About the job

Job summary

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Unit generates key surveillance data on genotype-specific HPV infection and associated diseases in relation to sexual health issues and HPV vaccine impact monitoring. In collaboration with epidemiologists and mathematical modellers, these data are used to inform national policies on the deployment of the HPV vaccines and sexual health programmes.

The post holder will manage the generation and delivery of key exploratory data to underpin these public health programmes. The outputs arising from this work include peer-reviewed publications in international journals and facilitating national and international collaborations.

Location:

This role is based 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

Technical/Scientific/Reference services/Research and Development

• Contribute to project planning including resource and staffing requirements.
• Perform, interpret and record test results according to established or developed protocols.
• Prepare documents relevant to the execution and oversight of the work.
• Liaise with other teams, national and international collaborators as required.
• Develop and improve methodologies for serological analysis of STIs with a focus on HPV.
• Support the transition of newly developed methodologies into routine use.
• Participate in the support of other R&D activities as appropriate.
• Present data regularly at national and international meetings
• Contribute to applications seeking internal and external funding for development projects.
• Contribute to the drafting of study reports and manuscripts.

 Quality

• Responsible for the development and analysis of internal and external quality assurance programmes and to respond to changes where necessary.
• Maintain a high standard of work, and to contribute to developing the service of the laboratory so that service delivery is safe, effective, and economical and follows best practice.
• Delegated responsibility for compliance with ISO15189 and other accreditation standards
• Contribute to internal and external audit programmes and manage corrective actions.
• Perform technical validation of laboratory results.

 Health and Safety

• To be responsible through Unit Head, technical head of Operations and Laboratory safety officers for all aspects of health, safety and welfare of self, staff, and visitors, as appropriate
• To ensure that relevant health and safety policies are implemented within the Unit.
• To ensure risk assessment are carried out and reviewed for all new and existing work and that controls are implemented, monitored, and maintained.

 Information Technology

• To contribute to the development and maintenance of information technology systems and laboratory databases as required.
• Use and maintain databases and software packages including Access, Excel, Word and Power Point, Prism, Stata, bioinformatic and other software, as appropriate.

 Support Services and Equipment

• Take responsibility for maintenance and acquisition of stock and equipment and the management of sample archives to ensure appropriate service provision and continuity.

 Financial management

• Manage day to day expenditure against assigned budget
• Act as signatory for general laboratory consumables

 Staff Management

• Provide professional leadership for members of staff for whom he/she is accountable, leading staff by example and in a manner that encourages the development of a positive attitude by each member.
• Line manages technical staff including leave, appraisal, recruitment and selection.
• Ensure the induction, education, training, and professional development of staff.
• Supervise postgraduate students working within the Unit.
• Ensure junior staff and assigned visitor or trainees are competent to carry out tasks given them and ensuring that the level of supervision is sufficient.
• Contribute to the building and consolidation of an effective team that includes all staff maximizing the synergies and integration of medical, scientific, and technical activities.

 General Employment Responsibilities

• Ensure confidentiality and conformity to the requirements of the Data Protection Act in collaboration with the designated Caldicott Guardian, Data Protection Officer and Security Information Officer.
• To represent the UKHSA nationally and internationally as required.
• To maintain professional/management expertise by undertaking further appropriate training as required
• To maintain professional competence and be aware of relevant developments in microbiology and other biomedical science

 Professional development

• Identify, discuss, and action own professional performance and training / development needs with your line manager through appraisal / individual development plan. Attending internal / external training events
• To participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e., fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training.

Key working relationships

The post holder will develop working relationships and communicate regularly with a wide range of individuals, clinical and non-clinical, internal, and external to UKHSA.

Person specification

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 1000 words (max) that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the following criteria:

**Please do not submit your CV, we require you to complete the full application process including a Personal Statement/Statement of Suitability, as outlined below. Please ensure that your Statement of Suitability contains no personal identifiers e.g., name in either the file name or content of the document. **

Essential Criteria:

• MSc or post-graduate qualification in Biological Sciences or equivalent
• Demonstration of ongoing professional competence by undertaking relevant training courses
• Track record of publications, and attendance at national and international scientific meetings
• Significant post-graduate research or specialist experience in a serology and/or virology laboratory
• Experience of delivering national surveillance projects and/or research studies
• Experience of staff management including training, competencies, staff recruitment, leave authorization and disciplinary procedures.
• Experience with implementation and governance of quality assurance principles and procedures including audits and developing of local programmes.
• Experience in a wide range of research techniques, such as PCR, cloning, site-directed mutagenesis, sequencing, protein purification, microscopy, ultracentrifugation, biochemical analysis, ELISPOT, cell culture, serology
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of laboratory safety requirements and procedures.
• Competence in use of relational databases (Access®), use of spreadsheet formulae (Excel®), statistical software (Stata®) and complex data analysis (sequence and/or biological data)
• Evidence of project planning (testing strategy, staffing and budgetary requirements), project management and study closure (including data management, quality assurance and final report)
• Able to manage own workload and that of others while making informed decisions and working to tight and often changing timescales.
• Able to convey ideas and opinions clearly and concisely, demonstrate a high level of motivation and a commitment to high standards.
• Analysis and understanding – able to analyse and evaluate evidence – e.g., in planning, problem-solving, decision making and scientific troubleshooting.
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships

Desirable Criteria:

• Understanding of public health issues related to STI/communicable disease and/or vaccines.
• Experience of independent research work
• Experience of project risk evaluation, risk mitigation and risk resolution or escalation, as appropriate

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 and a statement of suitability. Your Statement of Suitability should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, against the essential criteria (outlined in the person specification section). Your Statement of Suitability must not exceed 1000 words.

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. The sift selection panel will only consider relevant career history information from the last 5 years.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview.

STAGE 2 – INTERVIEW:

This competition will involve an interview in Person.

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs 18/12/2023 – 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.

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.