About the job

Job summary

The Food, Water and Environmental (FW&E) Microbiology Laboratories are specialist microbiology laboratories within UKHSA. Based in 3 sites across the country, the laboratories are geographically well placed to work with local authorities in order to protect the public from health threats posed by contaminated food, water and the environment.

The FW&E Laboratories provide a microbiology testing and advisory service to Local Authorities, Port Health Authorities, hospitals, and commercial clients across England. The laboratories are accredited to ISO 17025 and are recognised as Official Food Control Laboratories for the microbiological examination of food and foodstuffs within the EU.

As the Lead Public Health Microbiologist, you will be responsible for leading and managing the routine provision, delivery and development of FW&E services and act as the senior scientific specialist for FW&E Microbiology services within Public Health Microbiology.  You will also be accountable for scientists within the unit, providing leadership and oversight for the day-today running and development of the FW&E Microbiology services.

You will provide for scientific leadership and having comprehensive oversight and responsibility of all scientific and managerial matters across FW&E Microbiology services. The post holder may work with colleagues who are based across the country at different sites and/or who work remotely.

Location

The role can be based at one of the following FW&E Laboratories:

York - Biotech Campus, Sand Hutton YO41 1LZ

Porton Down - Salisbury SP4 0JG

London - Colindale Avenue NW9 5EQ

*Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available.*

Working Pattern – Full Time

Job description

Responsibilities section:

As the Lead Public Health Microbiologist, your main responsibilities will include:

• To be responsible for, lead and manage the FW&E Microbiology service.
• Provide expert scientific leadership and be responsible for the strategic development and operational service delivery for FW&E Microbiology.
• To manage the budget of FW&E Microbiology and any contracts and to ensure that work is delivered on time and within budget.
• Ensure that FW&E Microbiology services work to the highest standards of Quality, Health and Safety and governance
• Provide leadership to ensure services contribute to the national development of FW&E Microbiology service based public health delivery.
• Contribute to test development and validation.
• Review technology use and manage implementation of new equipment to support improvements in service delivery.
• Ensuring familiarity with the latest developments in the field, and also representing FW&E in outbreak responses
• Leading on behalf of the Deputy Director on all areas relating to finance, business planning and commercial development, working with Heads of Laboratory Business Operations, corporate leads e.g. Finance Business Partner, ensuring embedded teams work to common national standards and practices.

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Please see the attached job description for a full list of duties and responsibilities.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of up to 1250 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the following criteria:

Essential

• PhD with a major component of public health, medical microbiology, food water or environmental microbiology
• Eligible to be a Food Examiner
• Understanding of Food Water and Environmental microbiology and the regulatory requirements
• Experience in the investigation of infections transmitted through food, water or the environment as well as wider issues of Environmental Health
• Evidenced leadership and management experience involving laboratory microbiology service delivery
• Experience and understanding of (i) quality management systems e.g. UKAS and ISO 17025; (ii) laboratory safety and procedures and (iii) risk management

Desirable

• Relevant business or management training to certificate level
• Registered Clinical Scientist or Chartered Scientist award, and with evidence of CPD

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

Things you need to know

Selection process details

Working for the UKHSA

For more information on the UKHSA please visit: UK Health Security Agency - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
• 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. Determine your eligibility at Childcare Choices , 30 Hours Free Childcare, Tax-Free Childcare and More , Help with Costs , GOV.UK

Selection process details

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT: 

You will be required to complete an application form and a statement of suitability of 1250 words. This will be assessed in line with the advertised essential criteria – please do provide evidence of how you meet this. 

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

STAGE 2 – INTERVIEW 

This competition will involve an interview either by video or face to face.

As part of the process, candidates will be invited to interview which will involve an in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification. 

Please note that as part of the interview process, you may be required to undertake a test of presentation.

Your Statement of Suitability should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential 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.

The Success Profiles framework will be used to assess and recruit the most suitable candidate.  The following behaviours s will be used at the interview:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Leadership
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 02/05/2024 – unfortunately, late applications will not be considered. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Shortlist: 09/05/2024

Interviews: TBC

Please note these dates could be subject to change.  

Eligibility Criteria

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

Nationality requirements

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.

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 Basic Personnel Security Standard.  People working with government assets must complete Basic Personnel Security Standard checks.

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. 

Please Note

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/

Are you already a civil servant, or employed by a Civil Service Commission accredited public body? Please state home department on your application form.

Do you meet the nationality requirements for this post? https://www.ukhsa.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.