Job responsibilities
Responsibilities section:
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:
- To take responsibility for the day-to-day supervision and organisation of routine surveillance of RSV and influenza viruses in samples derived from clinical material.
- To be responsible for introducing and maintaining methodologies in accordance with UKHSA policy.
- To act as first-line trouble-shooter when and where appropriate, and to bring problems to the attention of senior staff.
- To demonstrate a good understanding of clinical virology, and to maintain scientific and specialist knowledge commensurate with an experienced Healthcare Scientist. Also, to undergo further training as may be necessary.
- To perform a range of specialist virological, technical, and scientific activities on samples referred from other laboratories.
- Tissue culture for identification of influenza virus and RSV, with typing of influenza strains.
- Produce and maintain reagents to support current testing strategies and for the development of new assays including preparation and testing of antisera, preparation and maintenance of virus stock, Haemagglutination and Haemagglutination Inhibition assays, CPE detection, Focus or microneutralisation assays for antigenic analysis
- To be responsible for maintaining a high standard of professional competence in the performance of all tests and investigations carried out in the laboratory.
- To be responsible for unit IQC and EQA where appropriate, monitoring and analysing performance.
- Receipt of suspected Containment Level 3 (CL3) samples into unit and processing at the appropriate level of containment.
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.
Please see full duties and responsibilities attached
Essential Criteria:
It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 1500 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the essential criteria (for full details of all essential criteria please refer to the attached job description):
Essential
- Degree in Molecular Biology / Virology / Biochemistry
- Demonstrate laboratory experience in Biomedical sciences, Microbiology/Virology, R & D, and understanding of quality and lab safety requirements/procedures.
- Good communicator and team worker with leadership skills and Able to organise own workload and delegated priorities to junior staff.
- Confident in presentation of ideas and information with excellent analytical skills. Good organisation skills with particular attention to detail
Desirable
- MSc in Medical Microbiology/Virology/Bioinformatics or in progress of attaining qualification.
- Experience in Mammalian Cell culture, respiratory virus isolation and working in CL3 lab.
- Current HCPC Registration
Selection process details
STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT:
You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed in line with the full list of essential criteria as detailed in the attached job description 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 competition will involve a face to face interview.
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.
Your Statement of Suitability 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).
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.
The competency based framework will be used to assess and recruit the most suitable candidate. The following behaviours will be used at the interview:
- Experience
- Knowledge
- Technical Skills
Expected Timeline:
Advert close: 23:55hrs on 8th December 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.
Shortlist: 15th December2023
Interviews: TBC
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.
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/
Complaint process:
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.
