Senior Biomedical Scientist

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity to join the largest Virology department in England. The Virology department forms part of The Manchester Medical Microbiology Partnership (MMMP), which is a collaboration between Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) and UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). The laboratory therefore provides both a clinical Virology service and a public health Virology service to the North-West of England and beyond.

Virology, delivered from the Manchester Royal Infirmary site employs approximately 100 staff and has a workload exceeding 1,000,000 specimens per year. The department embraces all aspects of a modern clinical virology service combining some traditional methodologies with a wide range of laboratory automation. The department is in a managed service contract with Roche Diagnostics.

The laboratory has a friendly atmosphere with a good team spirit and offers the opportunity for the Senior Biomedical Scientist to develop personally and professionally. The department is a designated IBMS training laboratory, has an extensive quality system in operation and is fully accredited.

We are seeking an enthusiastic and highly motivated HCPC registered Senior Biomedical Scientist. All applicants must hold a MSc in a biomedical subject and 5 years Virology/Microbiology experience to apply.

Job description

The Senior Biomedical Scientist will, as part of the technical management team, manage the work of a designated laboratory area within Virology alongside the laboratory manager and their deputies.

They will be expected to provide professional leadership for members of staff for whom they are accountable for. They will lead staff by example and in a manner, which will encourage the development of a positive attitude of each member of staff for the service and the patient.

The department requires staff to support the department in delivering a comprehensive Virology service over 7 days. Staff may be required to work a variety of shifts, including weekends, throughout the 24-hour period if appropriate to the post.

In accordance with UKHSA and Laboratory policies and procedures and under supervision of qualified staff, they will be responsible for:

• Maintaining professional competence and be aware of relevant developments in Virology and other biomedical science.
• Ensuring that the provision of an efficient, effective and timely Virology service is maintained.
• Managing the Introduction, maintenance and improvement of methodologies and innovations within the Virology department.
• Reviewing the performance and appropriateness of laboratory methods at regular intervals ensuring technical standards are maintained.
• Notifying any adverse incidents via the relevant procedure.
• Advising staff regarding technical difficulties.
• Validating and authorising reports as required.
• Receiving and processing of samples requiring legal chain of evidence documentation.
• Leading in the evaluation and assessment of new equipment and consumable items in the department.
• Leading in the assessment and validation of new diagnostic kits in the department.
• Participating in the management of staff rotation.
• Participating as a member of the Virology Operational Group.
• Actively participating in the production, reviewing and updating of Examination Procedures.
• Participating in and supporting the R&D activities within the laboratory and the UKHSA.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• State registration with HCPC.
• Post graduate qualification in Virology / biomedical science.
• Significant experience of working in a clinical virology laboratory.
• Aptitude for managing people and assessing performance.
• Evidence of in depth technical and theoretical knowledge of molecular techniques.
• Evidence of the ability to manage new work flows into routine testing.
• Able to criticise constructively, to introduce improvements and to manage change.
• Ability to prepare and produce concise yet insightful communications for dissemination to stakeholders.
• Demonstrated capability to plan over short, medium, and long-term timeframes and adjust plans when necessary.
• Demonstrated capabilities to make informed decisions

Desirable Criteria

• Knowledge of respiratory virus testing

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £47,810, UK Health Security Agency contributes £13,850 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%

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.

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

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 skills and abilities as outlined in the Essential Criteria.

At the sift stage you will be evaluated against the Essential Criteria listed in this job advert.

Application & Sift - Competency Based

You will be required to complete an:

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• 1500 word Statement of Suitability

The Statement of Suitability should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge provide evidence of your suitability for the role based on the listed Essential Criteria in this job advert.

You will receive a joint score for your application form and Statement of Suitability. The application form is the kind of information you would put into your CV – please be advised you will not be able to directly send or 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, and therefore your Statement of Suitability must be no more than 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

We will only take through candidates who meet all Essential Criteria.

Shortlisting

In the event of a large number of applicants we may conduct an initial sift against the Essential Criteria of:

• Significant experience of working in a clinical virology laboratory

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Interview

You will be invited to a face-to-face interview. In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

Interview location and dates to be confirmed.

During the interview we will assess your knowledge, experience, skills and abilities.

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

Eligibility Criteria

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).

Salary

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.

NHS Pension

This role is offered under Agenda for Change (AFC) Terms and Conditions.

• If you are already on AFC T&Cs or accept the role on a fixed-term contract, you will be enrolled in the NHS Pension Scheme or keep your current AFC Pension.
• If you take the role on a loan or temporary promotion, you will retain your existing substantive T&Cs.
• If the role is available under either AFC or Civil Service T&Cs depending on your registration, your pension scheme will align accordingly.

Location

This role is being offered as office/lab based at our site in Manchester - Manchester Royal Infirmary, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9WL.

Please note, hybrid working is not available for this role.

As you will be lab based, you will be required to have a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum.

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-Terrorist Check. 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 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.

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: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/

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.

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.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

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 : Sarah Handy
• Email : sarah.handy@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 UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: 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: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk

http://www.healthjobsuk.com/job/v7691376