Job title – Mechanical Plant Engineer

Profession- Engineering  

Directorate – Science

Full Time equivalent - 37.5 hours

No of Roles – 1

Contract Type – Permanent

Location – Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JG

Working Pattern – Full Time /Part Time / Flexible Working

Grade & Salary – Grade SEO. National banding - £38,724 - £44,393 per annum

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.

Candidates external to the Civil Service but currently working a similar role can move across on their existing salary

This role is to be appointed under Civil Service Terms & Conditions. 

Closing Date – 21/07/2024. 23:55pm. Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered

Interview Date – W/C 29/07/2024 Please note, these dates are subject to change.

Introduction   

The Estates, Engineering and Facilities (EEF) Department is responsible for the engineering function comprising maintenance, validation and calibration of assets, as well as repairs and capital work. Adopting the guiding principles of engineering excellence, EEF strive to contain and control risks associated with assets, infrastructure and critical equipment on the estate.

This approach provides the assurance to senior management that engineering works are carried out in a safe and secure manner, engineering solutions are sustainable and expenditure is controlled and that all works are carried out to meet regulatory and compliant standards.

EEF manages and controls the Principal Maintenance Contractor (PMC) in the delivery of operations and maintenance to optimise asset value and contribute to EEF’s strategic objectives.

EEF engages with the site stakeholders over current and future engineering requirements to ensure the engineering function supports the needs of the business. The function embraces all engineering aspects from the supply of utilities, provision of environmental conditions to meet the regulatory/compliant (HSE, MHRA, FDA, DEFRA, Home Office and needs of external customers) for high containment and general research laboratories, pharmaceutical production facilities, cell culture storage facilities and general offices, through to minor/major servicing, validation, calibration and the installation of specialised laboratory/process equipment.

Job Overview

Reporting directly to the Engineering Manager, the Mechanical Plant Manager is the system technical expert for all Engineering systems for the site.  The post holder is responsible for managing small projects / initiatives relating to engineering systems and interfacing with the wider UKHSA user community to ensure utilities systems on site remain safe, compliant and reliable for all facilities, equipment, staff and the wider UKHSA community. The Manager must uphold the systematisation of the stores to manage daily demand and future requirements.

Main Duties of the Job

To monitor equipment trend data as provided by the computerised maintenance management system and liaison with the maintenance teams/users, to recommend and manage process improvements /initiatives, and when required prepare justifications for submission within the appropriate capital budget.

Project manage small business critical projects as delegated by the Site Engineering Manager in accordance with the PHE Capital Project procedure.

Deputise for the Site Engineering Manager providing technical guidance and training to the Principal Maintenance Contract engineering team and administering business process related tasks through the computerised maintenance management system and business management system.

Represent the Engineering function at audits and inspections as subject matter expert for Utilities supported by the Site Engineering Manager. 

To be responsible for the writing, and review of User Requirements specifications, SOPs and generation of design documentation related to Utilities systems and other equipment within the site.

Review the Approval of Engineering technical documents as required to support the Engineering function including review and approval of Safety related documents such as pressure systems written schemes of examination. 

Responsible for troubleshooting and liaising with maintenance technicians, engineers and users to establish the root cause, develop and manage appropriate corrective action plans and report through the UKHSA non-conformance systems, for failures and performance issues

Represent Engineering and Project Engineer and system expert on

The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role.  You shall be expected to carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by your line manager. 

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality 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.

Essential Criteria:
 

• BEng degree in Mechanical Engineering with post graduate experience in a plant and/or design engineer role or significant experience gained in a suitable working arena
• Extensive experience in engineering operational and / or design role, ideally in the life sciences industry including experience in facilities, equipment, critical utilities operation, design, commissioning and validation
• Experience of Preparing Detailed Engineering Technical Documentation
• Accurate and clear record keeping, numeracy and report writing skills and excellent organisation
• Diplomatic and tactful approach to colleagues and good communication skills
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day to day working practices, but also in relation to management systems.

Desirable Criteria:

• Membership of a professional institute approved structured programme and evidence of continuing professional development
• Competent in control and instrumentation fault finding / rectification on utilities, systems and equipment, use of Building Management and Environmental Management systems, calibration, fire, gas and security systems
•  A working knowledge of pressure systems.
• Knowledge and operation of computerised maintenance management systems (Maximo)

Selection Process

You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed and sifted in line with the essential criteria.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Experience

Stage 1: Application & Sift
 

As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide a Statement of Suitability in no more than 500 words providing examples of how you meet the essential criteria. It should also detail what you and your experience can bring to the role. We suggest using the STAR (situation, task, action, result) method to demonstrate real-life examples for the specified essential criteria. Please note, only information provided within the stated word count will be considered.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview

Stage 2: Panel Interview

All applicants that progress to interview will be assessed on behaviours / experience / technical / ability – through Success Profiles.

The 5 Behaviours you will be tested on are:

Changing and Improving

Making Effective Decisions

Seeing the Bigger Picture

Communicating and Influencing

Managing a Quality Service

Technical Skills – based on qualifications, supervisory experience, IT literacy and secretarial/administrative skills

Reserve List:

Candidates who pass the interview criteria but are not offered a post will be kept on a reserve list for 12 months and may be contacted if similar roles become available.

If you are interviewed for the post and do not meet the required threshold for the specified grade, your application may be assessed against a similar, lower grade role and you may be offered the post should one be available.

Benefits

• Alongside your salary of £38,724, UK Health Security Agency contributes £10,455 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. 
• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• Range of health and wellbeing support

DBS - People working with government systems must complete Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks which includes a disclosure and barring security check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed for this role is BPSS however there may be a requirement for this role to be SC cleared and you should familiarise yourself with the criteria of security clearance.

This role is Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants. Appointments to roles within UKHSA will be made in accordance with the Civil Service nationality rules. This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• Nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• Certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Government baseline personnel security standard

It’s important to note that there are currently exceptions to applications being considered if your conviction relates to any of the following:

• life sentences
• arson
• sexual offences
• hate and terror offences

Some departments will also consider the specific offence against the nature of the business, i.e., a conviction for fraud may rule you out for a finance role