and International Staff Network) and PRISM (LGBTQ+) which help us progress equality.

For further information on our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, please visit our website.

If you are an international applicant and don't already hold a visa that permits you to take up the role you are applying for, please use the information provided on our website to self-assess whether the University is likely to be able to support a visa application.

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