Job summary
This is an excellent opportunity to work in UKHSA's world-leading National Mycobacterial Reference Service (NMRS). The successful candidate will be part of an innovative and supportive team delivering whole-genome sequencing for TB as a routine diagnostic service for clinical and public health use. This is a fixed term appointment until August 2026, for applicants who have completed IMT / CMT or at ST 3-7, allowing the post-holder to develop expertise in genomic microbiology and mycobacteriology, with exciting possibilities for being involved in and developing research projects.
The principal activities of the service include provision of a Mycobacterial Reference Service based on Whole Genome Sequencing for identification of Mycobacterium species isolates. The NMRS provides information and advice to clinical and public health teams for the identification and investigation of outbreaks and TB transmission. Our activities support surveillance activity for TB in the UK.The successful applicant will be expected to participate fully in the clinical service provision (supervised by consultants) of the laboratory.
Further details of qualifications required, and duties of the post-holder can be found in the person specification.
Main duties of the job
The National Mycobacterial Reference Service (NMRS) is part of an integrated, scientifically-led TB unit incorporating Consultant and Clinical Scientist Microbiologists, clinical infection specialists, bioinformaticians, infectious diseases and public health physicians, as well TB nursing staff and other allied disciplines, including support staff.
The unit is at the forefront of genomic pathogen surveillance, one of UKHSA's key areas of interest, having pioneered genomic pathogen surveillance as clinical service. Uniquely, our laboratory processes impact both on real-time clinical care, including the most complex cases of drug resistant TB, on the investigation of TB transmission, and on the formulation of policy to control TB in the medium and long term.
The two NMRS laboratories, in Birmingham, at Heartlands Hospital in the UKHSA Birmingham Public Health Laboratory, and in London at UKHSA Colindale, provide reference mycobacteriology services for NHS labs across England. The service deployed Whole Genome Sequencing between 2016-2018 in England for identification of mycobacteria and drug resistance prediction and determination of relatedness for members of M tuberculosis complex and its application to 4-5,000 isolates received from NHS labs per annum.
Please see attached Job Description for further details.
About us
We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.
UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post-holder will be expected to contribute, with the support of senior colleagues, to the routine clinical functioning of the laboratory. This will include, but is not limited to:
- Advising clinical and public health colleagues on the selection of diagnostic tests and interpretation of results (molecular, genomic and conventional).
- Clinical authorisation of results and participation in weekly multidisciplinary meetings to discuss complex cases and laboratory results.
- Initiation of and participation in clinical audit.
- Liaison with public health teams in outbreaks and incidents.
- Postgraduate teaching of medical and biomedical scientist trainees.
- In addition, dependent on the post-holders experience and interests, there will be opportunities to participate in tuberculosis and non-tuberculous mycobacteria outpatient clinics, TB cohort reviews and other clinical activities by arrangement.
- Ensure that the epidemiology, surveillance and monitoring of communicable disease covered by your service is of the highest standard.
Please refer to the attached Job Description for further details and the full essential criteria for the role.
Other Information
External - Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants)
Applicants are strongly advised to use the criteria in the Person Specification of the Job Description as sub-headings in their application to make it clear how they meet each of the selection criteria.
Stage 1: Application & Sift
You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on essential criteria, and this will be in the form of Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application) a (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.
Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered .
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment
Please do not exceed 1500 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Stage 2: Interview
You will be invited to a remote interview.
Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview .
A 5 minute presentation will be required, the subject will be provided prior to interview. Visual aids / slides will not be used.
Interviews will be held week commencing 26th September 2025. Please note, this date is 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.
Inclusion in the GMC Full and Specialist Register with a license to practice (or be eligible for registration within six months of interview) is required.
Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.
This role is being offered as lab based at our Scientific Campus at Colindale or at our lab in Birmingham.If based at one of our scientific campuses or labs, 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.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post-holder will be expected to contribute, with the support of senior colleagues, to the routine clinical functioning of the laboratory. This will include, but is not limited to:
- Advising clinical and public health colleagues on the selection of diagnostic tests and interpretation of results (molecular, genomic and conventional).
- Clinical authorisation of results and participation in weekly multidisciplinary meetings to discuss complex cases and laboratory results.
- Initiation of and participation in clinical audit.
- Liaison with public health teams in outbreaks and incidents.
- Postgraduate teaching of medical and biomedical scientist trainees.
- In addition, dependent on the post-holders experience and interests, there will be opportunities to participate in tuberculosis and non-tuberculous mycobacteria outpatient clinics, TB cohort reviews and other clinical activities by arrangement.
- Ensure that the epidemiology, surveillance and monitoring of communicable disease covered by your service is of the highest standard.
