Programme Manager – Chemical Safety Assessment

Programme Manager – Chemical Safety Assessment

Grade: Band 3

Location: London

Salary: £43,116 – £49,891 plus London allowances

Contract type: Permanent (full and part-time hours available)

Introduction

Science-led and evidence-based, the NC3Rs is the UK’s national organisation for the 3Rs, established to accelerate the development and uptake of new models and tools that replace, reduce or refine the use of animals in research and testing. Fostering academic/industry interactions to accelerate the development and validation of relevant and predictive models for drug safety and human disease is critical to delivery of the 3Rs. Our scientific staff play a key role in horizon scanning for research opportunities which benefit the 3Rs, identifying potential partnerships to deliver these benefits effectively and acting as an honest broker to facilitate data sharing between companies and sectors to create evidence-bases to support change in practice, policy or regulations.

The NC3Rs has an annual budget of approximately £10.5M and is primarily funded by Government through the Medical Research Council (MRC) and Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), which in turn are part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Our activities are divided between our role as the UK’s major 3Rs research and innovation funder and programmes led by our own team of scientists. Further information can be found at www.nc3rs.org.uk .

Role of the Programme Manager – Chemical Safety Assessment

The Programme Manager for Chemical Safety Assessment works with scientists from the chemicals industries (including from agrochemicals and industrial chemicals, cosmetics and consumer products, pharmaceutical and contract research industries), academia and regulatory agencies to initiate, lead, support and deliver programmes of work that accelerate the 3Rs in the safety assessment of chemicals for the protection of human health and the environment. Examples of previous and ongoing projects include those within our toxicology and regulatory sciences programme , (e.g ecotoxicology programme , projects to refine animal use for acute toxicity testing and the development and application of new approach methodologies (NAMs). The role also involves horizon scanning to identify new projects in areas of 3Rs strategic importance.

The post holder will work collaboratively within the Toxicology Team to maximise the programme’s strategies and outputs to best deliver the NC3Rs mission, and will also work with the Innovation Team responsible for delivering our CRACK IT Challenges .

Key responsibilities

The main responsibilities of this role are outlined below:

Outreach:

- To work with industry, including (agro)chemical companies, pharmaceutical/biotechnology industries, contract research organisations, as well as regulatory bodies and academic organisations from the UK and overseas to accelerate the development and uptake of the 3Rs in chemical safety assessment and product development for the protection of human health and the environment.

- To facilitate cross-company and cross-sector collaborations.

Programmes:

- To focus on areas of strategic relevance to the 3Rs within existing regulatory requirements to improve current practices, as well as to identify opportunities to influence regulatory change - this will include leading expert working groups; organising workshops and other events; data collation and analysis; developing recommendations and preparing papers for publication.

Research:

·      To conduct desk-based research projects to drive and implement new 3Rs opportunities in chemical safety assessment by developing evidence-based recommendations for best practice and/or regulatory change.

·      To identify and steer research areas to drive new 3Rs opportunities within the NC3Rs research funding schemes and open innovation programme, CRACK IT Challenges.

·      To work with the research funding and innovation teams to help maximise the outputs of NC3Rs funded research and innovation relevant to chemical safety assessment.

Representation:

- To represent the NC3Rs in a variety of collaborations and networks across industry, academia and Government departments and agencies in the UK and overseas (including presenting the NC3Rs work at international conferences). 

Horizon Scanning:

- To maintain awareness of key scientific, business and regulatory developments and drivers relevant to the 3Rs.

- To keep abreast of other global 3Rs activities to ensure that the NC3Rs can exploit its strengths and avoid duplication of resources.

Person specification

Education, qualifications and training:

Essential:

·      PhD or MSc in a biological science, ideally toxicology and/or equivalent experience.

Desirable:

·      Experience of (eco)toxicology and regulatory sciences.

Previous work experience:

·      Experience of working in the pharmaceutical, (agro)chemicals, consumer products industry or contract research environment.

·      Knowledge of the regulatory environment for chemical safety assessment, for the protection of human health and/or the environment including, for example, an awareness of the OECD Test Guidelines Programme and global requirements for testing.

·      Experience of managing and delivering projects with a variety of stakeholders (e.g. companies, academics and regulators).

Other experience and knowledge:

·      Excellent understanding of the use of animals in chemical safety assessment.

·      Excellent oral and written communication skills, able to tailor style to a range of scientific, executive and lay audiences.

·      Experience of influencing at high level and ability to represent the NC3Rs externally in a range of forums.

·      Ability to deal with complex and sensitive issues with a wide range of stakeholders.

·      Persuasive and credible in winning support for NC3Rs mission.

·      The ability to handle, analyse and present complex information (scientific, financial, policy, ethical).

Personal skills, behaviours and qualities:

Essential:

·      A solid understanding of the use of animals in research and a demonstrable commitment to the 3Rs.

·      Experience of identifying, analysing and proposing solutions to varied and/or complex problems.

·      Experience of interpreting complex information and managing complex processes.

·      Significant degree of independence.

·      Excellent organisational skills and management of a varied workload.

·      The ability to work under pressure and deliver targets to tight deadlines.

·      Excellent inter-personal skills and team player.

·      Excellent IT skills.

·      Comfortable and confident working in a changing environment.

Desirable:

·      Project Management experience.

Reporting structure and salary

This role will be a part of the Science and Technology group and will report to Dr Fiona Sewell, Head of Toxicology. Salary will be in the range of £43,116 – £49,891 per annum (plus London allowances) depending on skills and experience.

The successful candidate will be subject to security checks.

The NC3Rs is an autonomous body responsible for setting and delivering its strategy and managing its resources. It is not an independent public body and for this reason it operates under the umbrella of the Medical Research Council (MRC), which is part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), using some UKRI administrative systems. A service agreement exists between the NC3Rs and the MRC. NC3Rs staff are appointed to the appropriate MRC Band and immediately seconded to the NC3Rs.

The NC3Rs offices are based in London. This role will be required to attend the offices in London and also to travel to attend meetings within the UK and/or overseas locations. The NC3Rs is a hybrid working employer, with staff working flexibly from home and other locations when and if necessary. The post holder may need to work early and/or late around key meetings and events.

Choosing to come to work at the NC3Rs means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme and excellent holiday entitlement to access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme, as well as the chance to put the NC3Rs on your CV in the future.

Our success is dependent upon our ability to embrace diversity and draw on the skills, understanding and experience of all our team members. We welcome applications from all sections of the community irrespective of gender, race, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, disability or age. As "Disability Confident" employers, we guarantee to interview all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy.

Further information

The closing date for applications is 2 June May 2024.

Please ensure you include a copy of your CV and a covering letter . Your cover letter should outline and explain how you meet the criteria listed in the person specification for this position. 

Interviews are due to take place mid-June 2024.