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 Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory (RIPL) provide a front-line diagnostic service for the detection of Viral Haemorrhagic Fever (Ebola, Lassa, CCHF, Marburg), Arboviruses, Rickettsiae, and a range of ACDP Hazard Group 3 bacteria including Bacillus anthracis and Francisella tularensis. RIPL is also the provider of the Leptospira acute diagnostic service and the Lyme disease specialist unit diagnostic service. We are UKAS ISO15189 accredited and hold approval to provide IBMS registration and Virology specialist portfolios.

The post holder will perform a wide range of diagnostic assays utilising both serological and molecular techniques. The highest standards of quality and safety are essential.

Job description

A HCPC registered Senior Biomedical Scientist (BMS). The post holder will provide expertise and capability to the diagnostic laboratory to maintain the service of the unit and support continuous improvement. As a Senior BMS the post holder will be responsible for, and lead in, an area of technical specialism providing both training and support. The post holder will also line manage staff and deputise for the lab manager as required.

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

• take a leading role in the delivery of the laboratory’s national reference activities
• represent the laboratory at relevant meetings and seminars in the absence of the laboratory manager
• identify to management any potential conflicts of interest which may impinge on their ability to perform their duties effectively as defined by UKHSA Conflict of Interest Policy
• undertake a range of diagnostic assays and techniques as required, meeting the needs of RIPL service provision
• undertake microbiological analysis of environmental samples.
• troubleshoot assays and processes which cannot be resolved by junior staff
• produce and maintain reagents to support current testing strategies and for the development of new assays
• play a leading role in the identification, evaluation and adaptation of new technologies and diagnostic tests to enhance the laboratories capabilities and to ensure the project area works to a high scientific standard
• supply data to agreed timescales required by RIPL service level agreement
• undertake general laboratory duties including disposal of waste, equipment maintenance, stock control and ensuring a safe working environment
• undergo any training requirements as required for the post.
• participate in the RIPL on-call rota to provide 24/7 cover
• ensure all work in undertaken in accordance with the UKHSA’s Code of Safety Practice
• comply with UKHSA policy and procedures
• prioritise, co-ordinate and organise specialist investigations and supervise the workload of a team of staff
• maintain HCPC registration as a condition of employment
• take a leading role in quality, health and safety and training within the laboratory
• play a supporting role in the delivery of the laboratory’s Quality Management System to maintain UKAS ISO:15189 accreditation
• maintain high professional standards by continual professional development keeping up to date with advances in medical microbiology
• maintain a positive attitude to the work of the laboratory and other members of the team
• ensure health, safety and welfare are afforded priority and to demonstrate commitment to health, safety and welfare of self, staff and visitors and comply with relevant UKHSA health and safety policies at all times
• escalate risks that cannot be controlled to the Laboratory Manager.
• work to the highest scientific standards at all times
• perform any other duties required by the line manager commensurate with grade

Person specification

Essential Criteria

Please be aware that we will assessed on the below 8 essential criteria, which have been selected from the Job Description:

• MSc or higher qualification in an appropriate medical/microbiological/biological science or equivalent experience
• educated to degree level in relevant subject or equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level in specialist area
• registration with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) as Biomedical Scientist
• experience of diagnostic molecular biology testing methods including real time PCR
• recent experience in a diagnostic or reference virology laboratory
• good knowledge and experience of serological methods including ELISA and IFA
• working knowledge of LIMS
• experience of working in a regulated environment with quality systems and knowledge of UKAS

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

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 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

• CV/ Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• 1250 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 and Statement of Suitability will be marked separately, and you must pass both to move forward to interview.

Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered.

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 (competency based)

You will be invited to a single face to face interview.

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

There maybe a presentation, details of which will be provided to you nearer the time. 

If face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote 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 UKHSA Porton, Salisbury. Please note hybrid working is not available for this role. 

Eligibility 

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).   

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) 

Your application may be rejected and/or you 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

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.