About the job

Job summary

The post holder will provide leadership and expertise in developing and implementing food, water and environmental microbiology service delivery. They will also provide scientific expertise and project management support to the Colindale FW&E Laboratory Unit Head for Food, Water & Environmental Microbiology activities and relevant major grant-funded projects.

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.

Location

This is a lab-based role located at Colindale, London, NW9 5EQ.

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

Job description

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

• To provide effective scientific leadership with respect to implementation and provision of end-to-end services for FW&E microbiology
• To plan, develop, implement and direct (with the Lead Public Health Microbiologist and FW&E Unit Heads) a long-term strategy and programme of research for the specialist area.
• To adopt new technologies and quality innovations, as required, to maximise the effectiveness of the FW&E service.
• To ensure effective and timely delivery of advice on reference, specialist, and research activities within remit.
• To advise, as appropriate, FW&E Senior Staff on all aspects of work associated with specialisms, especially implementation of new methods and technologies for service delivery.
• To assess methodologies regularly to provide on-going improvement in services and to provide expert advice and knowledge on the scientific basis of reference service tests and results.
• To develop, evaluate and implement methods relevant to the specialist area.
• To produce peer-reviewed publications on the results of research activities. To develop, review and edit manuscripts, documents, protocols, procedures, guidelines, and other measurable outputs.
• To provide scientific advice and support in relation to internal quality controls and, where relevant, external quality assessment.
• To present research findings at local, national and international scientific meetings.
• You would participate in FW&E’s Senior Management Team meetings and, as required, in higher level meetings.
• The postholder would support career and professional development of staff within the team. You would be required to manage staff, conduct staff appraisals of direct reports and manage performance issues as required. You would ensure the provision of a safe working environment for all staff and visitors.

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.

For the full list of responsibilities and duties, please see the full job description.

Person specification

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

• Eligibility to be a food examiner
• PhD or equivalent postgraduate degree in relevant subject, i.e., microbiology or biological science
• Extensive (post-doctoral) expertise in food, water and environmentally transmitted infections
• Knowledge of food, water and environmental surveillance, public health surveillance, WGS and downstream data analysis.
• Substantive (postdoctoral) experience in Public Health microbiology in reference and/or diagnostic settings
• Demonstrable experience of leading complex projects and project management skills
• Proven record of research in relevant areas including significant/relevant publications
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Able to provide/receive highly complex information, negotiate and present to peers/others
• Able to negotiate on difficult and controversial issues including performance and change
• Problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands
• Ability to analyse complex facts and situations and develop a range of options
• Ability to take decisions on difficult and contentious issues where there may be a number of courses of action
• Strategic thinking – ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise
• Experience of molecular microbiological techniques and their application
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office with intermediate keyboard skills

Desirable

• Comprehensive experience of project principles techniques and tools

Benefits

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

Things you need to know

Selection process details

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT: 

You will be required to complete an application form and a statement of suitability. 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.

Please note that you may be asked to undertake a test or presentation at interview.

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. 

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

• Changing and Improving
• Working Together
• Developing Self and Others
• Adaptable
• Analytical
• Problem Solver
• Team Player

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 6th March 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: TBC 2024

Interviews: w/c TBC 2024

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)

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.