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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.

Contact

Address: 10 South Colonnade; London; E14 4PU

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Closed

Ref: 919-NE-309362-EXT Vacancy ID: 6477093

Lead Scientist: Sexually Transmitted Infections Laboratory

Closed for applications on: 12-Aug-2024 00:05

Vacancy status: Closed

Closed for applications on: 12-Aug-2024 00:05

Location

Site: Colindale
Address: 61 Colindale Avenue
Town: London
Postcode: NW9 5EQ
Major / Minor Region: London

Contract type & working pattern

Contract

Permanent

Hours

Full time
Part time
Job share
Flexible working

37.5 hours per week

Salary

Salary: £58,972 - £68,525 Per annum Pro rata. Additional HCAS applies.
Salary period: Yearly
Grade: (NHS AfC: Band 8b)

Specialty

Main area: Sexually Transmitted Infections Reference Laboratory

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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Your main duties and responsibilities will include:

As the Section Head and Lead Scientist for the Bacterial STI laboratory Surveillance services within the UKHSA’s Bacteriology Reference Department, your role encompasses multifaceted responsibilities aimed at ensuring the efficient and effective delivery of reference services while upholding stringent quality and governance standards.
You will provide overarching management, scientific, and professional leadership to the Bacterial STI laboratory surveillance services, ensuring the safe delivery of services in adherence to Quality (ISO15189) and governance standards, as well as compliance with Health and Safety policies and procedures, all within budget and on time. A critical aspect of your role involves ensuring the high-quality validation of clinical reports and collaborating closely with the staff of BRD and relevant consultant medical microbiologists to provide input into clinical interpretation and ensure the prompt and accurate delivery of reference and surveillance services.
You will review services regularly to ensure alignment with public health requirements and actively encourage innovations that enhance the effectiveness of the laboratory's work. Moreover, you will actively seek income generation opportunities, such as grants or commercial sources, for evaluating new assays and technologies. Your responsibilities extend to leading the analysis of data generated in studies, maintaining accurate records of evaluations, and presenting findings at scientific meetings. Additionally, you will be responsible for preparing reports for commercial customers and papers for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
As part of your managerial duties, you will participate in Senior Management Team meetings, support the career and professional development of staff within the team, and ensure the provision of a safe working environment for all staff and visitors. In your clinical/professional capacity, you will ensure robust arrangements for Clinical Governance, work with Consultant Medical Microbiologists to provide input into clinical interpretation and ensure suitable cross-cover for competent validation of clinical reports.
Your role also involves promoting the personal and professional development of staff, supervising postgraduate research projects, and contributing to the maintenance of laboratory accreditation and quality management systems. Additionally, you will contribute to the development of information technology systems and databases for efficient service delivery, liaise with the LIMS team on the introduction of new tests, and ensure adherence to health and safety protocols.
Ultimately, your role is pivotal in driving the success and effectiveness of the Bacterial STI Surveillance Service, and you will be expected to carry out any other duties reasonably required by the directorate.
Service Leadership: Lead and manage the Bacterial STI laboratory surveillance programmes (e.g., GRASP, MARS), maintaining high standards and ensuring the service remains at the forefront of scientific innovation.
Team Management: Directly manage a team of specialists, providing professional leadership and fostering a positive, development-focused work environment
Scientific Expertise: Offer scientific expertise on bacterial STI pathogens and laboratory services to UKHSA, supporting strategic decision-making and policy development.
Clinical Support: Work closely with a Consultant Medical Microbiologist for clinical aspects of the service.

Essential criteria - you will be assessed on the below (6 number) essential criteria, which have been selected from the Job Description Document.

Selection Process Details:

This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your Qualifications, knowledge and experience and / or skills and capabilities outlined in the essential criteria.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the above listed (6 number) essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

CV/ Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)

(1250 number of words) word Statement of Suitability.

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

The CV / Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.

In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist and shortlist on:

Relevant professional qualification: either full registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as Clinical or Biomedical Scientist, or an ACS Certificate of Attainment, or a demonstrable plan to achieve registration within 12 months.
PhD in microbiology or a related discipline.

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

Please do not exceed 1250 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview

You will be invited to a single face to face interview.

If face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

There will be a presentation during the interview.

Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview .

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

Location

This role is based at Colindale, London. Please note hybrid working is not available for this role.

Eligibility Criteria

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.  

Please note: As this role falls under NHS AfC Terms and Conditions, benefits may vary slightly to those listed below.

IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Link below:

Artificial intelligence and recruitment | Civil Service Careers

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.  You may be able to take this role up as a Secondment. If you are an existing Civil Servant, based outside of the UKHSA, you will take up the post as a loan which you will need your department to agree. 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.

The panel will assess if candidates meet the requirement of the role first, using a specific benchmark system. 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.

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/

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.

Internal Fraud check

If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant’s personal details – name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional circumstances. Currently this is only for External candidates to the Civil Service.

Security Vetting

Please check the Security Clearance needed for the role and follow the link for more information:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

Relevant professional qualification: either full registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as Clinical or Biomedical Scientist, or an ACS Certificate of Attainment, or a demonstrable plan to achieve registration within 12 months
PhD in microbiology or a related discipline

Knowledge and experience

Essential criteria

Experience working within the STI field
Demonstrable experience of running services accredited to ISO 15189 standard
Proven record of research in relevant areas including significant/relevant publications
Clinical scientific and molecular microbiology experience

Desirable criteria

IT / LIMS systems – familiarity with database software and preparation of queries
Molecular assay development and validation

Documents

Further details / informal visits contact

Name: Nneoma Ezeh
Job title: Resourcing Support
Email address: [email protected]
Additional information: For enquires about your application please contact the recruitment team [email protected] , for enquiries about the role please contact vacancy holder [email protected]