About the job

Job summary

The Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections (AMRHAI) Reference Unit is the national reference laboratory for investigation of antibiotic resistance in, and characterization of, healthcare associated bacterial pathogens. The Unit is also the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections.

The purpose of this role is to provide scientific technical oversight and expertise to support the AMRHAI Reference Unit and the Healthcare Associated Infection (HCAI), Fungal, Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), Antimicrobial Usage (AMU) & Sepsis Division in delivering global diagnostics, research and capacity strengthening objectives as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research in Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associations Infections.

The postholder will work in partnership with the Co-directors of the WHO Collaborating Centre and other senior staff within the AMRHAI Reference Unit and the HCAI, Fungal, AMR, AMU, & Sepsis Division on the delivery of the WHO Collaborating Centre objectives and other related activities that disseminate UK best practice. This will be achieved through i) provision of technical input and support to countries seeking to build capacity in microbiological reference laboratory testing and strengthen their national AMR surveillance systems; and ii) development and delivery of capacity building modules and curricula, and other training materials on laboratory standards and procedures for AMR surveillance; and iii) input into other relevant UKHSA global health activities that focus on AMR.

Location

61 Colindale Ave, London NW9 5EQ / With potential for flexible hybrid working as agreed by line manager and according to business needs.

*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, Flexible Working, Hybrid Working

Job description

Responsibilities section:

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

• Act as a scientific expert for microbiology and genomics, providing reference laboratory services for antimicrobial susceptibility testing of bacteria, resistance mechanisms detection and for characterization of healthcare associated bacterial pathogens to support countries that do not yet have a fully functional reference laboratory
• Act as the representative for the WHO Collaborating Centre as part of a multidisciplinary team on missions overseas to provide technical training modules and other materials for building capacity in laboratory testing and surveillance of AMR
• Organize and deliver suitable training programs for staff, postgraduate students and visitors both online and face-to-face
• Assist in reviews of current laboratory practice, develop standardized operating procedures (SOP) and other standards for AMR related laboratory services, procedures and methods, and to support in-country laboratory teams in implementation to assist in achieving laboratory accreditation
• Represent the WHO Collaborating Centre at a range of internal and external meetings
• Provide regular updates and reports on activities to the WHO and relevant UKHSA groups
• Lead on laboratory-based surveillance projects, including characterization of bacteria collected in collaborating countries to deliver WHO Collaborating Centre objectives
• Actively network in the research and capacity strengthening community (both within UKHSA and beyond) to identify and develop potential areas of engagement and collaboration
• Contribute to ensuring research activities are co-ordinated, appropriately funded and regularly reviewed in line with the WHO Collaborating Centre objectives
• Identify funding opportunities for ongoing research activity and write research grant proposals; present research findings and training updates at national and internal meetings

 

Please see the job description for a full list of duties

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.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

We are looking for an exceptional Principal Healthcare Scientist.

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 1250 words (max 1500) that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the following criteria:

Essential

• Postgraduate degree in a relevant subject (e.g., PhD in microbiology, biomedical science or molecular biology) or equivalent postgraduate experience
• Extensive knowledge and experience working in clinical diagnostic microbiology laboratories delivering phenotypic and genotypic methods to characterise bacteria (including biocontainment at CL3)
• Broad working knowledge and competency in antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods and resistance mechanism detection, molecular diagnostics techniques (e.g., real-time PCR)
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of laboratory health and safety requirements and procedures; experience of performing laboratory risk assessments
• In-depth understanding of relevant laboratory policies, standards and guidelines including those relevant to quality control/assurance and ISO 15189 accreditation processes
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with a range of people on a range of matters using writing, report writing and presentation skills
• A positive, resilient, flexible and adaptable ‘can-do’ attitude that can see a way through challenges; able to make decisions autonomously, when required, on difficult issues, working to tight and often changing timescales
• Adept at problem solving though analysis of complex facts and situations to deliver solutions to practical problems in laboratory workflows and workloads

 Desirable

• Practical experience in whole genome sequencing on Illumina and Oxford Nanopore Technology platforms; some understanding of bioinformatics processes including phylogenetic analyses
• Experience of designing and delivering training to others using a range of different approaches (face-to-face and online)

 

Please see the job description for a full list of essential/desirable criteria

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

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT: 

You will be required to complete an application form. 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 a video 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.

For further information on the selection process, please refer to the attached Candidate Pack.

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 18th January 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 29th January 2024

Interviews: TBC

Please note these dates could be subject to change. 

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.