Job responsibilities
General:
- Assistance with the technical management of surveillance programmes and of the reference/diagnostic and incident services within RVPBRU.
Technical Services
- Ensure the provision of an efficient, effective and timely service ensuring maximum efficiency within allocated resources.
- Provide scientific oversight and ensure provision of the national reference services for the epidemiological characterisation and typing of pathogens within RVPBRU.
- Take a leading role in the validation of new assays within RVPBRU for implementation into routine service.
- Review diagnostic tests as well as further development and validation of molecular typing services and support research and enhanced surveillance of pathogens within RVPBRU.
- Validate and authorise reports as required.
- Collate/present data for discussion.
- Write and publish papers and present results where appropriate, both nationally and internationally.
Management of Staff:
- Ensure, with others, efficient and effective management of technical, scientific, support workers and clerical staff as appropriate in accordance with UKHSA policies and procedures
- Support recruitment, training, professional development and welfare of staff and visitors.
- Oversee appraisals, performance reviews and staff competency assessments.
Financial management (in collaboration with the Section Heads) Technical Manager:
- Assist in the maintenance and development of the laboratory service within the resources available.
Quality / Governance:
- Ensure that all Services comply with UKAS accreditation standards in collaboration with the Technical Manager and Quality Assurance Manager.
- Ensure that internal and external quality assurance programmes take place.
- Be responsible for preparing and maintaining relevant methodologies, SOPs and risk assessments.
- Ensure the notification of adverse incidents on Trackwise, and take responsibility for the investigation of incidents were appropriateResearch and Development: participate in and support research and development activities within the Unit.
- Evaluate and validate new commercial or in-house techniques relevant to the work of the Unit.
- Participate in relevant research projects, analyse results and present data.
- Assist in the preparation of grant applications and other funding opportunities for the Sections in RVPBRU.
Professional development:
- Maintain professional competence and be aware of relevant developments in microbiology and other biomedical sciences.
- Attend internal /external events and mandatory training, as required.
Community and key working relationships
Internal:
- Liaise with all staff within BRD and other departments within UKHSA, and relevant professionals including Clinicians, Biomedical/Clinical Scientists, Epidemiologists, Bioinformaticians, Health Protection Team
External:
- External bodies including NHS staff and other national international users, and commercial companies.
- Professional contacts including accreditation bodies, education institutes and other scientific establishments.
- Colleagues within relevant national microbiology reference centres, other public health institutions, WHO and other agencies, where appropriate.
Key Working Relationships:
- Maintain constructive relationships with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders.
- Present information, explaining complex issues, to a wide range of internal stakeholders.
Key Functional Responsibilities:
Project Management:
- Contribute to performance improvement, taking a lead for identified areas where agreed.
- Management of a risk and issues tracking mechanism and its proactive resolution and escalation processes.
Financial and Physical Resources:
- Provide regular reporting on the targeting of resources and monitoring their implementation to achieve a value for money.
Staff Management:
- Assist in the coordination of learning, development and recruitment activity across the team.
- Manage staff, undertaking appraisals, recruitment including progressing any disciplinary or capability issues, as necessary.
Information Management:
- ensure timely and accurate information analysis and reporting to management on agreed areas of work.
Research and Development:
- Assessment of individual and work streams success.
- Delegate aspects of research and development activities, collating information, analysing and reporting findings.
Planning and Organisation:
- Contribute to short, medium- and long-term business plans, achieving quality outcomes.
Policy and Service Development:
- Develop policies and procedures in own work function with an impact on the wider organisation, as required.
Essential Criteria
- HCPC State registration as a Clinical Scientist (or a demonstrable plan to achieve registration within 6 months) and maintains professional competence.
- Relevant higher degree (MSc/PhD) in Medical Microbiology/Virology/Molecular microbiology; or equivalent qualification
- Good in-depth knowledge of clinical and reference microbiology relevant to RVPBRU
- Experience of evaluating and validating molecular and/or phenotypic assays.
- Understands quality assurance principles and procedures
- Knows and understands laboratory safety requirements and procedure.
- Able to convey ideas and opinions clearly and concisely, orally and in writing.
- Aptitude for managing people and assessing performance.
- Ability to analyse data based on evidence and present it in a meaningful way.
- Ability to work individually and as part of a team.
- Ability to prioritise work and deal with problems in a calm, efficient and timely manner and to work to deadlines.
- 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.
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 abilities outlined in the essential criteria.
Stage 1: Application & Sift
You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed essential criteria, and this will be in the form of:
- an application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
- a 1250 word supporting statement
This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.
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.
The Application form and supporting statement will be marked together.
Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:
- Meets all essential criteria
- Meets some essential criteria
- Meets no essential criteria
Only those meeting all essential criteria will be taken through to shortlisting.Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on:
- HCPC State registration as a Clinical Scientist (or a demonstrable plan to achieve registration within 6 months) and maintains professional competence.
- Relevant higher degree (MSc/PhD) in Medical Microbiology/Virology/Molecular microbiology; or equivalent qualification
- Good in-depth knowledge of clinical and reference microbiology relevant to RVPBRU
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview and 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 face to face interview. If face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.
Knowledge, experience, skills and abilities will be tested at interview.
You will be required to prepare a 10 minute presentation as part of the interview. The presentation topic will be based on the essential criteria and the details of this will be sent to you prior to the interview.
Interviews are expected to be held week commencing 8th December 2025. Please note these dates could be 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.
Location
This role is being offered as lab based at our site in Colindale. Please note that hybrid working is not available for this role.
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.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Counter Terrorism Check clearance.
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. 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.
