Containment Manager BPU (ID4817)


Company:	Government Recruitment Service
Salary:	£33,350 - £33,350
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Weybridge
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	13 Aug 2026
Closing date:	27 Aug 2026

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Summary

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, and works on behalf of the Scottish Government and Welsh Government. Our diverse teams of over 3,000 skilled and committed professionals come together to provide research, advice and support to UK Government for safeguarding animal, public and plant health for benefit of the environment and economy.

APHA is a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, because it helps us be more innovative and make better decisions.

We are dedicated to being an inclusive employer, offering equitable opportunities for all individuals. Our goal is to build a diverse workforce, and we hope to attract applications from all backgrounds and underrepresented groups.

The Science Directorate (SD) delivers high quality, high impact and highly relevant multidisciplinary science. Our People are diverse, talented, engaged and inspired to deliver innovative outcomes.

Responsibilities of this role involve the management of a Specified Animal Pathogens Order - (SAPO3)/Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens - ACDP3/Schedule 5 containment facility. You will manage staff working in containment, including training and supervision, and co-ordinate the freeze-drying activities, manage unlicensed product portfolio, and provide managerial support for production activities.

Management

Management of ACDP 3/SAPO3/Schedule 5 containment facility. Co-ordinating work within the facility and responsibility for organising the routine and emergency repairs of equipment and facility. Including successful competency assessment by the Safety, Health and Wellbeing (SHaW) team as facility manager.
Management/operation of APHA’s fermenter, including arranging service and insurance compliance testing.
Training, supervision, and competency assessment of staff engaged in containment activities. To assess and sign off staff as competent to work in the facility.
Co-ordinate of maintenance shut down. Working closely with Defra and Facilities Management (FM) provider to review service/calibration documentation generated during shutdown.
Manage unlicenced products portfolio, including manufacture of kits and test reagents.
Decontamination of cabinet and laboratory using formaldehyde, including validation of disinfectants.
Manage the production specific quality systems, ISO9000/Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)/ Good Distribution Practice (GDP).
Coordination of all Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and risk assessments associate with containment and production activities, including those SOPs classed as safety critical.
Responsibility for freeze drying facilities including co-ordination of maintenance/calibration. Managing the freeze-drying process including liaising with customers and final quality control of product.
Managerial support for production areas within the Biological Products Unit (BPU), including Good Practice (GxP) areas.
Manage agencies label printing facility.

Safety

To ensure work in containment complies with APHA safety standards. Carrying out contingency exercises and toolbox talks for staff working in containment.
To manage facilities ensuring they are functional and compliant with APHA Safety Policies, Standards and Guidance to permit safe and effective delivery of work.
To instil the highest standards of safety within the laboratory ensuring that staff are fully aware of their responsibility to colleagues and themselves.
Ensure risk assessments are in place and reviewed yearly.

Quality

To ensure all work complies to ISO 9001 and GMP standards
Assist with audits, investigate non-conforming work and prepare trouble shooting investigations.
Writing and reviewing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
To ensure work in containment complies with APHA safety standards. Carrying out contingency exercises and toolbox talks for staff working in containment.

Responsibilities

The post holder will be expected to pass the containment officer assessment carried out by SHaW allowing them to manage a containment facility.
The post holder will be expected to carryout containment inductions for Facilities Management (FM) staff.
Manage the work within the facility. Including monitoring the work of staff, refresher training and competency assessments.
The post holder must be able to offer support to other parts of BPU. The post holder will be expected to train to cover for absences of managers in other areas. The post holder will be expected to manage the media production section as absence cover.
The post holder will be required to quickly develop a good understanding of the operation of the agency’s fermenters.
Lead on decontamination using formaldehyde, both routine and emergency. Validation of room and cabinet disinfection.
The post holder will be responsible for culturing bulk volumes of bacteria/fungi up to ACDP3/SAPO3 and must have a good understanding of the safety requirements.
The post holder will be required to host safety inspections from SHaW, Counter Terrorism Security Adviser (CTSA) and Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
The post holder will be managing three freeze dryers. This includes not only operation of the equipment but liaising with customers to fulfil their requirements. The post holder is expected to organize maintenance of the equipment.
Manage the production and design of labels for customers throughout agency, including bar code labels.

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