Pathogen Genomics Scientist

Job description

Job responsibilities

This is a collaborative, hands on role, supporting the modernisation of genomic technologies and workflows for wastewater. The post holder will:

• Bridge research, development, and innovation with practicable implemented solutions pathogen genomic applications.
• Create and demonstrate a new nationwide in scale pathogen genomic wastewater capability.
• Develop genomic workflows, ensuring they are cheap, fast, more accurate and more accessible.
• Support development and optimisation of laboratory Pathogen Genomics waste water services, providing high quality analyses that meet clinical and scientific requirements and comply with best practice, and are safe, economical, and effective.
• Provide technical and scientific expertise, for the development of new or optimised genomic workflows in support of genomics driven, national scale, wastewater monitoring and surveillance.
• Work with the Pathogen Genomics Scientific Lead and working with colleagues across the team, UKHSA wide and with external organisation
• Accelerate R&D, and support implementation of new innovative capabilities for pathogen monitoring and surveillance in wastewater, from development of sample extraction through to end point molecular and genomic assays.
• Support the Pathogen Genomics Scientific team, developing new or optimising current genomic workflows, for a variety of different pathogens from wastewater.
• Have a hands-on role, so extensive expertise in wet lab genomic methodologies is critical and ideally bioinformatics knowhow to optimise and troubleshoot real time.
• Provide expert public health genomics advice and support, underpinned by data driven decision making. Therefore, must be able to analyse and interpret genomics run data, QC and outputs from common bioinformatic tools, to support interpretation and analyses of new methods and troubleshooting.
• Leverage innovative solutions, have great communication skills, and public health genomics expertise.
• Be an enabler of knowledge exchange, working with expert and non-expert stakeholders, to bridge R&D with implementation.
• Support the delivery of our genomics strategy so therefore, must be a highly motivated, solutions focused team player able to work across a diversity of teams and expertise.

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.

Essential Criteria:

• MSc or higher qualification in an appropriate medical / microbiological / biological science or equivalent level experience in biological sciences
• Significant experience of diagnostic molecular biology testing, molecular methods including real time PCR, sequencing and troubleshooting assay
• Experience in working with clinical samples or diagnostic testing
• Good record keeping, attention to detail
• Experience of developing or technology transferring new sequencing targets
• Experience of programming, developing, and implementing automation in the laboratory
• Substantive experience of infectious disease diagnostic or research
• Experience of using high throughput sequencing technologies and related sample preparation
• Ability to work in a team and individually to deadlines
• Clear communicator with excellent writing, report writing and presentation skills; capable of constructing and delivering clear ideas and concepts concisely and accurately for diverse audiences
• Problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands.
• Willing to undertake the necessary vaccinations and security clearance
• Able to participate in surge/outbreak cover situations as required

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Ability, Experience and Technical skills.

Stage 1 - Application & Sift:

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 13 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

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

• Up to 1250-word supporting statement

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

Meets all 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:

• Significant experience of diagnostic molecular biology testing, molecular methods including real time PCR, sequencing and troubleshooting assay

Please do not exceed1250 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 (success profiles)

You will be invited to a (single) remote interview.

Behaviours, technical, experience, ability and strengths will be tested at interview.

The Behaviour's tested during the interview stage will be:

• Developing Self and Others (lead)
• Working at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

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 based at our Scientific Campus in Colindale.

If based at one of our scientific campuses, you will be required to have a Counter TerrorismCheck 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

Application form and Supporting Statement

Essential

• Application form and Supporting Statement

Behaviours

Essential

• Developing Self and Others
• Working at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

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

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)