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.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be responsible for scientific leadership and having comprehensive oversight and responsibility of all scientific and managerial matters across a designated Unit in UKHSA's public health microbiology laboratories within its Specialised Microbiology & Laboratories Directorate. The post holder may work with colleagues who are based across the country at different sites and/or who work remotely.
Please note there are 3 posts available, 1st is within the Antimicrobial Resistance & Healthcare Associated Infections (AMRHAI) Reference Unit, the 2nd is within the Respiratory & Vaccine Preventable Bacteria Reference Unit (RVPBRU) and the 3rd is within the Sexually Transmitted Infections Reference Unit (STIRL)
Please state your preferred reference unit within your statement of suitability.
Please be aware that this role is being advertised under the following bandings:
Civil Service, Grade 6, £69,275 - £78,805 (Inner London)
AfC Band 8D, £89,007 - £101,812 (Outer London)
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 Generous Civil Service pension or NHS pension
- 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. Determine your eligibility at Childcare Choices | 30 Hours Free Childcare, Tax-Free Childcare and More | Help with Costs | GOV.UK
Job description
Job responsibilities
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:
Leadership
- Lead and manage the scientific and operational service delivery for the designated Unit to ensure seamless working between teams and corporate business functions.
- Lead on behalf of the Deputy Directors on all areas relating to finance, business planning and commercial development, working with Heads of Laboratory Business Operations, corporate leads e.g. Finance Business Partner, ensuring embedded teams work to common national standards and practices.
- Be responsible for shaping a culture of change and innovation and promoting a positive change culture across UKHSAs public health microbiology laboratories.
Management
- Deliver the budgeting, resourcing, planning and business management, working with Heads of Laboratory Business Operations, Heads of Technical Services, SM&L divisions and corporate leads in UKHSA to ensure the division meets its corporate requirements and liaises effectively with others.
- Day to day scientific and managerial leadership for all staff assigned to the designated Unit
Laboratory Service leadership
- Provide expert scientific leadership and be responsible for strategic development and operational service delivery in the designated laboratory Unit.
- To set scientific strategy and direction for the designated Unit, working with the Deputy Directors
- To ensure that the laboratory delivers and develops services and provides expert advice for wider public health delivery, and also provides national and international specialist services and advice to internal and external customers.
- To ensure that services are delivered under a Quality Management System in accordance with UKHSA policies, and the Quality standards set by relevant external accreditation bodies (e.g. UKAS)
- To be accountable for Health and Safety of all staff and visitors within the designated Unit.
Change and Continuous Improvement
- Develop and implement major change programmes as agreed by the Divisions Senior Management Team in liaison with HR, Finance, Project and Change professionals, to support UKHSA core objectives.
- Oversee the co-ordination of lessons learned activity, providing solutions where appropriate.
Governance
- Chair groups on behalf of the Deputy Directors, ensuring that there is good governance in respect of Health & Safety; Clinical Governance; Information Governance; Quality Standards; Financial Management; HR Management; Regulatory Compliance; and Risk Management generally.
- Ensure that the designated Unit and its services are fully compliant with UKHSA governance requirements.
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.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview.
STAGE 2 INTERVIEW
This post will involve an interview onsite at the UKHSA Colindale office.
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 in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification.
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.
The Success Profiles framework will be used to assess and recruit the most suitable candidate. The following behaviours will be used at the interview:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Changing and Improving
- Making Effective Decisions
- Leading and Communicating
- Collaborating and Partnering
- Building Capability for all
- Achieving Commercial Outcomes
- Delivering Value for Money
- Managing a Quality Service
- Delivering at Pace
Expected Timeline:
Advert close: 23:55hrs on 29th October 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: TBC
Please note these dates could be subject to change.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:
Leadership
- Lead and manage the scientific and operational service delivery for the designated Unit to ensure seamless working between teams and corporate business functions.
- Lead on behalf of the Deputy Directors on all areas relating to finance, business planning and commercial development, working with Heads of Laboratory Business Operations, corporate leads e.g. Finance Business Partner, ensuring embedded teams work to common national standards and practices.
- Be responsible for shaping a culture of change and innovation and promoting a positive change culture across UKHSAs public health microbiology laboratories.
