About the job

Job summary

Job title – Bioinformatician

Profession-  Data Analytics

Directorate – Data Operations

Full Time equivalent - 37.5 hours

No of Roles – 2

Contract Type – Fixed Term Contract or Loan Until 31/03/2026

Location – Colindale, London NW9 5EQ

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 be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata,(averaged over a month) working at Colindale. 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.

Working Pattern – Full Time / Flexible Working / Hybrid Working

Grade & Salary – SEO. Inner London –£42,716- £48,068 per annum

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

This role is to be appointed under Civil Service Terms & Conditions. Full details on the T&C’s are found https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/.

Closing Date – 14/07/2024. 23:55pm. Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered

Interview Date –  TBC

Job description

We are looking for a Bioinformatician to work within the Data Operations Directorate. The Surveillance Systems and Bioinformatics Division within this space works across the organisation and with external partners to lead the design, development, maintenance and delivery of surveillance systems, with a focus on accessibility, interoperability and improving health security outcomes. The Division is also responsible for the provision of an informatics capability to support laboratory services and has oversight of the UKHSA bioinformatics function to support whole genome sequencing.

UKHSA’s immediate and most important priority is to continue the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. UKHSA is also in the process of building on the legacy of the COVID-19 response to ensure resilient and scalable infrastructure to secure the UK in the strongest position to protect the public from future threats to health.

The Bioinformatics Unit at the UK Health Security Agency provides computational pipelines for the processing of pathogen whole genome sequencing data, translating raw data into actionable results. Our results directly inform clinical and Public Health intervention. The successful applicant will directly contribute to the development and maintenance of state of the art bioinformatics software working on a number of high impact pathogens, like SARS-CoV2, mpox, MRSA and M. tuberculosis. UKHSA mission is challenging, innovative and in the spotlight. To achieve our objectives effectively and fairly, we commit to representing modern Britain and all its diversity. UKHSA recognises that diversity of background and life experience brings different insights, creates challenge, and encourages change and innovation. This in turn produces more accountable and trusted public services and better decisions; better because they are more attuned to the needs and interests of all our communities. Differences of thought and outlook are not only respected but expected. We want all our employees to feel that they can be themselves at work and that they are valued.

 

Data Operations

The UKHSA Data Operations Directorate provides strategic leadership and oversight for developing and managing a common and bespoke suite of performant, modern, secure, data and analytical tools, services, platforms and applications, ensuring access to high quality data and analytics services, internally and externally.

Job Overview

The Bioinformatics and Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) Software Development unit is part of Data Analytical Sciences within UKHSA’s National Infection Service Division. The unit is globally pre-eminent in the design, construction, validation, and deployment of bioinformatics pipelines for the automated analysis of Whole Genome Sequence (WGS) data for human bacterial and viral pathogens. Our High-Performance Compute (HPC) cluster runs  fully reproducible in-house pipelines for more than 20 bacterial and viral pathogens including SARSCOV2. We also provide support to The National TB unit and the 7 TB control boards by running a TB pipeline in collaboration with Oxford University. The Unit consists of 3 groups, respectively headed by Leads for In-House pipelines, for pipeline development, and for TB sequence service delivery. Contributions from members of each group are not constrained by group membership and are encouraged to be intra-group.

The postholder will contribute across the broad scope of the unit’s NGS Service activities, from maintenance and support of existing pipelines to extension of their deployment to further computational architectures (distributed, cloud, local, remote, external).

 

Main Duties of the Job

The postholder will contribute across the broad scope of the unit’s NGS Service activities, from maintenance and support of existing pipelines to extension of their deployment to further computational architectures (distributed, cloud, local, remote, external).

