Principal Healthcare Scientist

Job summary

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.

UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.

The Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU) in Healthcare-Associated Infections (HCAI) & Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is a partnership between the UKHSA and the University of Oxford, that seeks to find ways to combat the major threats posed by HCAI and AMR.
This is a mixed office/laboratory-based role, which sits within the AMR & HCAI Division of UKHSA whose mission is to protect people from healthcare-associated and antimicrobial resistant infections, through world-leading public health microbiology, outbreak response, surveillance, antimicrobial stewardship, modelling, research and evidence-based interventions. The post holder will also be working within UKHSA’s Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections (AMRHAI) Reference Unit, which is the national reference laboratory for investigation of AMR in, and characterization of, healthcare-associated bacterial pathogens.

We are seeking a talented and experienced microbiologist with expertise in both wet and dry lab aspects of the subject area who will deliver AMR- and genomic-related projects mainly within the 'Mitigating Gram-negative infections’ Research Theme of the HPRU.

The successful candidate will work closely with the HPRU Leads in both UKHSA and Oxford University to ensure the objectives and milestones of the HPRU are met. They will also be required to work with other collaborators and stakeholders to develop other research projects

Job description

• Lead the management and development of relevant projects to ensure milestones and objectives are met.
• Lead and develop capacity building collaborations to ensure project targets are met, working with the relevant HPRU Leads to maintain the engagement of stakeholders.
• Lead on other externally funded projects as assigned, meeting targets in line with sponsor requirements, engaging with collaborators as required.
• Identify, bid and lead on internal and external funding with an AMR or genomics focus, or other complementary group activities to maintain capability and develop the group in line with HPRU core objectives.
• Provide reports and data as required by the HPRU Leads and NIHR, and external stakeholders.
• To build external links with collaborators and similar groups to the benefit of the HPRU and UKHSA.
• To give internal/external presentations, develop, draft and submit manuscripts on work for peer-reviewed publications.
• Lead the project team/area to identify, evaluate and adapt new approaches where appropriate and to ensure that the project operates to a high scientific standard using current methods.
• Provide line and project management as required and indicated by UKHSA HPRU Leads.
• To ensure that the project team undertakes work in accordance with applicable UKHSA Safety and Quality systems.
• To maintain health and safety competence.
• To comply with all UKHSA policies and procedures

This list is not exhaustive.

Person specification

Essential role criteria:

• PhD or equivalent higher qualification and more than 3 years’ experience in an appropriate microbiology or molecular biology field
• Substantial working knowledge and experience in antimicrobial resistance and phenotypic and molecular diagnostic assays for detection of resistance
• Experience of working in pathogen genomics
• Experience of external collaboration, with demonstrable expertise in scientific research with grant writing and publication record
• Experience of developing junior staff members, including line management experience
• Clear communicator with excellent writing skills, report writing, and presentation skills
• Evidence of success in efficient and effective project participation and management
• Conduct behaviours in a manner aligned to the Civil Service Code of Conduct

Desirable role criteria:

• Practical experience in whole genome sequencing on Illumina and Oxford Nanopore Technology platforms; some understanding of bioinformatics processes including phylogenetic analyses
• Experience of making decisions on difficult and contentious issues where there may be a number of courses of action
• Project management qualification (e.g., PRINCE2 practitioner)

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £60,494, UK Health Security Agency contributes £17,525 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your qualifications, knowledge and experience and / or skills and abilities outlined in the essential criteria.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

Competency Based

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 7 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 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 than1500 words. We will not consider any words over 1500 words.

Longlisting:

In the event of a large number of applications we may 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:

• PhD or equivalent higher qualification and more than 3 years’ experience in an appropriate microbiology or molecular biology field
• Substantial working knowledge and experience in antimicrobial resistance and phenotypic and molecular diagnostic assays for detection of resistance
• Experience of working in pathogen genomics

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

Competency Based

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.

Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview

There will be a Presentation. Candidates will be asked to deliver a 10 minute PowerPoint presentation (title to be provided in interview invite).

Interviews dates to be confirmed.

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

You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years to obtain Counter Terrorism Check (CTC). 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).

Future location

UKHSA is investing in a new state-of-the-art National Biosecurity Centre in Harlow, Essex, which will eventually bring together teams currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale and Porton Down. For more details, please see:

Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection - GOV.UK

The new facilities will start becoming operational in the mid-2030s, with full completion by 2038. Staff will move in phases as facilities become available. If you're appointed to a role currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale or Porton Down, please note that we'll continue investing in these sites for the next decade. As we get closer to the transition, we'll provide full information about relocation support available to staff.

Reasonable Adjustments

The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone. To help you during the recruitment process, we will consider any reasonable adjustments that could help you. An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work. This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme. If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs.

You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: Reasonable Adjustments , Civil Service Careers

International Police check

If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and it could be time accrued over that period.

Internal Fraud Check

If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant’s personal details – name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub, and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional circumstances. Currently this is only for external candidates to the Civil Service.

Careers website

Please visit our careers site for more information: UKHSA Hub , Civil Service Careers

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.

Please be aware that the salary is based on the office location.

Grade 7

• £60,494- £70,566 (Inner London)

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

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

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Nigel Poole
• Email : Nigel.Poole@ukhsa.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk

Further information

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the
basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's
Recruitment Principles.
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment
Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should
contact the UKHSA Complaints team via email at: Complaints@ukhsa.gov.uk

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can
contact the Civil Service Commission. Visit the Civil Service Commission website for
further information: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/