Microbiologist - NCTC6000 Project

Job description

Job responsibilities

Communication

Internal

• To work under the supervision of the NCTC Supervisors and Operation Lead. To work as part of the NCTC laboratory team and UKHSA Culture Collections operations.
• To liaise with staff throughout Colindale and Porton as appropriate

External

• To liaise with customers of, and suppliers to, the NCTC, as and when necessary.

Personal and people development

• Pursue a programme of continuous professional development in accordance with any relevant professional registration or statutory requirements, whilst maintaining appropriate awareness of service provider requirements.
• Participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e. fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training

Health, Safety & Security

In collaboration with the Laboratory Safety Officer and complying with safety policies and procedures:

• Ensure that health, safety and welfare is an afforded priority over other issues and demonstrate a commitment to health, safety and welfare regarding self, staff and visitors
• Comply with safety policies, procedures, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) and risk assessments.
• Work in a safe manner
• Report/notify all accidents and incidents or near misses, dangerous situations or shortcomings in health and safety training instructions via the appropriate management structure
• Comply with safety policies, procedures, COSHH and risk assessments.
• Co-operate on matters of health and safety to enable UKHSA to comply with its health and safety responsibilities
• Promote wellbeing

Your attention is drawn to the Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974 which requires you to take reasonable care for the health and safety of yourself and others who may be affected by your acts and omissions at work; and co-operate with the UKHSA on any matters of health and safety.

Service Improvement

• Work with other staff to improve working practices

Quality

In collaboration with the Quality Team:

• Maintain a high standard of work and contribute to developing the service of the laboratory so that service delivery is safe, effective and economical and follows best practices
• Participate in internal and external quality assurance programmes.
• Ensure compliance with accreditation to ISO17025 and certification to ISO9001 standards.
• Participate in internal and external audit programmes
• Effectively transcribe and translate information succinctly
• Take every effort to suggest quality improvements.

Technical/Scientific/Operational Duties

• Prepare NCTC freeze-dried/reference material cultures for banking and stock replenishment.
• The testing and authentication of NCTC banks for release to inventory
• The reception, cultivation and banking of incoming, new bacterial strains
• Carry out duties in Containment Level 3 (once suitably trained) and support operations accordingly.
• The maintenance of manufacturing batch records.
• Upholding, originating and maintaining written Standard Operating Procedures
• Contributing to process development and process improvement.
• The preparation, acquisition and qualification of laboratory materials.
• Assisting with technical investigations and enquiries prompted by customer queries and / or internal failure investigations.

Culture Media and Laboratory Materials

• Assistance with ordering of culture media and glassware from media production department.
• Preparation of specialised, sterile culture media, as required from time to time.
• The reception, storage and maintenance of media and laboratory reagents.
• Assisting with the tracking of laboratory expenditure against budget.

Laboratory and Product Support

To assist with essential laboratory and product support activities, as required from time to time, including:

• The safe disposal of laboratory waste
• The maintenance and organisation of Personal Protective Equipment
• The organisation and processing of laboratory glassware
• Preparation of Products for shipment
• Stock-takes and audits
• Office support

To participate in and support Research and Development (R&D) activities as required from time to time.

Information and knowledge

• Assist in the development of information technology systems and databases as required.

Procurement & Commissioning

• Place orders on the Finance and Resource Management (FARM) system for consumables from Stores, also laboratory items and equipment servicing from outside suppliers.
• Liaise with the Porton FARM team and resolve any issues arising over such orders
• Prepare orders for media and deliver same to Media Production Department once signed.

People Management

• Ensure junior staff members are competent to carry out the tasks and provide suitable and sufficient supervision.
• Support the induction, education, training and professional development of junior staff.

The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by your line manager. It should be noted that the work of the division is of a confidential nature and must not be communicated to other persons except where required for authorised purposes.

Essential criteria:

• Bachelors degree in Microbiology, Biomedical Science, Molecular Biology or equivalent experience in molecular microbiology
• Relevant experience of working in a microbiology laboratory
• Experience of working to written SOP within a formal quality management system

Desirable criteria:

• Maintains professional competence in biomedical sciences
• Able to deal with problems in a calm and efficient manner and cope under pressure
• Able to concentrate for long periods of time

Selection Process Detail

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical Skills.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

Success profiles

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 3 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

• Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
• 1000 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.

The Application form and supporting statement will be marked together.

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.

Longlisting:

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

1. Meets all essential criteria
2. Meets some essential criteria
3. Meets no essential criteria

Those falling into the 'meets all essential criteria' pile will progress to shortlisting.

Shortlisting:

In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on the following essential criteria:

• Relevant experience of working in a microbiology laboratory.

Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications / large amount of successful candidates.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview.

Please do not exceed 1000 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview

Success profiles

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.

Behaviours and Technical Skills will be tested at interview.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

• Working at Pace (Lead behaviour)
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service

You will also be asked technical based questions during the interview.

Interviews dates are yet to be confirmed.

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

Eligibility Criteria

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

Please note: If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.

Location

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

Please note hybrid working is not available for this role.

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-terrorist Check.

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.

Person Specification

Application Form and Supporting Statement

Essential

• Application Form and Supporting Statement

Behaviours

Essential

• Working at pace (Lead behaviour)
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service

Technical Skills

Essential

• Technical questions - (molecular microbiology and bacteriology and laboratory quality assurance)

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

Scientific Campus

London

NW9 5EQ

Employer's website

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