Job summary
Job title - Bioinformatician
Profession - Gastrointestinal Infections and Food Safety (One Health)
Directorate - Clinical & Public Health
Full Time equivalent - 37.5 hours
No of Roles - 1
Contract Type - Fixed Term Contract till 31st March 2025
Location - Colindale, London, NW9 5EQ
UKHSA offers hybrid working or home working for its employees - this means that whilst the role will be based in one of our UKHSA offices, there will be opportunities for an element of working from home. The balance between home and workplace working is to be agreed with the line manager, determined primarily by business need and in line with departmental policy. Some business travel will be required to other UKHSA offices.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
Grade & Salary - Grade 7. Inner London - £53,396 - £62,286 per annum.
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.
Closing Date - 13/08/2023 23:55pm. Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered
Interview Date - 24/08/2023. Please note, these dates are subject to change.
Main duties of the job
TheNational Institute for Health Research (NIHR)funds, enables and delivers world-leading health and social care research that improves people's health and wellbeing and promotes economic growth. NIHR Health Protection Research Units (HPRUs) undertake high quality research that enhances the ability of the UK Health Security Agencyto protect the public's health and minimise the health impact of emergencies.
This post will focus on helping shape and deliver the objectives of the HPRU GED as set out in its yearly Forward Business Plan.
The appointee will develop bioinformatics and public health informatics for HPRU GED:
- Provide strategic direction and goals within the remit of HPRU GED across the four themes.
- Design and validate bioinformatics tools, pipelines and methods suitable for analysis and comparison of the genome sequences generated at UKHSA and elsewhere.
- Compile, in appropriate databases and formats, complex data arising from whole-genome sequencing (WGS) from a range of pathogens.
- Undertake analysis on data arising from WGS, in particular for the validation of proposed methods and techniques.
- Provide tutoring and technical mentoring to other HPRU GED participants.
- Prepare and present at national and international meetings reports, posters and publications arising from data.
About us
The Gastrointestinal Infections and Food safety (One Health) Division is located within UKHSA's Clinical and Public health Directorate at Colindale. The Division remit includes providing specialist epidemiology and surveillance for Gastrointestinal Infections (GI), coordinating the investigation of national outbreaks, advising government on the risks posed by various gastrointestinal pathogens and responding to national and international health concerns.
The post is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU) in Genomics and Enabling Data (GED). It brings together leading researchers from the Universities of Warwick, Cambridge and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute with UKHSA working in partnership to exploit synergy, world-class facilities, and breadth and depth in relevant research between these institutions.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key Responsibilities
The post support the delivery of the objectives of the HPRU GED as set out in its yearly Forward Business Plan.
- Under the overall strategic guidance of the Director of NIHR-Genomics and Data Enabling Unit, provide effective scientific and professional leadership for a specialist scientific area including organisation, supervision and delivery of national reference services and by providing advice, expertise and specialist information.
- Work with other bioinformaticians and academics in the HPRU GED and at UKHSA on designing, implementing and validating efficient bioinformatics pipelines suitable for analysis and comparative genomics of relevant pathogen sequences.
- Assist with the deployment of technologies for the analysis and comparative analysis of high-throughput WGS in all sections of UKHSA, as required by HPRU GED across the different themes, including graphical user interfaces and data collection tools to help epidemiologists.
- Prepare reports, posters and publications arising from the work.
- Maintain and further develop the international and national reputation of national microbiology reference functions through development of strategic academic, public sector and other partnerships including participation, design, implementation and overall management of R&D projects within area of expertise.
- Participate in scientific fora to help maintain the high standard of analytical work by staff in UKHSA and ensure representation at key scientific and medical conferences.
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.
Selection Process
Stage 1: Application & SiftAs part of the application process, you will be asked to provide a Statement of Suitability in no more than 1000 words
This part of the selection process should outline how you consider your skills, experience and achievements, and provide evidence of your suitability for the role
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. This will be used in sifting process and will be scored.
You should provide examples of how you meet the essential criteria. It should also detail what you and your experience can bring to the role. We suggest using the STAR (situation, task, action, result) method to demonstrate real-life examples for the specified essential criteria. Please note, only information provided within the stated word count will be considered.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview
Stage 2: Panel Interview
All candidates who are successful at the sift stage will undertake a single video interview. You will be asked to do a presentation on a topic that will be sent prior to the interview
Reserve List:
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.
Benefits
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- Range of health and wellbeing support
Any move to UKHSA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare.
Eligibility Criteria
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants)
Nationality requirements
Appointments to roles within UKHSA will be made in accordance with the Civil Service nationality rules. These can be found athttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rulesThis job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- Nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of theEuropean Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
- Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
- Certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.
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.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.
Security clearance level requirement
Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard. People working with government assets must complete Basic Personnel Security Standard checks.
For posts on UKHSA Civil Service terms and conditions, new entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. For existing Civil Servants and roles advertised across government, the rules of transfer apply, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive a 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key Responsibilities
The post support the delivery of the objectives of the HPRU GED as set out in its yearly Forward Business Plan.
- Under the overall strategic guidance of the Director of NIHR-Genomics and Data Enabling Unit, provide effective scientific and professional leadership for a specialist scientific area including organisation, supervision and delivery of national reference services and by providing advice, expertise and specialist information.
- Work with other bioinformaticians and academics in the HPRU GED and at UKHSA on designing, implementing and validating efficient bioinformatics pipelines suitable for analysis and comparative genomics of relevant pathogen sequences.
- Assist with the deployment of technologies for the analysis and comparative analysis of high-throughput WGS in all sections of UKHSA, as required by HPRU GED across the different themes, including graphical user interfaces and data collection tools to help epidemiologists.
- Prepare reports, posters and publications arising from the work.
- Maintain and further develop the international and national reputation of national microbiology reference functions through development of strategic academic, public sector and other partnerships including participation, design, implementation and overall management of R&D projects within area of expertise.
- Participate in scientific fora to help maintain the high standard of analytical work by staff in UKHSA and ensure representation at key scientific and medical conferences.
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.
Selection Process
Stage 1: Application & SiftAs part of the application process, you will be asked to provide a Statement of Suitability in no more than 1000 words
This part of the selection process should outline how you consider your skills, experience and achievements, and provide evidence of your suitability for the role
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. This will be used in sifting process and will be scored.
You should provide examples of how you meet the essential criteria. It should also detail what you and your experience can bring to the role. We suggest using the STAR (situation, task, action, result) method to demonstrate real-life examples for the specified essential criteria. Please note, only information provided within the stated word count will be considered.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview
Stage 2: Panel Interview
All candidates who are successful at the sift stage will undertake a single video interview. You will be asked to do a presentation on a topic that will be sent prior to the interview
Reserve List:
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.
Benefits
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- Range of health and wellbeing support
Any move to UKHSA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare.
Eligibility Criteria
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants)
Nationality requirements
Appointments to roles within UKHSA will be made in accordance with the Civil Service nationality rules. These can be found athttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rulesThis job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- Nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of theEuropean Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
- Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
- Certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.
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.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.
Security clearance level requirement
Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard. People working with government assets must complete Basic Personnel Security Standard checks.
For posts on UKHSA Civil Service terms and conditions, new entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. For existing Civil Servants and roles advertised across government, the rules of transfer apply, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive a 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.
Person Specification
Education & Qualifications
Essential
- oHigher degree (i.e., PhD or above) in Bioinformatics or a related quantitative discipline
Person Specification
Education & Qualifications
Essential
- oHigher degree (i.e., PhD or above) in Bioinformatics or a related quantitative discipline
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
