Pathogen Genomics Senior 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 demonstrating 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 and optimised molecular and genomic workflows for the monitoring and surveillance of pathogens from wastewater.
• Work with the Pathogen Genomics Scientific Lead as an enabler of a nationwide scale wastewater capability.
• Work with colleagues across the team, UKHSA wide and with external organisations to accelerate R&D, and support implementation of new wastewater capabilities, which can automated, for a diversity of human pathogens.
• Focus on the development of a new pathogen genomic wastewater monitoring and surveillance capability.
• Support the Pathogen Genomics Scientific team, developing genomic workflows, for a variety of different pathogens.
• Provide expert public health genomics advice and support, underpinned by data driven decision making.
• Analyse and interprete genomics run data, QC and outputs from common bioinformatic tools, to support interpretation and analyses of new methods and troubleshooting.
• Leverage innovative solutions, 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 who is 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:

• PhD or equivalent additional training, with degree across biological sciences
• Significant postgraduate practical and theoretical experience of genomics
• Experience in working with clinical samples or diagnostic testing
• Extensive experience, working knowledge and competency of genomics and/or bioinformatics
• Experience of working in multidisciplinary teams e.g. across wet lab, bioinformatics, quality etc
• Experience providing technical advice, scientific problem solving, R&D and applied sciences
• Experience with automation, liquid handling, development and operation
• Strong data analysis skills and experience. As well as the presentation/communicating complex data to a wide range of stakeholders both technical and non-technical
• Understands the application of genomics for public health across virology and bacteriology
• Experience of critically assessing current ways of working and introducing efficient and cost-effective practices
• Good organisation skills with ability to multi-task and particular attention to detail
• Communication skills - able to convey instructions, ideas and opinions clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing
• Training and teaching skills - aptitude for developing staff skills and capabilities
• Able to deputise as needed for the scientific lead, working with others and leading on task deliverables
• Willingness to travel, some activities are likely to require visiting other national laboratories

Selection process details

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

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 15 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 postgraduate practical and theoretical experience of genomics Experience in working with clinical samples or diagnostic testing

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)
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Working at Pace

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 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

Application form and Supporting Statement

Essential

• Application form and Supporting Statement

Behaviours

Essential

• Developing self and others
• Leadership
• 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)