Biomedical Scientist

Job description

Job responsibilities

Essential Criteria:

Please note as part of this recruitment you will be assessed on the criteria's below, to view all criteria's please refer to the attached job description.

• BSc or equivalent in a biological science
• State registration with HCPC and evidence of CPD or a demonstrable plan to achieve HCPC registration within 18 months of appointment.
• Knowledge of relevant pathogens covered by the Sections remit
• Experience in use of LIMS, and a range of common software (e.g. Microsoft Office, Access)
• Good communicator and team worker with leadership skills. Able to organise own workload and delegated priorities to junior staff.
• Confident in presentation of ideas and information with excellent analytical skills. Good time management and organisation skills with particular attention to detail.
• Self-motivating, organized and meticulous, and able to problem solve in a calm and efficient manner.

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience and/or understanding of scientific principles of molecular assays including real-time PCR, sequencing technologies, and antibody assays
• Basic knowledge of project principles

Selection Process Details:

This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your Qualifications, knowledge and experience and / or skills and capabilities outlined in the essential criteria.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the above listed 7essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

• CV/ Application form(Employer/ Activity history section on the application)

• 1250word Statement of Suitability.

This should outline how you consider your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.

The CV and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.

In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on

• State registration with HCPC and evidence of CPD or a demonstrable plan to achieve HCPC registration within 18 months of appointment (Lead Criteria)

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment

Please do not exceed 1250 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview (competency based)

You will be invited to a (single) remote interview

Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview

Interviews will be held week commencing TBC. Please note, these dates are subject to change.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Locationinformation

The post holder will be based at the London Colindale site.

UKHSA operates a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours working at your contractual work base. (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month). Specialist or regional roles will be based at theappropriate UKHSAsite.

Eligibility Criteria

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (includingby definition internalapplicants).

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.

Working for the Civil Service:

TheCivil Service Codesets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.We recruit by meriton the basis offair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission'srecruitment principles.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction.Read more about prison leaver recruitment.

Its important to note that there are currently exceptions to applications being considered if your conviction relates to any of the following:

• life sentences

• arson

• sexual offences

• hate and terror offences

Some departments will also consider the specific offence against the nature of the business, i.e., a conviction for fraud may rule you out for a finance role.

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

Starting salary

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 isdeterminedby whichever is the highest.

For further details please refer to the Information Sheet- Starting Salaries & Benefits attachment

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• BSc or equivalent in a biological science
• State registration with HCPC and evidence of CPD or a demonstrable plan to achieve HCPC registration within 18 months of appointment.

Knowledge and experience

Essential

• Knowledge of relevant pathogens covered by the Section's remit
• Experience in use of LIMS, and a range of common software (e.g. Microsoft Office, Access)

Desirable

• Experience and/or understanding of scientific principles of molecular assays including real-time PCR, sequencing technologies, and antibody assays
• Basic knowledge of project principles

Skills / capabilities/ behaviours

Essential

• Good communicator and team worker with leadership skills. Able to organise own workload and delegated priorities to junior staff.
• Confident in presentation of ideas and information with excellent analytical skills. Good time management and organisation skills with particular attention to detail.
• Self-motivating, organized and meticulous, and able to problem solve in a calm and efficient manner.

Equality and diversity

Essential

• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems.

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, London

London

E14 4PU

Employer's website

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