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 successful candidate must have, and your application should clearly demonstrate that you meet the following criteria:

• Academic and/or vocational qualifications eg. HND/HNC NVQ 4, degree or equivalent standard) in a relevant subject.
• Valid UK Home Office/ Department of Health Personal Licence
• Detailed knowledge of the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act, 1986 and subsequent amendments.
• 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.
• Demonstrable ability to motivate personal licensees to become competent and work to prescribed standards to deliver a high-quality service to the scientific community
• 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 Information.

To view more information and to make an application, please visit our website.