Senior Biomedical Scientist

The United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is a system leader for health security; taking action internationally to strengthen global health security, providing trusted advice to government and the public and reducing inequalities in the way different communities experience and are impacted by infectious disease, environmental hazards, and other threats to health.

UKHSA’s remit, as an agency with a global-to-local reach, is to protect the health of the nation from infectious diseases and other external threats to health. As the nation’s expert national health security agency UKHSA will:

• Prevent: anticipate threats to health and help build the nation’s readiness, defences and health security
• Detect: use cutting edge environmental and biological surveillance to proactively detect and monitor infectious diseases and threats to health
• Analyse: use world-class science and data analytics to assess and continually monitor threats to health, identifying how best to control and mitigate the risks
• Respond: take rapid, collaborative and effective actions nationally and locally to mitigate threats to health when they materialise
• Lead: lead strong and sustainable global, national, regional and local partnerships designed to save lives, protect the nation from public health threats and reduce inequalities.

Job overview

botulinum, E. coli, Listeria, Campylobacter, Helicobacter, Salmonella, Shigella, Yersinia and Vibrio species.

GBRU works at local, regional, national, and international levels to reduce the impact of food, water and environmentally borne illnesses on people’s health.

Activities include provision of bacterial typing services to assist national surveillance, the detection and investigation of outbreaks and specialist microbiological services for the examination of clinical, food, water, and environmental samples.

Currently, a combination of phenotypic and genotypic methods is used to detect, identify, and type bacterial isolates and this increasingly involves the use of whole genome sequencing. We are streamlining workflows for different pathogens across the unit to facilitate implementation of new technology whilst maintaining the capability to perform standard reference methods.

• As a senior scientist & team leader, assist in the provision and organisation of safe, timely, high quality and economical CL2 and CL3 reference services within GBRU
• To undertake DNA-based detection and typing for a range of bacterial pathogens with assays and techniques such as real-time polymerase chain reaction, fAFLP and whole genome sequencing (WGS).
• Assist in providing a flexible laboratory response to emergency public health needs including investigation of incidents of deliberate release of pathogenic organisms, outbreaks of gastrointestinal disease and to general investigations of illness as appropriate.
• To assist and deputise the section heads, dealing with customer queries and ensuring the section is run and maintained in an effective and economical manner.
• To provide technical support to GBRU Reference Services as appropriate including adjusting day-to-day work priorities to meet changing demands or emergency requirements.
• Report non-conformances and undertake root cause analysis and implement actions for improvement of processes and services.
• Ensure compliance with ISO15189 & ISO17025 and other accreditation and certification standards.
• Supervise and when required organise the daily work for lower graded staff, temporary staff, visitors, and students.
• Undertake IPR for lower grade staff and support development of staff in their respective roles in GBRU.

This is not an exhaustive list please see Job description document for full list of duties

Working for our organisation

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.

UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.

UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

This is a laboratory-based senior scientist role within GBRU with primary focus on team leadership, service delivery, service development, training staff to undertake laboratory procedures to a high degree of competence and, assisting senior staff members to maintain an excellent Safety and Quality Management Systems within the Unit to ensure compliance with accreditation standards

We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic scientist for a permanent post in the Gastrointestinal Bacteria Reference Unit (GBRU). The post holder will work within the Bacillus, Clostridia and Listeria Services (BCLS) which provides the National Reference services for Clostridium botulinum, Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium tetani, Bacillus cereus and Listeria species.

The post holder will assist the Section Head in ensuring that GBRU provides a national and international service in all aspects of the work of the unit.

The post holder will also work with senior staff across GBRU to ensure that both the service and non-service work of the unit is carried out in a safe, effective, timely manner and operates to a quality system: this includes molecular assays, conventional microbiological as well as genomic and proteomic analysis on a range of gastrointestinal bacterial isolates and clinical specimens.

We are seeking a HCPC registered Senior Biomedical Scientist (BMS) with a significant experience in a microbiological laboratory, who can provide evidence of diagnostic and reference service delivery, Quality and United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) accreditation experience as well as staff supervision and training.

Essential criteria

• BSc Degree in microbiology/biological science or in a relevant subject or equivalent
• HCPC registration as a Specialist Biomedical Scientist.
• Practical experience of food or water microbiology and a good understanding of clinical microbiology of HG2 pathogens
• Team Leadership and staff management skills for effective microbiological service delivery
• In-depth knowledge of laboratory safety requirements and procedures
• Thorough understanding of quality assurance principles and procedures including customer care
• Independent thinker with problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands in a calm and efficient manner.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

Success Profiles

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• 1500-word (maximum) Statement of Suitability.

