About the job

Job summary

We pride ourselves on 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. 

This is a laboratory-based role within Gastrointestinal Bacteria Reference Unit (GBRU) with primary focus on service delivery, 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. 

GBRU is a National Reference Laboratory and provides specialist and reference services for a specific range of hazard group 2 and 3 gastrointestinal and foodborne bacterial pathogens notably Bacillus cereus, Clostridium perfringens, C. 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.  GBRU has a high priority in ensuring the safe running of laboratory services and the safety of all staff.  

Job description

Your responsibilities include:

• To undertake basic microbiology and molecular laboratory duties under supervision guided by standard operating procedures, protocols or systems of work based on training provided, and taking into account the operational requirements of the laboratory.
• You will be able to make judgments, plan activities and contribute to service development, and may have responsibility for supervision of some staff. Plus knowledge of how to deal with a range of non-routine activities, such as work allocation, problem solving for a team or area of work.
• Preference will be given to those candidates with previous laboratory experience, particularly in a microbiological environment.
• You will be required to be able to use the LIMS and general laboratory duties and to complement other members of the team. Training will be given, and we would be looking to develop the post holder to become competent in our techniques.
• To ensure all quality procedures are followed and adhered to within the laboratory, and highlight to the senior staff or Lead Quality Manager any non-compliances as required.
• Contribute to internal and external audit programmes.
• Ensure compliance with UKAS & ISO 15189 and other accreditation and certification standards.
• Take every opportunity to suggest quality improvements. 

Asset Management

• Ensure efficient running and contribute to routine maintenance of all equipment, which will include high cost, complex equipment requiring calibration and regular maintenance is carried out following adequate training and competency assessment.
• Responsible for stock control of the Unit, ensuring sufficient stock levels are maintained for efficient service provision.
• To carry out performance checks on equipment.

Management

• Able to make decisions within defined limits of existing policy and operational process in conjunction with best practice and guidance from more senior staff and the lead Technical Laboratory Manager.

Strategy, Policy and Service Development.

• To support the implementation of new methods and technologies into the laboratory, in order to maximise quality and efficiency of testing.

Security, Health & Safety

In collaboration with the lab safety officer and complying with safety policies and procedures:

• To ensure confidentiality and conformity to the requirement of the Data Protection Act, Caldicott principles and the laboratory Information Systems and Technology Security policy.
• To ensure that health and safety are afforded priority and to demonstrate commitment to health, safety and welfare of self, staff and visitors.
• To ensure attendance of self and managed staff on safety training courses as required in the UKHSA Health & Safety training Policy and other safety policies as appropriate.
• To agree to implement and follow safety objectives.
• To ensure that risk assessments are implemented and maintained.
• To notify accidents, near misses, dangerous situations and shortcomings in health and safety via the appropriate management structure.               

IT infrastructure

• To be competent in the use of the laboratory’s IT systems and provide data to more senior staff as appropriate.

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.
• To participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e. fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training. 

 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;

• Laboratory Management team
• Laboratory staff across BRD
• Other laboratory staff throughout the MS division and UKHSA 

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Educated to A level (or BSc)/NVQ level 3 standard or equivalent to Diploma level.
• Experience in working in a CL2 laboratory including the use of bacteriology or molecular techniques.
• Knowledge and understanding of laboratory safety requirements and procedures.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office including Word and Excel.
• Previous experience of working in a laboratory environment using computerized data systems.
• Well-developed physical skills, especially in the manipulation of pipettes and other laboratory.
• Good understanding of quality assurance principles and procedures.
• Able to deal with problems in a calm and efficient manner.
• Able to follow Standard Operation Procedures.
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships. 

Desirable Criteria

• Able to work on own initiative, organising own workload to set deadlines.
• Undertaking or Educated to IBMS Cert of Achievement Part II level or equivalent level of qualification.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £26,392, UK Health Security Agency contributes £7,126 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

Selection Process: 

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 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of   

• a CV/ Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application) 
• a 1000 word 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.  

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

Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on all essential criteria.

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) remote interview. 

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

Interviews will be held week commencing 20th May 2024. Please note, these dates are subject to change.  

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

Eligibility Criteria

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

Disability Confident scheme  

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.  

Reserve List clause  

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  

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

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

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

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.