About the job

Job summary

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.  

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is seeking a Section Head and Lead Scientist for the Bacterial Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Reference Laboratory, a pivotal role within the Bacteriology Reference Department. This position offers a unique opportunity to provide managerial, scientific, and professional leadership, contributing significantly to public health by supporting UKHSA’s surveillance programs. These programs are vital in detecting infectious diseases, characterizing microbial pathogens, and supporting effective treatments and interventions. Your work will be crucial in reducing the overall public health burden associated with bacterial STIs.

Operating within the Specialised Microbiology and Laboratories Directorate, this role is integral to the wider UKHSA structure, delivering safe, effective, efficient, and innovative laboratory microbiology services. As Section Head and Lead Scientist, you will play a critical role in fulfilling UKHSA’s primary function of protecting public health. 

Job description

Your main duties and responsibilities will include:

• To provide management, scientific, and professional leadership of the Bacterial STI laboratory surveillance, delivering services and other outputs safely, to the required Quality (ISO15189) and governance standards, complying with Health and Safety policies and procedures and within budget and on time.
• To be responsible for ensuring the high-quality validation of clinical reports.
• To work with staff of BRD and relevant consultant medical microbiologists in SML 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 review services regularly to ensure they align with public health requirements.
• To encourage innovations that enhance the effectiveness of the laboratory's work.
• To seek income generation opportunities, e.g. from grant-awarding bodies or industrial / commercial sources, for evaluating new and novel assays and technologies.
• 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.
• To present findings of work undertaken at scientific meetings, as appropriate.
• To prepare reports for commercial customers (e.g. for molecular assay evaluations) and papers for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
• Training & supervision of new staff, visitors and students

• As the Section Head and Lead Scientist for the Bacterial STI laboratory Surveillance services within the UKHSA’s Bacteriology Reference Department, your role encompasses multifaceted responsibilities aimed at ensuring the efficient and effective delivery of reference services while upholding stringent quality and governance standards. 
• You will provide overarching management, scientific, and professional leadership to the Bacterial STI laboratory surveillance services, ensuring the safe delivery of services in adherence to Quality (ISO15189) and governance standards, as well as compliance with Health and Safety policies and procedures, all within budget and on time. A critical aspect of your role involves ensuring the high-quality validation of clinical reports and collaborating closely with the staff of BRD and relevant consultant medical microbiologists to provide input into clinical interpretation and ensure the prompt and accurate delivery of reference and surveillance services. 
• You will review services regularly to ensure alignment with public health requirements and actively encourage innovations that enhance the effectiveness of the laboratory's work. Moreover, you will actively seek income generation opportunities, such as grants or commercial sources, for evaluating new assays and technologies. Your responsibilities extend to leading the analysis of data generated in studies, maintaining accurate records of evaluations, and presenting findings at scientific meetings. Additionally, you will be responsible for preparing reports for commercial customers and papers for publication in peer-reviewed journals. 
• As part of your managerial duties, you will participate in Senior Management Team meetings, support the career and professional development of staff within the team, and ensure the provision of a safe working environment for all staff and visitors. In your clinical/professional capacity, you will ensure robust arrangements for Clinical Governance, work with Consultant Medical Microbiologists to provide input into clinical interpretation and ensure suitable cross-cover for competent validation of clinical reports.
• Your role also involves promoting the personal and professional development of staff, supervising postgraduate research projects, and contributing to the maintenance of laboratory accreditation and quality management systems. Additionally, you will contribute to the development of information technology systems and databases for efficient service delivery, liaise with the LIMS team on the introduction of new tests, and ensure adherence to health and safety protocols. 
• Ultimately, your role is pivotal in driving the success and effectiveness of the Bacterial STI Surveillance Service, and you will be expected to carry out any other duties reasonably required by the directorate.
• Service Leadership: Lead and manage the Bacterial STI laboratory surveillance programmes (e.g., GRASP, MARS), maintaining high standards and ensuring the service remains at the forefront of scientific innovation.
• Team Management: Directly manage a team of specialists, providing professional leadership and fostering a positive, development-focused work environment.
• Scientific Expertise: Offer scientific expertise on bacterial STI pathogens and laboratory services to UKHSA, supporting strategic decision-making and policy development.
• Clinical Support: Work closely with a Consultant Medical Microbiologist for clinical aspects of the service.
• Innovation and Research: Support and lead research and development activities, ensuring the continuous improvement and validation of diagnostic methods and surveillance techniques.

Person specification

you will be assessed on the below  essential criteria. 

Essentials Criteria

• Relevant professional registration with the HCPC
• A PhD in Microbiology or related discipline
• Experience working within the STI field
• Demonstrable experience of running services accredited to ISO 15189 standard
• Proven record of research in relevant areas including significant/relevant publications
• Clinical scientific and molecular microbiology experience

Desirable Criteria

• IT / LIMS systems – familiarity with database software and preparation of queries
• Molecular assay development and validation.

Please note: As this role falls under NHS AfC Terms and Conditions, benefits may vary slightly to those listed below.

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity

Things you need to know

Selection process details

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  

 You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the above listed (8 number) essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:  

• CV/ Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application) 
• (1250 number of words) word Statement of Suitability.  

This should outline how 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 together. 

In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist and  shortlist on: 

• Relevant professional qualification: either full registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as Clinical or Biomedical Scientist, or an ACS Certificate of Attainment, or a demonstrable plan to achieve registration within 12 months.
• PhD in microbiology or a related discipline.

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

Please do not exceed 1250 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.

If face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview. 

There will be a presentation during the interview.

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

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

Location

This role is based at Colindale. Please note hybrid working is not available for this role.

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.  

Reasonable Adjustments 

The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone. 

To help you during the recruitment process, we will take into account any reasonable adjustments that could help you. 

An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work.  

This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme.  

If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should:  

Contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs.  

You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/ 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) 

I understand my application may be rejected or I may be subject to disciplinary action if evidence of plagiarism is detected. Examples of plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence (AI), as your own. 

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

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.