Job responsibilities
Management of Staff
To ensure 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 across CSL, ensuring sufficient levels of competency in NGS and Sanger services are maintained by liaising with the CSL senior leadership team and other senior staff and supporting a training programme.
- Participating in the CSLs management team meetings.
- Participating in the recruitment and selection of appropriate staff in conjunction with the CSL senior leadership team.
- Monitor the performance of staff in the section to ensure agreed competency standards are maintained.
- Facilitating the induction, education, training and professional development of appropriate staff.
- Ensuring the required deployment, availability and welfare of staff as indicated above.
- Conduct staff appraisals and individual performance reviews.
- Maintain good working relationships with all members of staff and foster teamwork, flexible working and staff development.
Financial Management
- To assist the CSL senior leadership team in the maintenance and development of the Laboratory service within the resources available.
- To participate in the operational management of the Laboratory, in collaboration with the CSL senior leadership team.
Technical Services
- To maintain professional competence and be aware of relevant developments in appropriate technologies.
- To be responsible for maintaining a high standard of work.
- To ensure the provision of an efficient, effective and timely service, ensuring maximum efficiency within allocated resources.
- In consultation with appropriate Units to consider adoption of new and improved technical procedures.
- To ensure accurate and timely provision of laboratory results for release to users.
- To have an expert understanding of NGS and Sanger-based methodologies used in the unit.
- Manage the unit workflow, including documentation.
- Troubleshoot issues related to NGS and Sanger services.
Information Technology
- To be competent in the use of the Laboratory Information Technology Systems (LIMS) and use the LIMS to carry out sample tracking throughout the process.
- To support robotic equipment to improve service resilience.
- Manage the development of analytical tools and reporting of CSL results through the provision of scientific advice and timely collaboration with service users and collaborators.
- To use software packages as appropriate for word processing, presentations, and data analysis.
- Manage the introduction of workflow changes to accommodate new tests, efficient working and service improvements.
Safety
- To promote a strong safety culture and in the laboratory to ensure a safe working environment.
- To support health, safety and welfare are afforded priority and to demonstrate commitment to health, safety and welfare of self, staff and visitors.
- Ensure relevant UKHSA health and safety policies and laboratory safety committee recommendations and actions are implemented.
- To notify accidents, near misses, dangerous situations and shortcomings in health and safety via the appropriate management structure.
- To report staff sickness.
- To escalate risks that cannot be controlled to the CSL senior leadership team.
Essential Criteria
- Educated to a degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant subject, i.e., microbiology, biological science, or molecular biology.
- Maintain CPD portfolio.
- Extensive knowledge and experience in at least one of the specialist areas of the unit.
- Substantive experience in Public Health genetic methods.
- Proven record of supporting WGS and Sanger services, and automation in relevant areas.
- 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 the 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 WGS and Sanger 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 the activities of others. Experience in managing and motivating a team and reviewing theperformance of individuals.
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office with intermediate keyboard skills.
Desirable criteria
- Training and supervising a team.
- Comprehensive experience of project principal techniques and tools
Selection Process Details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours/Experience/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)
- 1200 word supporting statement.
This should outline how you consider 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
If used, the pile Meets all essential criteria will proceed to shortlisting.
Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we may conduct an initial sift, on the lead criteria of:
- Educated to a degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant subject, i.e., microbiology, biological science, or molecular biology
- Proven record of supporting WGS and Sanger services, and automation in relevant areas.
- Evidence of using technical experience to assess new and existing technologies and processes to innovate and initiate change in laboratory practice.
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 & assessment.
Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Stage 2: Interview
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, Experience, Technical skills will be tested at interview.
There will be a presentation. The presentation topic will be as follows:
The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:
- Seeing the big picture (Lead behaviour)
- Leadership
- Developing self and others
- Managing a quality service
Interviews dates 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.
Location
This role is being offered as office/lab based at our Scientific Campus in Colindale.
Please note, hybrid working is not available for this role.
Security Clearance Level Requirement
Successful candidates must pass a basic disclosure and barring security check before they can be appointed.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Counter-Terrorist Check.
You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years to obtain Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance. UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting at this higher level and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder / Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.
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.