Management
- Deliver the budgeting, resourcing, planning and business management, working with Heads of Laboratory Business Operations, Heads of Technical Services, SM&L divisions and corporate leads in UKHSA to ensure the division meets its corporate requirements and liaises effectively with others.
- Day to day scientific and managerial leadership for all staff assigned to the designated Unit
Laboratory Service leadership
- Provide expert scientific leadership and be responsible for strategic development and operational service delivery in the designated laboratory Unit.
- To set scientific strategy and direction for the designated Unit, working with the Deputy Directors
- To ensure that the laboratory delivers and develops services and provides expert advice for wider public health delivery, and also provides national and international specialist services and advice to internal and external customers.
- To ensure that services are delivered under a Quality Management System in accordance with UKHSA policies, and the Quality standards set by relevant external accreditation bodies (e.g. UKAS)
- To be accountable for Health and Safety of all staff and visitors within the designated Unit.
Change and Continuous Improvement
- Develop and implement major change programmes as agreed by the Divisions Senior Management Team in liaison with HR, Finance, Project and Change professionals, to support UKHSA core objectives.
- Oversee the co-ordination of lessons learned activity, providing solutions where appropriate.
Governance
- Chair groups on behalf of the Deputy Directors, ensuring that there is good governance in respect of Health & Safety; Clinical Governance; Information Governance; Quality Standards; Financial Management; HR Management; Regulatory Compliance; and Risk Management generally.
- Ensure that the designated Unit and its services are fully compliant with UKHSA governance requirements.
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.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview.
STAGE 2 INTERVIEW
This post will involve an interview onsite at the UKHSA Colindale office.
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 in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification.
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.
The Success Profiles framework will be used to assess and recruit the most suitable candidate. The following behaviours will be used at the interview:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Changing and Improving
- Making Effective Decisions
- Leading and Communicating
- Collaborating and Partnering
- Building Capability for all
- Achieving Commercial Outcomes
- Delivering Value for Money
- Managing a Quality Service
- Delivering at Pace
Expected Timeline:
Advert close: 23:55hrs on 29th October 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: TBC
Please note these dates could be subject to change.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- PhD in a biological science
- HCPC Registration
Desirable
- FRCPath
- CPD participation
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- National/International recognition for organism specific or subject matter expertise
- Expertise in the specialist area covered by the post
- Experience of working within a quality system
- Understanding of quality assurance principles and procedures
- Understanding and experience of laboratory safety regulations and procedures
- Experience and understanding of project management
- Evidence of using technical experience to assess new and existing systems and processes to innovate and initiate change in laboratory practice
- Detailed knowledge of specialist and reference microbiology functions and their contribution to public health
- Aptitude for managing people and assessing performance
- Able to motivate others, encourage teamwork, delegate, and get the best out of people
- Able to criticize constructively, to design and introduce improvements and to manage change
Desirable
- Experience of financial management including managing budgets
- Experience in business management and development of business plans; relevant business or management training to certificate level
Skills and capabilities
Essential
- Negotiating and influencing skills required when liaising with managers, senior staff of other teams and NHS experts to move projects forward
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Able to convey instructions, ideas and opinions clearly and concisely.
Equality and diversity
Essential
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- PhD in a biological science
- HCPC Registration
Desirable
- FRCPath
- CPD participation
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- National/International recognition for organism specific or subject matter expertise
- Expertise in the specialist area covered by the post
- Experience of working within a quality system
- Understanding of quality assurance principles and procedures
- Understanding and experience of laboratory safety regulations and procedures
- Experience and understanding of project management
- Evidence of using technical experience to assess new and existing systems and processes to innovate and initiate change in laboratory practice
- Detailed knowledge of specialist and reference microbiology functions and their contribution to public health
- Aptitude for managing people and assessing performance
- Able to motivate others, encourage teamwork, delegate, and get the best out of people
- Able to criticize constructively, to design and introduce improvements and to manage change
Desirable
- Experience of financial management including managing budgets
- Experience in business management and development of business plans; relevant business or management training to certificate level
Skills and capabilities
Essential
- Negotiating and influencing skills required when liaising with managers, senior staff of other teams and NHS experts to move projects forward
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Able to convey instructions, ideas and opinions clearly and concisely.
Equality and diversity
Essential
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
