UK Health Security Agency

Senior Bioinformatician

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

At the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) our mission is to provide health security for the nation by protecting from infectious disease and external hazards. We are a trusted source of advice to government and to the public, focusing on reducing inequalities in the way different communities experience and are impacted by infectious disease, environmental hazards, and other threats to health.

This post is based within the Immunisation and Diagnosis Unit (IDU); a national reference laboratory providing diagnostic and reference services for measles, mumps, rubella, polyomavirus (JC), parvovirus B19 (B19V), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), HHV6 and HHV7, and World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Specialised Laboratory for Measles and Rubella.

The successful candidate will lead, develop, and support strategies for molecular development, bioinformatics and informatics approaches to provide programmatic molecular and bioinformatics expertise, to improve capability and improve information dissemination to internal and external stakeholders. To have the ability to translate strategic and operational vision into reality through providing technical solutions and to manage junior laboratory and bioinformatics staff.

This role is being offered on a Fixed Term Contract until 31/03/2024.

Main duties of the job

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

  • To be responsible for the bioinformatics components of assays for WGS of the viruses in the IDU's work remit. Tasks in this area include the development and maintenance of molecular assays and analysis pipelines, ensuring the timely delivery service outputs to customers and troubleshooting issues that disrupt business continuity.
  • To be responsible for the development and support of specific analysis tools and systems, and to be responsible for the organisation of other online resources and computer systems, through requirements analysis, functional specification, implementation, deployment and testing.
  • To ensure that high quality and responsive support activities are provided by the bioinformatics team.
  • To be responsible for the project management of a portfolio of projects and to maintain technical documentation.
  • To support and progress UKAS accreditation by working with the Quality Team to ensure that appropriate quality standards are met, and where necessary defined, and that documentation and processes are effectively followed by all relevant staff.

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.

About us

For more information on the UKHSA please visit: UK Health Security Agency - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

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%.
  • Range of health and wellbeing support.
  • 26 days annual leave allowance increasing to 32 days after a 10-year service.

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. Determine your eligibility at Childcare Choices | 30 Hours Free Childcare, Tax-Free Childcare and More | Help with Costs | GOV.UK

Details

Date posted

24 August 2023

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£53,396 to £62,286 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working

Reference number

UKHSA00364

Job locations

Colindale Avenue

London

NW9 5HT


Job description

Job responsibilities

Location

Colindale Avenue London, NW9 5HT (Hybrid)

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) offers hybrid working this means that whilst the role will be based in Colindale, there will be opportunities for an element of working from home. UKHSA have office locations across the UK.

The balance between home and workplace working is to be agreed with the line manager, determined primarily by business needs and in line with departmental policy.

*Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available.*

Selection process details

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT:

You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed in line with the advertised essential criteria please do provide evidence of how you meet this.

Your Statement of Suitability (max 1000 words) should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria (outlined in the person specification section).

**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.**

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.

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

STAGE 2 INTERVIEW

This will involve an interview via MS Teams.

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 using the Success Profiles framework. During the interview we will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Ability, Experience and Technical skills.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

  • Seeing the big picture
  • Changing and improving
  • Leading and communicating
  • Collaborating and partnering
  • Delivering value for money
  • Delivering at pace

Candidates will also be asked to participate in a session where they will be required to prepare and deliver a 5-10-minute presentation to the panel. This will be followed by a question-and-answer segment. The presentation will be designed to assess each candidates experience in line with the requirements of the role. Full details will be provided prior to the interview.

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 10th September 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: W/C 25th September 2023

Please note these dates could be subject to change.

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.

A basic check is required.

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.

Please Note

This role is to be appointed under Civil Service Terms & Conditions. Full details on the T&Cs are found https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

Are you already a civil servant, or employed by a Civil Service Commission accredited public body? Please state home department on your application form.

Do you meet the nationality requirements for this post? https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: Complaints1@ukhsa.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Location

Colindale Avenue London, NW9 5HT (Hybrid)

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) offers hybrid working this means that whilst the role will be based in Colindale, there will be opportunities for an element of working from home. UKHSA have office locations across the UK.

The balance between home and workplace working is to be agreed with the line manager, determined primarily by business needs and in line with departmental policy.

*Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available.*

Selection process details

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT:

You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed in line with the advertised essential criteria please do provide evidence of how you meet this.

Your Statement of Suitability (max 1000 words) should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria (outlined in the person specification section).

**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.**

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.

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

STAGE 2 INTERVIEW

This will involve an interview via MS Teams.

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 using the Success Profiles framework. During the interview we will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Ability, Experience and Technical skills.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

  • Seeing the big picture
  • Changing and improving
  • Leading and communicating
  • Collaborating and partnering
  • Delivering value for money
  • Delivering at pace

Candidates will also be asked to participate in a session where they will be required to prepare and deliver a 5-10-minute presentation to the panel. This will be followed by a question-and-answer segment. The presentation will be designed to assess each candidates experience in line with the requirements of the role. Full details will be provided prior to the interview.

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 10th September 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: W/C 25th September 2023

Please note these dates could be subject to change.

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.

A basic check is required.

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.

Please Note

This role is to be appointed under Civil Service Terms & Conditions. Full details on the T&Cs are found https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

Are you already a civil servant, or employed by a Civil Service Commission accredited public body? Please state home department on your application form.

Do you meet the nationality requirements for this post? https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: Complaints1@ukhsa.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website.

Person Specification

Education and qualifications

Essential

  • University degree and higher degree in Bioinformatics/computer Science or Life Sciences
  • Second degree/higher degree qualification in Bioinformatics, computer Science or Life Sciences, or equivalent experience
  • Significant professional experience implementing NGS bioinformatics pipelines for virology.
  • Experience of managing, analysing, and condensing large volumes of sequence and epidemiology data
  • Evidence of management, training, supervisory and team building skills
  • Ability to communicate complex and technical knowledge and ideas to non-specialist users.
  • High level of proficiency with Linux/Unix operating systems
  • Proven skills in programming languages e.g., Python, JAVA, C++ and versioning software (git)

Desirable

  • Significant professional experience developing and implementing molecular assays.
  • Proven skills in database design, architecture, and implementation on a variety of platforms
  • Knowledge of Public Health virology
Person Specification

Education and qualifications

Essential

  • University degree and higher degree in Bioinformatics/computer Science or Life Sciences
  • Second degree/higher degree qualification in Bioinformatics, computer Science or Life Sciences, or equivalent experience
  • Significant professional experience implementing NGS bioinformatics pipelines for virology.
  • Experience of managing, analysing, and condensing large volumes of sequence and epidemiology data
  • Evidence of management, training, supervisory and team building skills
  • Ability to communicate complex and technical knowledge and ideas to non-specialist users.
  • High level of proficiency with Linux/Unix operating systems
  • Proven skills in programming languages e.g., Python, JAVA, C++ and versioning software (git)

Desirable

  • Significant professional experience developing and implementing molecular assays.
  • Proven skills in database design, architecture, and implementation on a variety of platforms
  • Knowledge of Public Health virology

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

UK Health Security Agency

Address

Colindale Avenue

London

NW9 5HT


Employer's website

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

UK Health Security Agency

Address

Colindale Avenue

London

NW9 5HT


Employer's website

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

RPO Talent Specialist

Nicoleta Enciu

Nicoleta.Enciu@reed.com

Details

Date posted

24 August 2023

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£53,396 to £62,286 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working

Reference number

UKHSA00364

Job locations

Colindale Avenue

London

NW9 5HT


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

UK Health Security Agency's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)