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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

Find out more

Jobs Website

Open

Ref: 919-NP-300774-EXT Vacancy ID: 7655477

Senior Biomedical Scientist – Team Leader

Accepting applications until: 05-Jan-2026 23:59

Vacancy status: Open

Accepting applications until: 05-Jan-2026 23:59

Location

Gwefan: Addenbrooke’s Hospital
Cyfeiriad: Hills Road
Tref: Cambridge
Cod post: CB2 0QQ
Major / Minor Region: London

Contract type & working pattern

Contract

Permanent

Oriau

Full time
Part time
Job share
Flexible working

37.5 hours per week

Salary

Cyflog: £47,810 - £54,710 Per annum Pro rata
Cyfnod cyflog: Yearly
Gradd: (NHS AfC: Band 7)

Specialty

Prif leoliad: Biomedical Science

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.

Swydd-ddisgrifiad a phrif gyfrifoldebau manwl

Staff managed

Biomedical Scientists and support staff team within the laboratory.

Technical and scientific

Advises staff regarding technical difficulties.
Participates in implementing and suggesting changes to work practices and procedures.
Selection of appropriate test profiles for samples received according to agreed protocols.
Analysis of cultures, determination of antibiotic susceptibility and biomedical identification of micro-organisms
Performance of immunological and other assays to investigate microbial infection and management of therapeutic agents.
Screen and interpret test results (including those from regional specialties within the hospitals served) and communicate findings to senior colleagues and medical microbiology staff.
Technical validation of reports for clinical authorisation
Under strict protocols authorisation of reports for release to other departments, wards, general practitioners and other customers.
Participate in provision of out of hours on-call service (lone working).
Participate in Senior BMS rotation through all sections of the department.
Contribute to preparation of documents and SOPs
Contribute to incident and outbreak investigations
Participate in and support relevant R&D activities of the laboratory and UKHSA, including epidemiological characterisation of organisms by alternative technologies.
Provide technical advice to internal and external laboratory users
Perform any other duties required by the line manager commensurate with the grade

Health & Safety

In collaboration with the Laboratory Safety Team:

Ensure that all tasks are carried out to the required safety standards
Report all accidents and incidents or near misses, dangerous situations or shortcomings in health and safety training instructions
Maintain competence to work to containment level 3 standards
Participate in risk assessment

Your attention is drawn to the Health & Safety Act of 1974 which requires you to take reasonable care for yourself and others who may be affected by your acts and omissions at work; and to co-operate with your employer on any matters of health and safety.

Quality/Clinical Governance

In collaboration with Laboratory Quality manager:

Participate in quality management audits.
Maintain a high standard of work and comply with departmental quality policy
Contribute to internal and external quality assurance programmes
Ensure compliance with UKAS and other accreditation and certification standards
Contribute to internal and external audit programmes and corrective actions
Participate in review of Standard Operating Procedures take every effort to suggest quality improvements

Information Technology

Record test results on live computer systems in accordance with agreed standard operating procedures
Use databases and software packages.

Staff management and training

On a day-to-day basis manages and allocates work to BMS, Healthcare Science Support workers and other junior grade staff within a section of the laboratory to comply with agreed laboratory turn around times.
With other team leaders plans day-to-day of the work of the laboratory.
Plans the day-to-day training activities of staff within the section.
Responsible for internal communication to staff within the section
Participate in training and supervision of trainee BMS and Healthcare Science Support staff.
Participate in skills development of other BMS.
Participate in training of junior medical staff in microbiological techniques.

Support services & Equipment

Participate in management of stock levels within the laboratory
Monitor and maintain laboratory equipment.

Strategy, Policy and Service development

Actively participate as a member of the Senior BMS Committee
Work with others to improve working practices.

General employment responsibilities

Ensure confidentiality and conformance to Data Protection Act in collaboration with designated Caldecott Guardian, Data Protection Officer and Security of information Officer.
Actively participate and maintain a continuing professional development programme
Develop professional/management expertise by undertaking further appropriate training as required.

Working Environment:

This job will involve frequent exposure to unpleasant bodily fluids including sputum, faeces, blood etc. and to Micro-organisms likely to cause disease.
To work within the UKHSA and Laboratory policies, codes of practice and professional guidelines.

Essential criteria

FIBMS (fellow of the institute of Biomedical Science) or equivalent
State HCPC Registration
Maintains professional competence in biomedical sciences
Understands quality assurance principles and procedures
Knows and understands laboratory safety requirements and procedures
Relevant experience of working in a microbiology laboratory
Aptitude for managing people and assessing performance Ability to analyse data and present it in a meaningful way
Able to convey ideas and opinions clearly, concisely, orally and in writing
Ability to prioritise work in a timely manner

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 abilities outlined in the essential criteria.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

Competency-based

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 9 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
1000 word supporting statement.

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

The Application form and supporting statement will be marked together.

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

If longlisting is used, the pile meeting all essential criteria will be proceed to shortlisting.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Shortlisting:

In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on the following essential criteria:

State HCPC Registration

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

Please do not exceed 1000 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview

Competency based

You will be invited to a single face to face interview at our Cambridge lab.

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

Interview dates are yet to be confirmed.

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.

Location

This role is being offered as office/lab based at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0QQ.

Please note hybrid working is not available for this role.

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 is Counter-terrorist Check. If based at one of our labs, 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. In exceptional circumstances UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

Eligibility Criteria

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

Face to Face Interviews

In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

Salary Information

If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.

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

Future location

UKHSA is investing in a new state-of-the-art National Biosecurity Centre in Harlow, Essex, which will eventually bring together teams currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale and Porton Down. For more details, please see: Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection - GOV.UK.

The new facilities will start becoming operational in the mid-2030s, with full completion by 2038. Staff will move in phases as facilities become available. If you're appointed to a role currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale or Porton Down, please note that we'll continue investing in these sites for the next decade. As we get closer to the transition, we'll provide full information about relocation support available to staff.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

Person specification

Application form & Supporting statement

Meini prawf hanfodol

Application form & Supporting statement

Essential Criteria

Meini prawf hanfodol

Questions on knowledge/experience/skills & abilities

Documents

Further details / informal visits contact

Enw: Nigel Poole
Teitl y swydd: Resourcing Officer
Cyfeiriad ebost: [email protected]
Gwybodaeth i gefnogi eich cais: For additional information concerning the role contact Paula Smith via [email protected]