About the job

Job summary

This post is within the Healthcare Associated Infection, Fungal, Antimicrobial Resistance, Antimicrobial Utilisation & Sepsis Division (Clinical & Public Health group) of UKHSA. The mission of the division is to protect people from healthcare-associated and antimicrobial resistant infections, through world-leading public health microbiology, outbreak response, surveillance, antimicrobial stewardship, modelling, research and evidence-based interventions.

This post is positioned within the Colindale site, working within the Healthcare Associated Infection, Fungal, Antimicrobial Resistance, Antimicrobial Utilisation & Sepsis Division providing scientific and managerial leadership to both the Division and national AMR reference services within the Specialised Microbiology and Laboratories (SML) within the Science Group.

As an HCPC-registered Clinical Scientist, the post-holder will work seamlessly between the Division  and SML: (i) to provide scientific and technical leadership in the area of typing and characterization of opportunistic pathogens; (ii) to lead the laboratory team delivering national typing and characterization of opportunistic pathogen reference services; (ii) to be responsible for validating and issuing clinical reports to customers; and (iiv) to provide scientific and strategic leadership for introducing novel technologies into reference services to meet the Division objectives.

Location

UKHSA Colindale office, 61 Colindale Ave, 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

As a Lead Clinical Scientist your main responsibilities will include:

• To be responsible for ensuring the high quality validation of clinical reports issued to customers for reference services, including opportunistic pathogens of public health importance.
• To work with staff of AMRHAI Reference Laboratory and relevant consultant medical microbiologists in CPH and Science to provide input into clinical interpretation and to ensure prompt and accurate delivery of reference services.
• To arrange suitable and sufficient cover for reference service delivery, as necessary.
• To lead on interpretation of laboratory data relevant to own reference services, interpreting the relatedness of referred isolates, developing, in collaboration with others, automated pipelines for analysis, auditing the impact of new methodologies and directing further work following initial investigations.
• To identify novel (phenotypic or genotypic) assays and to provide strategic oversight of design, development, validation and introduction for reference service delivery.
• To lead on the introduction of whole-genome sequencing-based methods into reference services.
• To seek income generation opportunities, e.g. from grant-awarding bodies or industrial / commercial sources, for evaluating new and novel assays, technologies and platforms for rapid detection of important lineages or virulence markers.
• In liaison with staff of SML, to oversee and / or undertake evaluations of such novel technologies for rapid characterisation of pathogens.
• To lead the analysis of data generated in such studies, screening for anomalous results and selecting strains needing additional study.
• To maintain complete and accurate records of all evaluations undertaken.

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 review the job description for a full list of roles and responsibilities.

Person specification

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 1500 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the essential criteria (for full details of all essential criteria please refer to the attached job description, you must review this to produce your statement of suitability):

Essential

• Relevant professional qualification: either full registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as Clinical Scientist, or an ACS Certificate of Attainment
• Relevant Postdoctoral experience
• Clinical scientific and molecular microbiology experience
• Familiarity with diverse molecular diagnostic platforms
• MOLIS / LIMS experience. Validating reports through MOLIS or similar LIMS system
• Good working knowledge of antibiotic susceptibility testing and resistance mechanisms
• Demonstrable experience of running services accredited to ISO 15189 standard
• Demonstrable experience of leading complex projects and project management skills
• Problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands
• Ability to analyse complex facts and situations and develop a range of options
• Strategic thinking – ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise
• Experience of molecular microbiological techniques and their application
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, but also in relation to management systems

Desirable

• Molecular assay development and validation

Benefits

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

Things you need to know

Selection process details

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT: 

You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed in line with the full list of essential criteria as detailed in the attached job description – 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 post will involve an interview by video. 

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.  Candidates will also be asked to participate in a session where they will be required to prepare and deliver a 10 minute presentation to the panel.  This will be followed by a question-and-answer segment.  The presentation will be designed to assess each candidate’s experience in line with the requirements of the role.  Full details will be provided prior to the interview.

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.

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 20th February 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: w/c 26th February 2024

Interviews: TBC

Please note these dates could be subject to change. 

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/

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. 

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.