Deputy Lead, Antimicrobial Resistance & Mechanisms Service (ARMS)

Job description

Job responsibilities

Your key responsibilities will include:

General

To support the Lead Clinical Scientist, ARMS to:

• Ensure effective and timely delivery and advice on reference and specialist activities within ARMS remit.
• Provide effective scientific leadership with respect to provision of reference services for determination of antimicrobial susceptibility and molecular detection of antimicrobial resistance mechanisms of public health importance in healthcare-associated bacterial pathogens.
• Plan, develop, implement and direct long-term strategy of specialist areas. Adopt new technology and quality innovations to enhance the effectiveness of ARMS, the AMRHAI Reference Unit and the AMR & HCAI Division.

Technical Services

• To validate results on the Laboratory Information Management System and contribute to the development of information technology systems and databases as required, including appropriate databases.
• To work with relevant consultant medical microbiologists in the Public Health Microbiology Reference Services Division and AMR & HCAI Division to provide input into clinical interpretation and ensure prompt and accurate delivery of ARMS reference services.
• To use software packages as appropriate for word processing, presentations, data analysis, as well as specialist bioinformatics packages as required.
• To oversee evaluations of novel technologies for rapid detection of antimicrobial resistance, leading in the analysis of data generated, preparing reports for customers and papers for publication in peer-reviewed journals, and presenting findings at national and international meetings

Management of Staff

• To promote the personal and professional development of line managed staff through creation of personal development plans, regular performance review, and identification and meeting of training needs.
• To ensure junior staff and assigned visitors or trainees are competent to carry out the tasks given to them, ensuring that levels of supervision are sufficient.
• To develop and supervise postgraduate research projects and support the organisation of, and participating in, training programmes for staff and visitors.

Financial management

• To support ARMS and the AMRHAI Unit Head in the management of the Unit budget.
• To manage the finances of relevant research projects and short-term contracts.

Quality / Governance

In collaboration with the Quality Team, to:

• Maintain a high standard of work and appraise and contribute to developing services so that they are safe, effective and economical and follow best practice.
• Work towards ensuring an efficient quality management system.
• Contribute to internal and external quality assurance programmes.
• Ensure compliance with accreditation and certification standards.
• Ensure the continual development and compliance of internal and external audit programmes and corrective actions.

To agree safety objectives with managed staff and to review performance at appraisal and support Senior Management Team in carrying out duties with respect to:

• Ensure health, safety and welfare of self, staff and visitors.
• Ensure relevant UKHSA health and safety policies and laboratory safety committee recommendations and actions are implemented.
• Ensure implementation of remedial actions resulting from safety inspections and audits.

Research and Development

• To offer leadership in all aspects of service development relating to the reference activities of the Section and in research and surveillance activities relevant to the pathogens within AMRHAIs and the AMR & HCAI Divisions remit.

UKHSA Committees and Working Parties

• To represent the AMRHAI Reference Unit on local or national committees as required.

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.

Selection process details

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

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the 15 essential criteria listed, and this will be in the form of a:

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

• 1500-word 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 Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.

Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:

• Meets all essentialcriteria

• Meets some essential criteria

• Meets no essential criteria

Piles Meets all essentialcriteria and Meets some essential criteriawill be moved through to the shortlisting stage.

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

• Registration with the Health and Care Professional Council (HCPC) as a Clinical Scientist or Biomedical Scientist specialising in microbiology and evidence of continuing professional development.
• Relevant higher degree (MSc/PhD) in Medical Microbiology/Molecular microbiology or a related discipline.
• Substantive postgraduate experience in the field of antimicrobial resistance with excellent working knowledge of antimicrobial susceptibility testing and resistance mechanisms in bacteria.

Please do not exceed 1500 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number. If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview. Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered.

Please note you will not be able to upload your CV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible. Please do not email us your CV.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview (competency based)

You will be invited to a (single) face to face interview. In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

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

There will be a 10-minute presentation at interview, full details will be provided at the shortlisting stage.

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

Location

This role is being offered as office/lab based at our Scientific Campus in Colindale.

If based at one of our scientific campuses, you will be required to have a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum. For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years as the role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance. In exceptional circumstances UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

Eligibility Criteria

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Person Specification

Essential criteria

Essential

• Registration with the Health and Care Professional Council (HCPC) as Clinical Scientist or Biomedical Scientist specialising in microbiology and evidence of continuing professional development
• BSc in microbiology, biomedical sciences or equivalent
• Relevant higher degree (MSc/PhD) in Medical Microbiology/Molecular microbiology or a related discipline
• Extensive post-graduate experience in clinical and molecular microbiology in a reference and/or diagnostic setting accredited to ISO 15189 standard
• Substantive postgraduate experience in the field of antimicrobial resistance with excellent working knowledge of antimicrobial susceptibility testing and resistance mechanisms in bacteria
• Experience of developing molecular microbiological techniques and their application
• Demonstrable experience of project management skills and leading complex projects
• Ability to negotiate on difficult and controversial issues including performance and change
• 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.
• Proven record of research in bacterial antimicrobial resistance including significant/relevant publications
• Able to prioritize own work effectively and be able to direct activities of others. Experience of managing and motivating a team and reviewing performance of individuals
• Able to use initiative to decide relevant actions and make recommendations to Manager, with the aim of improving deliverables and compliance to policies
• Able to make decisions autonomously, when required, on difficult issues, working to tight and often changing timescales
• Demonstrated capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly
• Able to provide/receive highly complex information, negotiate and present to peers/others

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).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

UK Health Security Agency

Address

UKHSA Colindale

61 Colindale Ave

London

NW9 5EQ

Employer's website

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