Medical Officer (Research Physician Pharma)

Would you like to be part of a vibrant group focused on increasing the understanding of the biological effects of biological and chemical warfare agents and other toxic compounds? Do you want to apply this understanding to the assessment and development of medical countermeasures which keep our Armed Forces safe? Can you help make a difference to the UK's safety and security by applying your medical knowledge in this critical area? Are you keen to seek new challenges and work collaboratively with colleagues and partners across the world to deliver solutions?

The work of the Toxicology, Trauma and Medicine Group within the Chemical, Biological and Radiological (CBR) Division is aimed at preventing or mitigating the lethal and incapacitating effects of chemical and biological agents and toxins, and also physical and traumatic injuries, by exploring pre- and/or post-exposure medical/pharmaceutical therapies as well as novel concepts for passive protective measures. The work covers early-stage innovative research through to clinical development and drug licensure, and includes volunteer trials to understand the effects that protective measures have on military task performance. The research and development outcomes may inform a range of strategic and policy decisions across MOD and wider government.

Job description

We are seeking a medical officer to join the Advanced Development Programme (ADP) team. The successful candidate will join a small, busy, multi-disciplinary team working closely with medical and scientific research colleagues. The primary focus for the successful candidate will be to provide medical/pharmaceutical advice and support across a range of Defence activities, with particular focus on translational medicine applied to early-stage drug development, clinical trials, and licensure.

The post holder may be directly responsible for the welfare of subjects involved in clinical trials and volunteer studies, but this will depend on their current scope of practice. There may be opportunities within the organisation for the post holder to develop funding lines for their own research should they align with the organisation’s objectives.

The post holder will be required to engage at all levels within the organisation and externally with the MOD and other organisations, including regulatory authorities.

In this role you will:

• Work collaboratively across inter-disciplinary teams across the non-clinical/clinical interface to ensure robust studies are planned, carried out to the required clinical and regulatory standards, and reported appropriately
• Work on multiple projects depending on experience
• Contribute to regulatory documentation and submissions to regulatory authorities
• Provide robust and reliable clinical advice to MOD stakeholders to enable informed decision making
• Develop internal and external networks to ensure knowledge is appropriately shared and exploited within both the military and civilian environments
• Manage and conduct interactions with external partners and ensure positive and trusted relationships are developed
• Exercise good judgement to reach evidence-based decisions and be confident and clear in presenting your ideas and work to a variety of technical and non-technical audiences
• Maintain CPD to ensure your advice to projects and relevant external organisations is current
• Maintain currency in clinical affairs regulations and requirements affecting pharmaceutical product development activities at Dstl
• Promote and raise the importance of clinical affairs issues within the organisation and amongst stakeholders
• Organise your time and be able to prioritise activities across a number of diverse activities
• Be highly self-motivated
• Work safely in accordance with Dstl policies and procedures

Person specification

We are looking for an individual to join a small team of medical officers in roles that provide critical specialist advice and support in a wide range of research and development programmes.  The successful candidate will work across teams, scientists, and project managers to enable delivery of the projects.

We are looking for someone who has:

• Working experience in the pharmaceutical sector, with experience in early-stage drug development
• A CCT in any medical specialty – a CCT in Pharmaceutical Medicine, Pharmacology and Therapeutics or General Medicine is highly desirable
• A GMC licence to practise
• Good interpersonal skills, including the ability to form strong working relationships with the existing Dstl medical team, scientific staff and military and non-military partners
• A strong understanding of regulatory guidelines and regulations associated with clinical trials and licensing of drug products – a knowledge of good clinical practice (GCP) is essential
• Appropriate skills and experience to provide medical input to and oversight of clinical trials of investigational medicinal products (CTIMPs)
• Experience of providing medical input to target product profiles (TPPs)
• Experience of providing medical input to investigator’s brochures (IBs), clinical trial protocols and other regulatory documents
• Experience of interacting with regulatory authorities
• A proven track record of working collaboratively within teams
• The ability to organise, plan and implement projects to deadlines
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• A commitment to undertake continuing professional development (CPD) throughout their career

Important Information

Our work in defence, security and intelligence requires our employees to be UK Nationals who are able to gain a high level of security clearance to undertake the projects we are involved in to protect us from security threats. For this reason, only UK Nationals will be able to apply for this role. If you are an international or dual-national candidate, and you think you have the skills we need, please consider applying to any of our government, security, or defence partners.

This role will require full UK security clearance and you should have resided in the UK for the past 5 years. For some roles Developed Vetting will also be required, in this case you should have resided in the UK for the past 10 years.

Licences

Full registration with a licence to practise medicine with the GMC

Qualifications

Essential

• Full registration with a licence to practise medicine with the GMC
• MBChB or equivalent
• Completion of Higher Specialist Training Desirable
• Qualifications in one or more of the following: Pharmaceutical Medicine, Human Pharmacology, Clinical Pharmacology, Clinical Toxicology/Pathology, Critical Care or Emergency Medicine
• Intercalated or separate BSc degree in a Biological Science
• Scientific postgraduate higher research degree

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

Delivering at Pace

• Making Effective Decisions
• Leadership
• Working Together

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

Leadership

Benefits 

Dstl’s full range of great benefits can be found in the information pack which includes:

• Financial: An excellent pension scheme starting from 26% employer contribution (find out more here). In Year Rewarding Achievement bonuses and thank you vouchers. Rental deposit scheme and cycle to work scheme. 
• Flexible working: Working options include alternative working patterns, compressed hours, job shares and annualised hours
• Flexible working hours: Ability to bank hours in a 12-month reference period including the ability to accrue and use 3 days per calendar month. 
• Annual leave: A generous annual leave allowance starting at 25 days pro rata (rising to 30 after 5 years) plus 8 public holidays with the ability to buy/sell 5 additional days per annum.
• Family: Maternity, adoption or shared parental leave of up to 26 weeks with full pay, an additional 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid
• Learning and Development: Encouragement and support on charterships, accreditations and access to fully funded apprenticeships up to level 7 (Masters Degree). Paid memberships with 2 relevant bodies/institutions. Employees have access to Civil Service Learning.
• Facilities: Onsite parking, EV Charging points, restaurants, cafés, and gyms.

The information pack can be found attached to the job specification on Civil Service Jobs. 

Diversity 

We have a number of support networks to ensure all employees feel supported at work. These include the following:

• Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Network
• Race, Faith and Culture Network
• Parents and Carer Support Network
• Alternative Working Network
• Gender Equality Network
• New Starters Network
• Enabled Network, for people with visible and non-visible disabilities.

For further information about Dstl please check out our LinkedIn page

Things you need to know

Selection process details

• This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
• Interviews will take place from the week commencing 27th March 2023 
• A short presentation at the interview maybe required.  
• We want you to have your best chance of success in our recruitment process, so If at any stage of the application process you would like help or assistance, please contact the Dstl Recruitment Team dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk and we will do all we can to support you.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

• Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.
• Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check.

See our vetting charter.

People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

This job is not open to candidates who hold a dual nationality.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

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 also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Apply and further information

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Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Dstl recruitment team
• Email : Dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk

Recruitment team :

• Email: dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk

Or to apply, please click the Apply button.

Further information

Should you wish to raise a formal complaint about the Dstl recruitment process you should email dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk stating the nature of the issue. We will respond within 5 working days.