Job responsibilities
Your main duties will include:
- Responsible for ensuring the organisation, preparation and quality control of simulated specimens for distribution under UK NEQAS including the management of resources.
- Be responsible for maintaining a high standard of work in each section, ensuring compliance with UKAS accreditation and delivering the best laboratory practices that are safe, economical and effective.
- Oversee data processing operations involved in the analysis of UK NEQAS participants' results and take responsibility for the preparation of reports.
- Responsible for sourcing and obtaining clinical material for the EQA schemes.
- Develop and prepare new specimen types as required.
- Apply knowledge of clinical virology and molecular techniques in the design, quality control and stability testing of the specimens.
- Undertaking deputy roles where required.
- Commitment to personal development and maintaining up-to-date scientific knowledge in virology, microbiology, and molecular diagnostics.
- Identify, discuss and action own professional performance and training / development needs with your line manager through appraisal / individual development plan.
- To participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e. fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training.
- Participate in recruitment and selection of appropriate staff in conjunction within UK NEQAS for Microbiology.
- Develop and maintain good working relationships with staff.
- Conduct individual performance reviews and facilitating the induction, education, training and professional development of staff.
- Recommend/facilitate selected training and professional development of appropriate staff and visitors when required.
In collaboration with the Laboratory Safety Officer and Laboratory Manager, to take delegated responsibility in accordance with UKHSA policies and procedures for the following:
- Be committed to health and safety and to co-operate on matters of health and safety to enable the PHE to comply with its health and safety responsibilities.
- Ensure attendance on safety training courses as required in the UKHSA Health and Safety Training Policy and other safety policies as appropriate.
- Agree to implement safety objectives.
- Ensure that a Laboratory/Office Safety Code is implemented.
- Be responsible for health, safety and welfare of self, staff and visitors in your own area, ensuring that health and safety are afforded priority over other issues by:
- ensuring risk assessments are carried out on all new and existing work and ensuring that control measures are implemented and complied with.
- co-operating with and implementing corrective actions as a result of safety inspections/audits.
- notifying safety incidents/accidents via the appropriate line management structure.
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 UKHSA on any matters of health and safety.
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 practice.
- Contribute to internal and external quality assurance programmes.
- Ensure compliance with accreditation and certification standards.
- Contribute to internal and external audit programmes and corrective actions.
- Take every effort to suggest quality improvements.
Estates & Facilities
- Liaise effectively with relevant teams and staff to ensure coordination and resolution of Estates and Facilities matters as required.
Information & Knowledge
- Assist in the development of information technology systems and databases as part of project/quality responsibilities.
- Analyse, provide and present statistical information related to project and quality activities.
Development & Innovation
- Assist with the development and introduction of new specimen types and schemes.
Procurement & Commissioning
- Prepare options appraisals and business cases for projects.
- Ordering stock items of value of up to £5000.
- Assist with the departmental business risk.
Financial Management
- Identify opportunities to reduce costs or improve efficiency without compromising service quality.
Services & Project Management
- Be responsible for the selection and implementation of equipment.
- Oversee the validation of newly introduced laboratory equipment.
People Management
- Ensuring adequate training of technical and ancillary staff on new developments involved with.
This is not an exhaustive list.
Essential role criteria
- MSc in Medical Microbiology/ Virology or equivalent level qualification
- Substantial experience in virology and/ or microbiology (clinical or research)
- Knowledge and substantial experience of molecular techniques
- Experience in data analysis, competence in word processing, spread sheet software, database skills, use of presentation software
- Experience of Quality Management systems
- Experience and understanding of laboratory safety and procedures
- Excellent people skills covering management, training development of people, planning and allocating and delegating activities, recruitment and selection and reviewing performance
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.
Desirable role criteria
- Knowledge of Bioinformatics
- Experience in whole genome sequencing (WGS) and/ or Sanger sequencing
- HCPC registration
Selection process
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 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of:
- an application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
- a 1200 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.
You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. (The application form is the kind of information you would put into your C.V please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible). Please do not email us your CV.
Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 1200 words. We will not consider any words over 1200 words.
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:
- MSc in Medical Microbiology/ Virology or equivalent level qualification
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 and assessment.
Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Stage 2: Interview
You will be invited to face to face interview in Colindale. In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.
Behaviours, strengths, experience and technical skills will be tested at interview.
You will be required to prepare a 10 minutes PowerPoint presentation where you would need to demonstrate your knowledge about virology and which may involve competency assessment. The exact title will be provided prior to interview.
The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:
- Leadership (Lead behaviour)
- Making effective decisions
- Managing a quality service
- Working together
Interviews will be held week commencing 4th May 2026. Please note, these dates are subject to change.
Location
This role is being offered as based at our Scientific Campus in Colindale. Please note that hybrid working is not available for this role.
Eligibility Criteria
External
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.
Salary guides
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.