• Be responsible for day-to-day running and maintenance of the software and computer systems delivering existing UKHSA Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) pipelines.
• Be accountable in providing Team Leads with progress of work which in turn will feed in to reporting to the Unit Head and Assurance Board
• Be able to work autonomously and flag concerns accordingly that might impact the smooth running of the business
• Contribute to expanding deployment of existing WGS pipelines to additional computational platforms (on-prem and cloud)
• Support the identification and sharing of best bioinformatics practice.
• Keep your knowledge and technical skills current ensuring the best value for money is achieved
• Be able to report on deliverables to Team Leads and the wider organisation
• Accept responsibility for refactoring existing WGS software components
• Develop tested, validated, and versioned software components for WGS analyses, incorporate into and validate new WGS pipeline versions
• Influence decision makers to strive to improve quality and performance
• Build strong working relationships both internally and with external stakeholders
• Be able to support and guide Junior grades on complex or contentious matters
• Satisfy support requests logged through helpdesk
• Analyse data from projects to which you are assigned, accepting responsibility for generating reports within agreed timelines.
• Lead on the preparation of reports posters and publications arising from data. The processing of bacterial or viral whole genome sequencing data from Public Health relevant pathogens through our pipelines. Posters to be presented at Scientific conferences, publications are submitted to academic journals and reports for UKHSA internal stakeholders or project based
• Represent UKHSA at internal, National, and international meetings.
• Work consistent with the Bioinformatics Unit quality management system, ISO and other accreditation standards; participate in quality audits to support the unit’s accredited service.
• Comply with safety and quality protocols and procedures at all times

 

 

Communication and 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 too. This will require a high level of communication and influencing skills, disseminating complex technical information and an ability to communicate complex programmatic and IT issues to non-specialist groups in ‘layman’ terms. This will include.

Internal

• Substantial interactions with members of the Bioinformatics Team and the Central Sequencing Lab (CSL)
• Regular interactions with Laboratory scientists, embedded bioinformaticians and epidemiologists.
• Substantial interactions within DAS and with central IT (ICT) colleagues.

External

• Interaction with external scientific computing experts to deliver appropriate technologies through external cloud-based resource and utilising UKHSA computing infrastructure.
• Interactions with collaborating centres (Oxford University, EBI) to deliver software process for analysing WGS data. In addition, a high level of drafting skills is crucial in this role along with the ability to assimilate data.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

 

• Degree in Bioinformatics or a related life science.
• Postgraduate training in Bioinformatics
• Familiar with Linux/unix; proficient on the CLI
• Knowledge of Next Generation Sequencing technologies and associated bioinformatic analytical approaches.
• Experience of applying diverse bioinformatics tools, preferably to the analysis of microbial DNA
• Experience of developing, modifying, debugging code used for data analysis, preferably python
• Highly motivated, enthusiastic, and hard working
• Interested in the advancements of medical microbiology and genomics
• Problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands
• Must be able to use initiative to identify and implement tested solutions with a view to process and service improvement
• Must have ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise
• Ability to analyse complex facts and situations, develop a range of options, make recommendations
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.

 

Desirable Criteria:

• PhD in a relevant subject
• Experience of VCS systems (e.g. git) for software versioning and documentation
• Knowledge of software containerization (e.g. Docker, Singularity)
• Knowledge of PostgreSQL or similar RDBMS

 

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.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £42,716, UK Health Security Agency contributes £11,533 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

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Strengths

Stage 1: Application & Sift

As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide a Statement of Suitability in no more than 1000 words. This should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the experience criteria or the essential and desirable  criteria (outlined in the person specification section).

You will also be asked to provide information within the ‘Employer/ Activity history’ section of the application form. This is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV, setting out your career history.

Note: both your Statement of Suitability and Employment History sections will be scored with equal weight in the sifting process. You must complete both to progress. If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview.

If you are successful in the sift, you will be invited to interview where you will be asked a mixture of questions based on your experience, the behaviours listed in the advert and some strength-based questions.

 

Stage 2: Panel Interview

All applicants that progress to interview will be assessed on [behaviours / experience / strengths / technical / ability through Success Profiles. The interviews will be conducted remotely over Microsoft Teams

When assessing strengths, we want to find out whether you and the job role are a good fit. We will look at what you enjoy doing and what you do well and often. By ensuring that the role is the right fit for you, you are more likely to enjoy it and perform well.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

 

 

Benefits

• Alongside your salary of £51,824, UK Health Security Agency contributes £13,992 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.- https://www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk/joining-the-pension-scheme/benefits-of-the-pension-scheme/
• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• Range of health and wellbeing support

 

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.

 

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.

 

DBS - People working with government systems must complete Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks which includes a disclosure and barring security check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed for this role is BPSS however there may be a requirement for this role to be SC cleared and you should familiarise yourself with the criteria of security clearance.

 

 

This role is Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants. Appointments to roles within UKHSA will be made in accordance with the Civil Service nationality rules. These can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• Nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• Certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

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 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 welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.

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

Government baseline personnel security standard

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

 

Complaint process:

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: Complaints1@ukhsa.gov.uk. 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.

 

 

Contact Details – Sophie.Rigney@reed.com

 

 

 

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.