Job responsibilities
Main duties continued:
- Liaise with the MHRA Adverse Incident Centre regarding discrepant results reported by participants in the UKNEQAS Schemes.
- Coordination of quality assessment input from the Toxoplasma reference laboratories, organising, attending and minuting meetings of the Specialist Advisory Toxoplasma EQA committee.
Personal and people development
- Participates in annual performance and development review.
- Actively participate and maintain a continuing professional development programme and be aware of relevant developments in parasitology and other biomedical sciences.
- Develop professional/management expertise by undertaking further appropriate training as required.
- Conduct individual performance reviews and facilitate the induction, education, training and professional development of staff.
- Maintenance and development of a World Wide Web site for communication and educational purposes.
- Educational and direct teaching aspects of the Scheme including organisation of participants study days and providing support for the Parasitology teaching programme.
- Maintain professional competence, and be aware of relevant developments in clinical parasitology.
Quality
- Ensure that an effective document control system is maintained.
- Review all non-conformances and adverse incidents to ensure the necessary preventative and corrective action is taken and outcomes recorded.
- Organise and contribute to internal and external audit programmes and the subsequent corrective actions
- Organise and contribute to internal and external quality assurance programmes
- 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 practice.
- Ensure compliance with UKAS and other accreditation and certification standards.
- Take every effort to suggest quality improvements.
Technical and Scientific duties
- Selection, preparation and quality control of specimens and preparation of associated documents for distribution under UK NEQAS, covering all the parasitology sub schemes.
- Provision of blood parasitology slides for UK NEQAS Haematology.
- Obtaining specimens for use in EQA distributions from local and national sources and from overseas by collection visits where necessary.
- Take responsibility and delegation of the laboratory work according to relative priorities
- Oversee data processing operations involved in the analysis of UK NEQAS participants' results and take responsibility for the preparation of reports and details of poor performance for further action.
- Authorisation of reports with the Scheme Organiser.
This is not an exhaustive list.
Essential role criteria
- Degree in biomedical science or equivalent within laboratory medicine
- MSc in a Microbiology discipline
- Several years knowledge and experience in parasitology/microbiology techniques and methods
- Several years knowledge and experience of managing safety requirements
- Maintains professional competence in biomedical sciences
- Understands quality assurance principles and procedures
- People management aptitude for managing people
- Leadership able to motivate others, encourage teamwork, delegate, and get the best out of people
- Communication be able to convey instructions, ideas and opinions clearly and consistently, both orally and on writing
- Training aptitude for developing staff skills and capabilities
- Innovative able to criticize constructively, to design and introduce improvements and to manage change
- Proficient in the use of Microsoft software packages
- Able to deal with problems in a calm and efficient manner
- Proficient in analysing and presenting key information both orally and as part of reports
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.
Selection Process Details:
This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.
Stage 1: Application & Sift
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)
- 1500 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.
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
The following will be taken through to the next stage:
- Meets all essential criteria
Shortlisting:
In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on the following:
- MSc in a Microbiology discipline
- Several years knowledge and experience in parasitology/microbiology techniques and methods
- Leadership able to motivate others, encourage teamwork, delegate, and get the best out of people
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.
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.
Stage 2: Interview (success profiles)
You will be invited to a (single) face to face interview. If face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview .
Behaviours, technical, experience, and strengths will be tested at interview.
There will be a 10 minute Presentation, which will assess your ability to understand how EQA samples are prepared and the thought process behind this. The topic of the presentation will be shared at interview stage.
The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Leadership - Lead behaviour
- Communicating and Influencing
- 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 based in London (WC2H 9AX). Please note hybrid working is not available for this role.
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 requiresCounter 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.
Security Clearance Level Requirement
Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.
Eligibility Criteria - External
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including internal applicants).
Salary Information
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.
