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UK Health Security Agency
About
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) will be responsible for planning, preventing and responding to external health threats, and providing intellectual, scientific and operational leadership at national and local level, as well as on the global stage. UKHSA will ensure the nation can respond quickly and at greater scale to deal with pandemics and future threats.
Deputy Director, Bioinformatics
Closed for applications on: 7-May-2024 00:04
Vacancy status: Closed
Closed for applications on: 7-May-2024 00:04
Key details
Location
- Site
- UKHSA Locations
- Town
- London, Leeds Birmingham, Liverpool
- Postcode
- NW9 5EQ
- Major / Minor Region
- London
Contract type & working pattern
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Job share
- Flexible working
Salary
- Salary
- £75,000 - £117,800 per annum, pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Grade
- (Civil Service: Senior Civil Servant (SCS) 1)
Specialty
- Main area
- Data, Analytics Surveillance
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
Significant developments made during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, led to the establishment of strong foundations for the improved use of pathogen genomics to protect public health. Recognising this, this new post will provide specialist expertise to drive forwards the bioinformatics component of UKHSA’s work, as well as relevant elements of the pathogen genomics programme. The postholder will also work with external specialists and other clinical partners.
This post will be responsible for providing strategic leadership for the bioinformatics function of the UKHSA, as well as operational leadership of the core bioinformatics team within the Data Operations Directorate. The postholder will be responsible for identifying emerging trends, technologies, and tools in microbial genomics and bioinformatics so that the UKHSA stay at the forefront of the field, communicating complex technical concepts, contributing to grant applications, and contributing high-level input to data analysis pipelines and interpretation.
The post holder will also undertake the important role of UKHSA Head of Profession for Bioinformatics, working to champion and establish comprehensive communities of practice within UKHSA and across wider professions networks. There is also significant potential for collaboration with academic partners.
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- Identify, discuss, and action own professional performance and training / development needs with your line manager through appraisal / individual development plan. Attending internal / external training events and ensuring pursuit of programme of continuous professional development in accordance with any relevant professional registration or statutory requirements
- To participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e., fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training.
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.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Deputy Director oversees a broad programme of work including:
- Developing and implementing the strategic vision for bioinformatics in alignment with UKHSA’s wider goals and in particular its Pathogen Genomics Strategy
- Line management responsibility for the core bioinformatics team
- Delivery of complex projects that require cross Agency engagement and multi-disciplinary working
- Providing a focal point for bioinformatics within the Agency including undertaking the role of Head of Profession for bioinformatics. This will include promoting training, bringing teams together, ensuring that Bioinformaticians across the Agency are aligned to strategic priorities, are following guidelines, and working within defined remit
- Identifying emerging trends, technologies, and tools in microbial genomics and bioinformatics to stay at the forefront of the field
- Communicating complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders across all organisation-levels
- Contributing to external presentations and grant applications, and engaging in academic collaborations relevant to genomics and bioinformatics
- Working with external partners to ensure best practice is shared and collaboration are in place to continuously improve the service
- Provide strategic and operational leadership across groups and oversee work of Programme lead to ensure all core bioinformatics projects, including managing timelines, budgets, and resources, while maintaining a high quality of work and analysis
- Contributing high-level input to data analysis pipelines and interpretation
- Collaborating with other teams and wet lab scientists to provide bioinformatics support
- Ensuring that the service provides expert advice for wider public health delivery to internal and external customers.
- Having strategic and operational oversight of the development and maintenance of bioinformatics pipelines and keeping them efficient, accurate, and up to date, while ensuring that best practices are upheld
- Working closely with Data, Analytics and Surveillance colleagues, ensure strategic alignment with the UKHSA Technology Strategy, in the context of data storage, archiving etc and that technology requirements are fit for purpose to support the ongoing Bioinformatics pipelines and requirements
- Ensuring strategic engagement with all parts of the UKHSA that contribute to pathogen genomic surveillance, supporting a “one system” approach, including ensuring sequencing data are available as required
KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
The post holder will develop working relationships and communicate regularly with a wide range of individuals, clinical and non-clinical, internal, and external to UKHSA. This will include.
Internal
- Directors and Deputy Directors across
- Science
- Clinical and Public Health
- Technology
- Health Protection Operations
- Data, Analytics and Surveillance
- Science Data and Performance Lead
- Relevant colleagues across wider UKHSA
External
- Key academic partners
- Relevant stakeholders within Cabinet Office and HM Treasury, other government departments, non-departmental bodies, and potential funding organisations
- Professional leads across HMG
- Relevant stakeholders within identified external data providers and users (public and private sector)
- Devolved Administrations, departments, and organisations
- Private sector leaders
Application stage
Applicants are strongly advised to use the criteria in the Person Specification of the Job Description as sub-headings in their application to make it clear how they meet each of the selection criteria.
