Dstl Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JQ
At Dstl, our vision is to have a modern way of working efficiently, accommodating and enabling our people to create, collaborate and deliver. To do this successfully in this job will require attendance at a Dstl location; Government Departments including wider MoD or Delivery and Mission Partner’s premises for 100% of your working time. Where business needs allow, and with the agreement of your line manager, there may be the option for a combination of workplace and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement.
Job Summary
Dstl is looking for dedicated
Animal Technicians to support research that underpins the UK’s defence against chemical and biological threats. This is your chance to play a hands‑on role in nationally important science, contributing directly to policies and decisions that protect the country.
You’ll work in a specialist environment where high standards of
animal welfare, scientific integrity, and regulatory compliance are at the heart of everything we do. Whether you’re experienced or looking to grow, you’ll receive structured training, professional development, and support to gain recognised qualifications, including IAT Levels 2–3 and Home Office licensing.
Dstl recognises the importance of diversity and inclusion as people from diverse backgrounds bring fresh ideas. We are committed to building an inclusive working environment in which each employee fulfils their potential and maximises their contribution.
Job Description
What you’ll do
- Deliver animal care to the highest welfare standards, with accurate monitoring and reporting
- Support research across in vivo and in vitro programmes
- Train and develop through competency assessments and formal qualifications
- Work with specialists including NACWOs, NVS, researchers, and technical teams
- Maintain compliance with Home Office legislation and internal quality frameworks
- Participate in rota including out‑of‑hours and on‑call duties (with additional payment)
What You’ll Do
- Deliver animal care to the highest welfare standards, with accurate monitoring and reporting
- Support research across in vivo and in vitro programmes
- Train and develop through competency assessments and formal qualifications
- Work with specialists including NACWOs, NVS, researchers, and technical teams
- Maintain compliance with Home Office legislation and internal quality frameworks
- Participate in rota including out‑of‑hours and on‑call duties (with additional payment)
Person specification
What You’ll Bring
- Experience working with animals in a professional, research, or care setting
- Strong organisational skills and attention to detail
- Clear communication and a collaborative mindset
- Reliability, flexibility, and a proactive approach
- Willingness to develop knowledge of ASPA and regulated environments
This is a rare opportunity to build a meaningful career where your work has real‑world impact. If you’re motivated, curious, and committed to excellent animal care, we’d love to hear from you.
Please see full job profile attached at the bottom of this page.
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.
Qualifications
Five GCSEs at grade C/4 or above, including Double Science, Maths, and English.
Willingness To Undertake Training And Development, Including
- Home Office Personal Licence (PIL) (if not already held)
- Relevant technical and professional qualifications
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Delivering at Pace
- Working Together
- Developing Self and Others
- Making Effective Decisions
Alongside your salary of £26,640, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory contributes £7,717 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
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.
- Working hours: Flexibility around your working day. Ability to bank hours in a 12 month reference period including the ability to accrue and use 3 days per calendar month.
- Where you work: Depending on your role, blended working may be available including remote working to suit you and your team. This can be discussed at interview.
- Annual leave: 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: Dstl encourages and supports charterships, accreditations and provides employees access to fully funded apprenticeships up to level 7 (Masters Degree). Dstl will pay for 2 memberships with relevant bodies/institutions. Employees also have access to Civil Service Learning.
- Facilities: Onsite parking, EV Charging points, restaurants, cafés and gyms.
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
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
[email protected] and we will do all we can to support you.
Sifting will take place week commencing the 13th July 2026 with interviews to be arranged from the 10th August 2026
Your interview will consist of behavioural & technical interview along with a tour of the animal facility, Interview will be held in person at Dstl Porton Down
- Appointment to this role is subject to the successful completion of a full physical and psychological assessment.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) 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 (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).
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.
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).
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.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact
Recruitment team
Further information
Should you wish to raise a formal complaint about the Dstl recruitment process you should email
[email protected] stating the nature of the issue. We will respond within 5 working days.