About the job

Job summary

This is a unique opportunity to lead innovation for frontline and reference clinical diagnostics at the Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory (RIPL). The main role of the postholder will be to lead the Diagnostic Evaluations and Innovations (DEI) team in the introduction of assays into RIPL for routine use.  The work of the team comprises verification of commercial assays, or, where there is no suitable commercial test, development, validation and verification of in-house assays.  This also encompasses introduction of new platforms or methods which improve workflows and efficiencies in the diagnostic laboratory.

In the outbreak setting, the team will also need to facilitate development and testing of high throughput assays and will support rollout of testing to other laboratories if required.

The post holder will work closely with the lead DEI specialist and the head and deputy head of RIPL to ensure new assays meet criteria for use in RIPL as an accredited clinical laboratory, and to troubleshoot existing assays and monitor assay performance following EQA failures, reagent changes or information from horizon scanning which may impact on assay performance.

The post also brings opportunities in supporting service development in RIPL to extend the scope of testing in response to emerging infections, outbreaks and UKHSA health threat assessments.

Job description

•    To manage the projects ensuring appropriate methods, assays, techniques/systems are implemented and utilised to meet RIPL assay development leads.
•    Take lead responsibility for the evaluation of validated assays, reagents and consumables required for RIPL.
•    To act as principal investigator of the project teams taking lead responsibility to evaluate and adapt new technologies where appropriate in consultation with the assay development and clinical leads and to ensure that the project operates to a high scientific standard using current methods.
•    Establish links and collaborations within and outside the PHE as necessary to benefit the project and/or department. 
•    Assist senior colleagues, leading where necessary in developing scientific and technical strategy of the project or derived projects, identifying new opportunities as they arise and responding to funding calls or customer enquiries.
•    Take lead responsibility for the supervision and training of junior staff allocated to the project.
•    Provide reports as required and lead on preparation of presentations, publications and liaison through discussion with the customer as well as dealing with enquiries as necessary.
•    To perform any other duties required by the Line manager commensurate with grade.
•    To ensure that the project team undertakes work in accordance with the UKHSA Code of Safety Practice and to work within any Quality Systems that are applicable to the site.
•    To maintain health and safety competence to the national occupational standard ‘Make sure your actions reduce risks to health and safety’ (NOS HSS1).
•    To achieve and maintain own and team’s health and safety competence set out in national occupational standard ‘Identify, assess and control health and safety risks’ (NOS HSP6).
•    To comply with relevant UKHSA policies and procedures.

Please refer to the job description attached to the advert for a full list of main duties of the role.

Person specification

This role is a key aspect of the unique service provided by the Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory.  The post holder will be principal liaison bridging the developmental work of DEI and the vital clinical implementation for frontline diagnostics through RIPL. The postholder will work with the DEI team, the RIPL clinical team and the RIPL laboratory team to maintain delivery of a high quality diagnostic service for rare, high consequence and imported infections, and to expand service delivery to respond to priority and emerging infections identified through horizon scanning. 

A major focus will be assay assurance for existing testing. Additionally, the role oversees the development, validation, and verification of new assays. There will be opportunities to develop the role to investigate innovative diagnostic approaches in conjunction with academic and commercial partners, and to liaise with internal and external experts to build the evidence base of initiatives of scientific and public health importance. 

The postholder will be encouraged to develop and lead collaborative networks, for example as part of RIPL’s role as a WHO Collaborating Centre, and to work with industry, academia and government departments as needed. 

The postholder will act as principal investigator for project teams, taking lead responsibility to evaluate and adapt new technologies for frontline diagnostics, ensuring that work is done to a sufficiently high scientific standard while also meeting requirements for in vitro diagnosis. 

The postholder will work closely with senior personnel on the Porton site, leading where necessary in developing the scientific and technical strategies for projects, identifying new opportunities as they arise, and contributing to funding applications for applicable programmes. They will take lead responsibility for the supervision and training of junior staff. The postholder will contribute to, and where relevant lead on, preparation of presentations, publications and reports. 

RIPL seeks to maintain positive relations with customers and services users, and works with commercial partners in developing and optimising assays relevant for health protection, such as near patient testing applications in the event of an outbreak. The postholder will therefore be expected to liaise with customers, partners and service users to deal with enquiries related to technical aspects of the assays in question. 

The postholder will need to comply with all relevant health and safety standards and legislation, including ensuring that the project team undertakes work in accordance with the UKHSA Code of Safety Practice and any quality systems that are applicable to the site.  They will need to maintain health and safety competence to the national occupational standards (“Make sure your actions reduce risks to health and safety”; NOS HSS1, and “Identify, assess and control health and safety risks”; NOS HSP6), and ensure compliance of the team with these standards, and with all other relevant UKHSA policies and procedures. 

The postholder will be expected to perform any other duties required by their line manager commensurate with the grade. 

 

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

You will be assessed on the below 8 essential criteria, which have been selected from the Job Description 

• PhD in appropriate discipline with considerable post-doctoral level experience (or equivalent) in an appropriate scientific discipline.
• HCPC approved degree with registration
• Specialist training/experience in specific methods required for the post 
• Evidence of leading projects/project teams and dealing with customers/clients
• Experience of having worked in a regulated environment
• Demonstrated capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly
• Track record of delivery to short target times
• Significant experience in areas relevant to the project.

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.

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

Competency-based assessment

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the above listed 11 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of   

• a CV/ Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application) 
• a 1000 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 / Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.  

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

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Please do not exceed 1000 words.  We will not consider any words over and above this number.

 

Stage 2: Interview 

You will be invited to a  face to face interview which will be held at UKHSA Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JG however if you require a remote interview, this can be arranged.

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

There may be a Technical Test/presentation as part of the assessment. 

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

Option 1 - External  

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

Disability Confident scheme  

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.  

Reserve List clause  

Candidates who pass the interview criteria but are not offered a post will be kept on a reserve list for 12 months and may be contacted if similar roles become available.   

If you are interviewed for the post and do not meet the required threshold for the specified grade, your application may be assessed against a similar, lower grade role and you may be offered the post should one be available.  

  

Starting salary  

New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.    

The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase.    

Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.   

For further details please refer to the Information Sheet- Starting Salaries & Benefits attachment  

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.