This should outline how you consider your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.

Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked separately, and you must pass both to move forward to interview.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:

Meets all essential criteria

Meets some essential criteria

Meets no essential criteria

Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist based on qualification and experience.

• BSc Degree in microbiology/biological science or in a relevant subject or equivalent
• Practical experience of food or water microbiology and a good understanding of clinical microbiology of HG2 pathogen

Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered.

Stage 2: Interview

Success profiles

Behaviours, technical, experience, ability and strengths will be tested at interview.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

• Changing and improving
• Making effective decisions
• Managing a quality service
• Delivering at pace

Candidates will be expected to give a short presentation at the interview (topic will provided closer to the interview).

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Selection Process

Please note you will not be able to upload your CV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible. Please do not email us your CV.

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).

Location

Office based at a specific Scientific Campus: Colindale

Please note hybrid working is not available for this role

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

As it is based at one of our scientific campuses, you will be required to have a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum.

For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years as the role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance.

applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

Person specification

Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application

• Application Form

Statement of Suitability

• 1500 words with reference to the essential criteria.

Behaviours

• Changing and improving
• Making effective decisions
• Managing a quality service
• Delivering at pace

IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ

Your application may be rejected and/or you may be subject to disciplinary action if evidence of plagiarism is detected. Examples of plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence (AI), as your own.

Applicants must also meet necessary security and vetting requirements, along with any other relevant pre-employment checks.

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

For more information on job nationality requirements and the right to work in the UK, see the Civil Service Nationality rules (opens in a new window) and the UK Visas and Immigration rules (opens in a new window)

Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

The Civil Service pay structure and progression is different from NHS Agenda for Change (AfC), most local authority pay grades and other systems that have annual pay increments. For further details, please refer to the Information Sheet- Starting Salaries & Benefits attachment.

For AfC or Medical/Dental posts, you must have the correct professional registration to be appointed. The pay will follow the AfC or Medical & Dental terms & conditions. You may be asked to provide evidence of previous service whilst we are conducting pre-employment checks to determine your starting salary.

You cannot take the post up as a fixed term. If you are an existing UKHSA member of staff, you will take up the post as either a level transfer or a temporary promotion as per the UKHSA’s Pay policy.

Given the nature of the work of the UKHSA, as a Category 1 responder under the Civil Contingencies Act, you may be required in an emergency, if deemed a necessity, to redeploy to another role at short notice. You may also be required to work at any other location, within reasonable travelling distance of your permanent home address, in line with the provisions set out in your contract of employment.

Late Applications will unfortunately not be considered.

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 equality of opportunity. The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: [email protected] If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website here.

Reserve List - If more than the required number of suitable candidates pass the interview criteria, you may be kept on a reserve list for 12 months subject to your agreement. You may be contacted, in merit-order, if similar roles with closely matching essential criteria become available and the department choose to appoint from a reserve list.

Interview expenses will not be reimbursed.

UKHSA is required to check employment and/or education history covering three consecutive years. Please ensure you give details of at least two different referees, even if you were employed in one company for three years or more.

If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system. Please note, all communication regarding your application will be made via email, please ensure you check your junk/spam folders as emails are sometimes filtered there.

Any move to UKHSA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

Benefits of working at UKHSA include:

• Generous annual leave:
• 26 days for the first 5 years of continuous service
• 28 days after 5 years of continuous service
• 32 days after 10 years of continuous service
• Plus public holidays and one privilege day for the King’s birthday
• Access to a generous Defined Benefit pension scheme with employer contributions.
• Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme, season ticket advances and payroll giving.
• Access to a retail discounts and cashback site.
• We also promote flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours). UKHSA views flexible working as essential in enabling us to recruit and retain talented people, ensuring that they are able to enjoy a long-lasting career with us. All employees have the right to apply for flexible working and there are a range of options available including working from home, compressed hours and job sharing.
• We also offer a generous maternity/ paternity and adoption leave package.

Hybrid Working

UKHSA operates a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce.

As a hybrid worker, you will usually spend a minimum of 60% of your contracted hours (averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's locations (approximately 3 days a week pro rata) and the rest of your time working from home.

Disability Confident Scheme

If you wish to be included in this scheme please tick the box on your application form.

Reasonable Adjustments

The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone.

To help you during the recruitment process, we will take into account any reasonable adjustments that could help you.

An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work.

This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme.

If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should:

Contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs.

You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/

International Police Check

If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and could be time accrued over that period.