NTCO Specialist Role

Wehave an exciting opportunityavailable for a NTCO Specialist Role to join one of the world’s leading research Institutes at a crucial time in its evolution, and play a definitive role in shaping it for the future. You will join us on a full-time, permanent basis and in return, you will receive a competitive salary from £41,577 with benefits, subject to skills and experience.

The NTCO Specialist Role role:

The Biological Research Facility supports all animal research at the Crick through our comprehensive animal care and use programme. The Biological Research Facility provides the Crick's laboratory animal resource and technical services.

This role is located within the BRF Education and Training team which provides essential and specialist training and education programmes to Home Office Personal and Project licence holders, BRF Staff, Named Persons, internal and external stakeholders including ensuring appropriate training, supervision and assessment of competence under the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (Amended 2012).

The post holder will work under ASPA to ensure that the delivery of training and assessment of licence holders meets expectations of our regulatory framework and the Head of BRF Education and Training.  

Responsibilities of our NTCO Specialist Role:

• Named Training and Competency Officer (NTCO) with responsibility to ensure that all those dealing with animals are adequately educated, trained and supervised until they are competent and that they continue to undertake appropriate further training to maintain their expertise   
• Work within a team of NTCOs to ensure standardisation of training and assessment meets the requirements of Cricks operations, UK regulatory framework and recognised best practice, with the primary responsibility of ensuring that the user groups meet these standards. This will include performing user training, assessments and reassessments within the animal units.  
• In consultation with other Named Persons under A(SP)A 1986 (Amended 2012) to advise how best practice can be applied to the Cricks laboratory animal science operations  
• Development and maintenance of Crick database for management, demonstration and recording of training and competency, CPD and education to meet current and future demands 
• To specialise in some key non-surgical procedural skills. Perform a range of techniques as part of the surgical service and assisting other members of the team. Undertaking reasonable work requests and when required, participating in essential out of hour rotas. 
• Working closely with the Surgical Lead, and Head of Training and Education, the post holder will be expected to provide a specialist procedural service while fostering and maintaining good client and stakeholder relationships 
• To provide oversight of the development of new and unique techniques ensuring compliance, assessment of competence and best practice 
• To ensure key skills and competencies are retained at the Crick, as well as for unique and novel techniques as required 
• To maintain records of the department’s work for reporting and compliance across multiple data storage platforms (Power BI, Filemaker Pro, Excel), and to produce reports when requested. 
• Maintain current knowledge of legislative requirements under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 

Skills and experience we are looking for in our NTCO Specialist Role

• Qualification to IAT L3, degree in a relevant bioscience or equivalent relevant qualification  
• Experience in performing training and assessments of procedural techniques 
• Experienced Home Office Personal Licence Holder with a broad experience of procedural skills  
• Ability to communicate effectively to large and small audiences and to staff across all levels 
• To be numerate and to have detailed working knowledge of a variety of computer software packages  
• A commitment to high standards of animal welfare and an ability to communicate this through the BRFs ‘culture of care’ programme  
• Thorough knowledge of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 to promote compliance with all aspects of the Act.  
• Thorough knowledge of Named Person roles 

Closing date: 29/Mar/2024 23.59

If you feel you have the skills and experience to become our NTCO Specialist Role, please click ‘apply’ today, we’d love to hear from you!

All offers of employment are subject to successful security screening and continuous eligibility to work in the United Kingdom.