Job summary
The Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections (AMRHAI) Reference Unit is the national reference laboratory for investigation of antibiotic resistance in, and characterization of, healthcare associated bacterial pathogens. The Unit is also the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections.
The purpose of this role is to provide scientific technical oversight and expertise to support the AMRHAI Reference Unit and the Healthcare Associated Infection (HCAI), Fungal, Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), Antimicrobial Usage (AMU) & Sepsis Division in delivering global diagnostics, research and capacity strengthening objectives as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research in Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associations Infections.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will work in partnership with the Co-directors of the WHO Collaborating Centre and other senior staff within the AMRHAI Reference Unit and the HCAI, Fungal, AMR, AMU, & Sepsis Division on the delivery of the WHO Collaborating Centre objectives and other related activities that disseminate UK best practice. This will be achieved through i) provision of technical input and support to countries seeking to build capacity in microbiological reference laboratory testing and strengthen their national AMR surveillance systems; and ii) development and delivery of capacity building modules and curricula, and other training materials on laboratory standards and procedures for AMR surveillance; and iii) input into other relevant UKHSA global health activities that focus on AMR.
Location
61 Colindale Ave, London NW9 5EQ / With potential for flexible hybrid working as agreed by line manager and according to business needs.
*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
*Please note that this role is on a fixed-term contract running up until March 2025.*
About us
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
Job description
Job responsibilities
Responsibilities section:
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:
- Act as a scientific expert for microbiology and genomics, providing reference laboratory services for antimicrobial susceptibility testing of bacteria, resistance mechanisms detection and for characterization of healthcare associated bacterial pathogens to support countries that do not yet have a fully functional reference laboratory
- Act as the representative for the WHO Collaborating Centre as part of a multidisciplinary team on missions overseas to provide technical training modules and other materials for building capacity in laboratory testing and surveillance of AMR
- Organize and deliver suitable training programs for staff, postgraduate students and visitors both online and face-to-face
- Assist in reviews of current laboratory practice, develop standardized operating procedures (SOP) and other standards for AMR related laboratory services, procedures and methods, and to support in-country laboratory teams in implementation to assist in achieving laboratory accreditation
- Represent the WHO Collaborating Centre at a range of internal and external meetings
- Provide regular updates and reports on activities to the WHO and relevant UKHSA groups
- Lead on laboratory-based surveillance projects, including characterization of bacteria collected in collaborating countries to deliver WHO Collaborating Centre objectives
- Actively network in the research and capacity strengthening community (both within UKHSA and beyond) to identify and develop potential areas of engagement and collaboration
- Contribute to ensuring research activities are co-ordinated, appropriately funded and regularly reviewed in line with the WHO Collaborating Centre objectives
- Identify funding opportunities for ongoing research activity and write research grant proposals; present research findings and training updates at national and internal meetings
Please see the job description for a full list of duties
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.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Responsibilities section:
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:
- Act as a scientific expert for microbiology and genomics, providing reference laboratory services for antimicrobial susceptibility testing of bacteria, resistance mechanisms detection and for characterization of healthcare associated bacterial pathogens to support countries that do not yet have a fully functional reference laboratory
- Act as the representative for the WHO Collaborating Centre as part of a multidisciplinary team on missions overseas to provide technical training modules and other materials for building capacity in laboratory testing and surveillance of AMR
- Organize and deliver suitable training programs for staff, postgraduate students and visitors both online and face-to-face
- Assist in reviews of current laboratory practice, develop standardized operating procedures (SOP) and other standards for AMR related laboratory services, procedures and methods, and to support in-country laboratory teams in implementation to assist in achieving laboratory accreditation
- Represent the WHO Collaborating Centre at a range of internal and external meetings
- Provide regular updates and reports on activities to the WHO and relevant UKHSA groups
- Lead on laboratory-based surveillance projects, including characterization of bacteria collected in collaborating countries to deliver WHO Collaborating Centre objectives
- Actively network in the research and capacity strengthening community (both within UKHSA and beyond) to identify and develop potential areas of engagement and collaboration
- Contribute to ensuring research activities are co-ordinated, appropriately funded and regularly reviewed in line with the WHO Collaborating Centre objectives
- Identify funding opportunities for ongoing research activity and write research grant proposals; present research findings and training updates at national and internal meetings
Please see the job description for a full list of duties
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.
