Job responsibilities
Main duties continued:
- To report finalised sequencing results to service users (HCPC Registered staff only).
- To support the development of a flexible team by fostering staff training, development and rotation.
- To assess, initiate and monitor appropriate action when a situation may cause service delivery delay or failure.
- Foster good relationships with other departments and establishments including supporting staff rotation or secondments.
- To have responsibility for organising and supervising laboratory workflows, assigned on a rotational basis in line with service demands.
- With the designated Laboratory Caldicott Guardian, Data Protection Officer and Security of Information Officer, to ensure confidentiality and conformity to the requirements of the Data Protection Act.
- To identify new and support existing income generation activities.
- To write, prepare, review and comply with standard documents and draft SOPs as required.
- To review and analyse data to ensure it is suitable for release to customers.
Management of Staff - To ensure, with others, efficient and effective management of technical, scientific, support workers and clerical staff as appropriate in accordance with UKHSA policies and procedures, including:
- Manage day to day work, ensuring sufficient levels of competency in NGS services are maintained by liaising with the technical manager and other senior staff and supporting a training programme.
Financial management
- To assist in the maintenance and development of the Laboratory service within the resources available.
Technical Services
- To maintain professional competence and be aware of relevant developments in appropriate technologies.
- To be responsible for maintaining, reviewing and developing NGSservices in accordance with UKHSA policy and for the accurate performance of all procedures.
- To ensure accurate and timely provision of laboratory results for release to users.
Management of Support Services and Equipment
- To be responsible for the acquisition of agreed equipment, software and hardware purchases and ensuring maintenance of equipment and evaluation of new robotic technologies before service use.
- Support the development and maintenance of the Laboratory Information Management system
Strategy and Leadership
- To provide effective scientific leadership particularly with respect to service delivery by supporting the technical manager in the daily provision of services.
- Contribute to key laboratory and directorate plans and strategies.
Teaching
- To provide training leadership for staff of the laboratory ensuring all staff are fully competent in relevant areas of work.
Quality
- Ensure compliance with UKAS and other accreditation and certificate standards.
- To help to maintain laboratory accreditation (e.g., with UKAS or its successors) and help maintain other agreed national and international standards.
Information Technology
- Manage the use of the laboratory information system (LIMS) and use the LIMS system from sample entry to result entry.
- To be responsible for the reporting of sequencing results to service users (HCPC Registered staff only).
- To use software packages as appropriate for word processing, presentations, data analysis.
Safety
- Ensure relevant UKHSA health and safety policies and laboratory safety committee recommendations and actions are implemented.
- Ensuring health, safety and welfare of self, staff, and visitors.
Professional Development
- You should pursue a programme of continuous professional development in accordance with any relevant statutory requirements, while maintaining appropriate awareness of service provider requirements.
- To participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e., fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training.
Essential criteria
- Post-graduate degree in a medical/microbiology/biological science discipline (or equivalent experience working in a laboratory with NextGeneration/ Third Generation Sequencing technologies).
- Relevant professional qualification i.e., registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as Biomedical Scientist
- Maintain CPD Portfolio
- Extensive knowledge and experience of at least one of the specialist areas of the laboratory
- Proven record of supporting next generation sequencing (NGS) services, and automation in relevant areas
- Training and supervising a team
- Able to provide/receive highly complex information, negotiate and present to peers/customers/others
- Ability to negotiate on difficult and controversial issues including performance and change
- Problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands
- Ability to analyse complex facts and situations and develop a range of options
- Ability to prioritise work in a timely manner
- Evidence of using technical experience to assess new and existing technologies and processes to innovate and initiate change in laboratory practice
- Ability to undertake evaluation of new NGS services to allow efficient service delivery
- Demonstrated capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly
- Ability to prioritise own work effectively and be able to direct activities of others. Experience of managing and motivating a team and reviewing performance of individuals.
- Working knowledge of Microsoft office with intermediate keyboard skills
Desirable criteria:
- Proven record and substantive experience of delivering and working in whole genome sequencing services and automation in relevantareas.
- Comprehensive experience of project principal techniques and tools.
Selection ProcessDetails:
This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess yourqualifications,knowledgeand experience and / or skills and abilities outlined in the essential criteria.
Stage 1:Application& Sift
You willbe requiredto complete an application form. You will be assessed onthe listed15 essentialcriteria,and this will be in the form ofa:
- Application form(Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
- Up to 1,200 word supporting statement.
This should outline how your skills,experience,andknowledge, 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 notemail us your CV.
Longlisting:
In the event ofa large number ofapplications we will longlistinto 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 ofa large number of applications we will shortlist on the following:
- Post-graduate degree in an appropriate medical/microbiology/biological science discipline (or equivalent experience)
- Relevant professional qualification i.e., registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as Biomedical Scientist
- Maintain CPD Portfolio
- Extensive knowledge and experience of at least one of the specialist areas of the laboratory
- Proven record of supporting next generation sequencing (NGS) services, and automation in relevant areas
- Training and supervising a team
Desirable criteria maybeusedin the event ofa large number of applications / large amount of successful candidates.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment.
Please do not exceed 1,200 words.We will not consider any words over and above this number.
Stage 2: Interview (competency based)
You will be invited to a (single) face to face interview at the Bristol laboratory. In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remoteinterview via teams.
Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview.
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 at the UKHSA Bristol laboratory. Please note that there is no hybrid working available for this role.
If based at one of our scientific campuses, you will be required to have a minimum of 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.
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 a Counter-terrorist 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 todemonstrateyou are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.
