About the job

Job summary

The Respiratory Virus Unit (RVU) sits within the Virus Reference Department (VRD) at UKHSA Reference Services Colindale, London. RVU is the WHO National Influenza Centre (NIC) for the UK and is the National Reference Laboratory for a range of respiratory virus pathogens. The unit is one of four WHO global respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) Reference Laboratories, and as such collaborates with WHO, providing technical support and advice to national laboratories, and a WHO Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS CoV) Reference Laboratory, providing confirmatory and reference services for MERS CoV.

The post holder will take delegated responsibility from the Unit Head / Scientific Leads and Technical Manager for:
•     Providing laboratory support for the delivery of molecular reference services for the range of respiratory virus pathogens including avian and swine flu, SARS, RSV. This will include the development and use of virus neutralisation, viral protein expression systems and quantitative PCR for influenza and RSV, as appropriate.

Job description

Main duties include:

·    To take delegated responsibility from the Unit Head and Technical Manager through the unit scientific lead in accordance with UKHSA and RSDC policies for the following: Technical/ Scientific/ Reference services/ Research and Development

·    Development and application of methods for investigation of molecular detection by RT-PCR for respiratory viruses. This includes validation of these methods to prepare them for wider application in the diagnostic service of the laboratory. 

·    Extraction of viral nucleic acid from clinical samples by automated methods.
Performance of conventional and real-time RT-PCR for surveillance and diagnosis of RSV, influenza and other respiratory virus pathogens as required.

·    Cloning of PCR products.

·    RT PCR of a variety of genes/strains.

·    Sequence analysis of PCR products, by including interpretation, alignment and phylogenetic analysis.

·    Mammalian cell expression (inducible and non-inducible systems)

·    Adhering to external and internal quality control procedures.

·    Attend meetings, plan and implement project plans.

·    Monitor safety cabinets, freezers and carry out routine quality control procedures in order to maintain set standards.

Person specification

Essential criteria

• University degree in Virology / Microbiology / Biomedical Science.
• Qualifications in a biological science with evidence of maintaining professional competence in biomedical sciences.
• Laboratory experience in biomedical sciences, Molecular Biology, mammalian cell culture and cultivation of viruses.
• Understanding and application of lab safety requirements and procedures.
• Understanding the role of IT in the laboratory and experience of Word, Excel and PowerPoint to intermediate level.
• Able to plan and use own time economically and effectively and able to work as part of a team. organized, adaptable and flexible to respond to changing priorities and meet short deadlines.
• Understands and is supportive of, Research and Development.
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £30,473, UK Health Security Agency contributes £8,227 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  
 Competency-based assessments

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the above listed 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. 

Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist. 

Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on 'Experience of working in a healthcare environment'.

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

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 

You will be invited to a (single) face to face interview at UKHSA Colindale, London. Due to the requirements of the role, interviews cannot be conducted remotely.

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

There will be a practical assessment at interview in the form of a basic lab test.

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).   

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.

Working for the Civil Service: 

The Civil Service Code 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.   

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

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.   

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  

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.