Person Specification
Essential/Desirable criteria
Essential
- Postgraduate degree in a relevant subject (e.g., PhD in microbiology, biomedical science or molecular biology) or equivalent postgraduate experience
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Extensive knowledge and experience working in clinical diagnostic microbiology laboratories delivering phenotypic and genotypic methods to characterise bacteria (including biocontainment at CL3)
- Broad working knowledge and competency in antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods and resistance mechanism detection, molecular diagnostics techniques (e.g., real-time PCR)
- In-depth knowledge and understanding of laboratory health and safety requirements and procedures; experience of performing laboratory risk assessments
- In-depth understanding of relevant laboratory policies, standards and guidelines including those relevant to quality control/assurance and ISO 15189 accreditation processes
- Experience of working with information technology including Laboratory Information Management Systems and Microsoft Office packages
- Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with a range of people on a range of matters using writing, report writing and presentation skills
- A positive, resilient, flexible and adaptable 'can-do' attitude that can see a way through challenges; able to make decisions autonomously, when required, on difficult issues, working to tight and often changing timescales
- Adept at problem solving though analysis of complex facts and situations to deliver solutions to practical problems in laboratory workflows and workloads
- Good networking and communication skills to build and foster effective working relationships with co-workers and key stakeholders in the UK and overseas
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.
Desirable
- Health & Safety qualification, e.g., NEBOSH Certificate or Diploma IOSH
- Project management qualification (e.g., PRINCE2 practitioner)
- Practical experience in whole genome sequencing on Illumina and Oxford Nanopore Technology platforms; some understanding of bioinformatics processes including phylogenetic analyses
- Experience of working in microbiology laboratories in low resource settings and understanding of global health issues
- Experience of designing and delivering training to others using a range of different approaches (face-to-face and online)
- Experience of participation in research and development projects
- Experience of leading change management
Person Specification
Essential/Desirable criteria
Essential
- Postgraduate degree in a relevant subject (e.g., PhD in microbiology, biomedical science or molecular biology) or equivalent postgraduate experience
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Extensive knowledge and experience working in clinical diagnostic microbiology laboratories delivering phenotypic and genotypic methods to characterise bacteria (including biocontainment at CL3)
- Broad working knowledge and competency in antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods and resistance mechanism detection, molecular diagnostics techniques (e.g., real-time PCR)
- In-depth knowledge and understanding of laboratory health and safety requirements and procedures; experience of performing laboratory risk assessments
- In-depth understanding of relevant laboratory policies, standards and guidelines including those relevant to quality control/assurance and ISO 15189 accreditation processes
- Experience of working with information technology including Laboratory Information Management Systems and Microsoft Office packages
- Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with a range of people on a range of matters using writing, report writing and presentation skills
- A positive, resilient, flexible and adaptable 'can-do' attitude that can see a way through challenges; able to make decisions autonomously, when required, on difficult issues, working to tight and often changing timescales
- Adept at problem solving though analysis of complex facts and situations to deliver solutions to practical problems in laboratory workflows and workloads
- Good networking and communication skills to build and foster effective working relationships with co-workers and key stakeholders in the UK and overseas
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.
Desirable
- Health & Safety qualification, e.g., NEBOSH Certificate or Diploma IOSH
- Project management qualification (e.g., PRINCE2 practitioner)
- Practical experience in whole genome sequencing on Illumina and Oxford Nanopore Technology platforms; some understanding of bioinformatics processes including phylogenetic analyses
- Experience of working in microbiology laboratories in low resource settings and understanding of global health issues
- Experience of designing and delivering training to others using a range of different approaches (face-to-face and online)
- Experience of participation in research and development projects
- Experience of leading change management
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).
