About the job

Job summary

This is an excellent opportunity to work within a new role in UKHSA’s world-leading National Mycobacterial Reference Service (NMRS). The successful candidate will be part of an innovative and supportive team delivering whole-genome sequencing for TB as a routine diagnostic service for clinical and public health use. This is a 12-month fixed term appointment from August 2024 to July 2025, for applicants who have completed IMT / CMT or at ST 3-7, allowing the post-holder to develop expertise in genomic microbiology and mycobacteriology, with exciting possibilities for being involved in and developing research projects.  

Further details of qualifications required, and duties of the post-holder can be found in the person specification.

There are two posts available, one of which  is based in based in the NMRS-South laboratory in Colindale, London and the other is  based in the NMRS-North & Central laboratory in Birmingham; close working collaboration will be required between the two. Please indicate your preference of location on your application.

Job description

The National Mycobacterium Reference Service  is a UKHSA National Reference Centre for Tuberculosis and Mycobacteriology, with two laboratories, one based in London and the other in Birmingham.

The principal activities of the service include provision of a Mycobacterial Reference Service based on Whole Genome Sequencing for identification of Mycobacterium sp isolates; prediction of drug susceptibility and resistance, and determination of relatedness for detection of transmission and investigation of outbreaks. Phenotypic drug susceptibility testing is carried out for selected M tuberculosis complex and non-tuberculosis mycobacterial isolates. The laboratory also offers primary isolation service including microscopy and culture; urgent PCR Service for detection of M. tuberculosis complex and rifampicin (and multidrug) resistance. The NMRS provides information and advice to clinical and public health teams for the identification and investigation of outbreaks and TB transmission. Our activities support surveillance activity for TB in the UK. 

At an international level the NMRS-South is a WHO Supranational Reference Laboratory within the Global Programme on Drug Resistance in Tuberculosis and works with other designated National Reference Centres. In addition to its reference, diagnostic and clinical activities, the NMRS carries out research projects in the UK, Europe and Africa.

Person specification

The post-holder will be expected to contribute, with the support of senior colleagues, to the routine clinical functioning of the laboratory. This will include, but is not limited to:  

• Advising clinical and public health colleagues on the selection of diagnostic tests and interpretation of results (molecular, genomic and conventional).  

• Clinical authorisation of results and participation in weekly multidisciplinary meetings to discuss complex cases and laboratory results.  

• Initiation of and participation in clinical audit.  

• Liaison with public health teams in outbreaks and incidents. 

• Postgraduate teaching of medical and biomedical scientist trainees. 

• In addition, dependent on the post-holder’s experience and interests, there will be opportunities to participate in tuberculosis and non-tuberculous mycobacteria outpatient clinics, TB cohort reviews and other clinical activities by arrangement.  

• Ensure that the epidemiology, surveillance and monitoring of communicable disease covered by your service is of the highest standard. 

UKHSA, one of the largest public health agencies in the world, delivers a wide range of public health functions, employs over 5,000 staff and manages a budget of £3.5 billion.  

The UK Health Security Agency exists to protect and improve the nation’s health and well-being and reduce health inequalities. We do this through world-leading science, knowledge and intelligence, advocacy, partnerships and the delivery of specialist public health services. We are an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care, and a distinct delivery organisation with operational autonomy. We provide government, local government, the NHS, Parliament, industry and the public with evidence-based professional, scientific and delivery expertise and support.  

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. 

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

• Option 3 – External - Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants) 

Applicants are strongly advised to use the criteria in the Person Specification of the Job Description as sub-headings in their application to make it clear how they meet each of the selection criteria.  

Your supporting statement should be maximum 1500 words.

Your starting salary will be dependent upon your experience and current scale point within the salary band.

Inclusion in the GMC Full and Specialist Register with a license to practice (or be eligible for registration within six months of interview) is required. 

If included in the GMC Specialist Register/ in a specialty other than public health medicine, candidates must have equivalent training and/or appropriate experience of public health practice.

UK Health Security Agency promotes diversity in the workplace and is an Equal Opportunities employer. 

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.