Please refer to the attached Job Description for further details and the full essential criteria for the role.
Other Information
External - Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants)
Applicants are strongly advised to use the criteria in the Person Specification of the Job Description as sub-headings in their application to make it clear how they meet each of the selection criteria.
Stage 1: Application & Sift
You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on essential criteria, and this will be in the form of Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application) a (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.
Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered .
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment
Please do not exceed 1500 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Stage 2: Interview
You will be invited to a remote interview.
Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview .
A 5 minute presentation will be required, the subject will be provided prior to interview. Visual aids / slides will not be used.
Interviews will be held week commencing 26th September 2025. Please note, this date is 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.
Inclusion in the GMC Full and Specialist Register with a license to practice (or be eligible for registration within six months of interview) is required.
Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.
This role is being offered as lab based at our Scientific Campus at Colindale or at our lab in Birmingham.If based at one of our scientific campuses or labs, 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.
Person Specification
Skills and capabilities
Essential
- Skills and knowledge commensurate with completion of Internal Medicine Training
- Comfortable with Information Technology and sound computer skills including Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook
- Good organisation and ability to organise own learning and time, ability to work to deadlines
- Excellent written and oral communication skills proven when communicating to national and local audiences
- Enthusiastic team player with a can-do attitude
- Ability to work as part of a team showing good communication and leadership skills
- Able to relate to all grades of staff
- Ability to keep good medical records and communicate with other hospital departments and primary care
- Ability to understand and communicate with patients and colleagues
- All applicants to have demonstrable skills in written and spoken English adequate to enable effective communication about medical topics with patients and colleagues demonstrated by one of the following: that applicants have undertaken undergraduate medical training in English or have achieved the following scores in the academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS) in a single sitting within 24 months at time of application - Overall 7, Speaking 7, Listening 7, Reading 7, Writing 7. If applicants believe they have adequate communication skills but do not fit into one of these examples they must provide supporting evidence
Desirable
- Commitment to teaching
- Ability to undertake research projects and audit Show interest in investigative, audit and research work outside immediate clinical responsibility
Qualifications
Essential
- Qualification requirements: MB BS or equivalent
- Full registration (and with a licence to practise) with the General Medical Council (GMC)
Desirable
- Professional Qualification requirements: either Passed the Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists (FRCPath) Part 1 exam or Passed the Membership of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP) Diploma
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Experience of the application of your skills in a clinical context
- Evidence of continuing professional education
- Completed Foundation Years medical training or equivalent
- Completed Internal Medicine Training Year 2 or can demonstrate equivalent training e.g. Core Medical Training and eligible to apply for speciality training
- A demonstrable interest in Infection Specialties-Clinical Microbiology and or Infectious Diseases
Desirable
Equality and diversity
Essential
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships
Person Specification
Skills and capabilities
Essential
- Skills and knowledge commensurate with completion of Internal Medicine Training
- Comfortable with Information Technology and sound computer skills including Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook
- Good organisation and ability to organise own learning and time, ability to work to deadlines
- Excellent written and oral communication skills proven when communicating to national and local audiences
- Enthusiastic team player with a can-do attitude
- Ability to work as part of a team showing good communication and leadership skills
- Able to relate to all grades of staff
- Ability to keep good medical records and communicate with other hospital departments and primary care
- Ability to understand and communicate with patients and colleagues
- All applicants to have demonstrable skills in written and spoken English adequate to enable effective communication about medical topics with patients and colleagues demonstrated by one of the following: that applicants have undertaken undergraduate medical training in English or have achieved the following scores in the academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS) in a single sitting within 24 months at time of application - Overall 7, Speaking 7, Listening 7, Reading 7, Writing 7. If applicants believe they have adequate communication skills but do not fit into one of these examples they must provide supporting evidence
Desirable
- Commitment to teaching
- Ability to undertake research projects and audit Show interest in investigative, audit and research work outside immediate clinical responsibility
Qualifications
Essential
- Qualification requirements: MB BS or equivalent
- Full registration (and with a licence to practise) with the General Medical Council (GMC)
Desirable
- Professional Qualification requirements: either Passed the Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists (FRCPath) Part 1 exam or Passed the Membership of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP) Diploma
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Experience of the application of your skills in a clinical context
- Evidence of continuing professional education
- Completed Foundation Years medical training or equivalent
- Completed Internal Medicine Training Year 2 or can demonstrate equivalent training e.g. Core Medical Training and eligible to apply for speciality training
- A demonstrable interest in Infection Specialties-Clinical Microbiology and or Infectious Diseases
Desirable
Equality and diversity
Essential
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