At sift stage you will be assessed on the essential criteria listed in the job advert and statement of suitability.
Your statement of suitability must be no more than 1500.
Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Interview stage
This vacancy is being assessed using Success Profiles. During the interview we will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
Behaviours to be assessed:
- Leadership
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Working together
- Communicating and influencing
- Managing a quality service
You will be asked to prepare and present a 5-10 minute presentation. The subject of this will be sent to you prior to interview.
Location information
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 UKHSA’s locations (London incl Colindale, Leeds, Liverpool, Birmingham). That is approximately 3 days a week in the office (pro rata) and the rest of your time working from home. Majority of the team is Colindale based and therefore there is an expectation to travel on regular basis. Specialist or regional roles will be based at the appropriate UKHSA site. For certain roles, some additional flexibility may be possible, which will be agreed upon with the hiring manager based on individual requirements and business needs.
Option 1 - External
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
Security Clearance Level Requirement:
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: SC.
Working for the Civil Service
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 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 welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.
It’s important to note that there are currently exceptions to applications being considered if your conviction relates to any of the following:
- life sentences
- arson
- sexual offences
- hate and terror offences
Some departments will also consider the specific offence against the nature of the business, i.e., a conviction for fraud may rule you out for a finance role.
Reserve List:
Candidates who pass the interview criteria but are not offered a post will be kept on a reserve list for 12 months and may be contacted if similar roles become available.
If you are interviewed for the post and do not meet the required threshold for the specified grade, your application may be assessed against a similar, lower grade role and you may be offered the post should one be available
Starting salary:
New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.
The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase.
Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.
For further details please refer to the Information Sheet- Starting Salaries & Benefits attachment
Further information
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.
IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ
This is a Non-Reserved post under the Civil Service Nationality Rules. To be eligible for employment in the UK Civil Service applicants must meet the Civil Service Nationality Rules (CSNRs) which operate independently of and additionally to the Immigration Rules. 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)
For posts on UKHSA Civil Service terms and conditions, new entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. For existing Civil Servants and roles advertised across government, the rules of transfer apply, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive a 10% increase. 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.
For Temporary Appointments, if you are not currently a civil servant, you will take up the post on a Fixed Term appointment. If you are an existing Civil Servant, based outside of the UKHSA, you will take up the post as a loan. 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.
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 (attached as a supporting document).
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
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria at sift to ensure these candidates are invited to interview. 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/
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- A PhD in bioinformatics or microbiology with a heavy bioinformatics component OR MSc / PhD (or equivalent experience) within a life sciences subject such as bioinformatics, biology, medicine, statistics, etc with significant hands-on experience in Computational Biology gained within a relevant setting
Knowledge and Experience
Essential criteria
- 5+ years relevant experience
- Proven leadership and line management skills, demonstrating your ability to guide a team effectively
- A track record of leading the development and implementation of bioinformatics software
- Hands-on experience with genomic sequencing and troubleshooting of bioinformatic pipelines
- Knowledge of microbial whole genome sequencing techniques and tools, including short and long read sequencing
- Familiarity with Illumina sequencing platforms, such as MiSeq and NextSeq, along with expertise in Sanger sequencing
Desirable criteria
- Proven expertise in transcriptomics, particularly RNA-seq data analysis
- Experience in predicting biosynthetic gene clusters from genomic data
- Prior experience with network analysis and machine learning to analyse large datasets
- Prior experience of working with relational databases, with a focus on MySQL
- Experience with cloud computing, especially Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI)
Skills / Capabilities / Behaviours
Essential criteria
- Proficiency in Python, Snakemake, and R, showcasing your programming expertise
Desirable criteria
- Proficiency in containerization, specifically Docker, to streamline data analysis workflows
- Familiarity in translating research bioinformatic techniques into practice (e.g, through UKAS accreditation)
- Familiarity with DevOps / Sysadmin
Equality and Diversity
Essential criteria
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.
Documents
- Candidate Pack (PDF, 632.3KB)
- Functional Requirements Form (PDF, 344.6KB)
- Job Description (PDF, 512.3KB)
- Civil Service Recruitment Principles (PDF, 2.6MB)
- Civil Service Nationality Rules (PDF, 345.1KB)
- Application Form Guidance Notes (PDF, 77.3KB)
- Information Sheet - Starting salaries and benefits (PDF, 129.4KB)
- Information Sheet - Selection Process (PDF, 110.1KB)
- Working at UKHSA and your benefits (PDF, 219.2KB)
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Sam Organ
- Job title
- Director, Data Operations
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Additional information
For more information about the role please contact:
Sam Organ, Director, Data Operations - [email protected]
No longer accepting applications
Sorry, this vacancy is no longer accepting applications.
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