Senior Clinical Fellow NMRS

Job summary

This is an excellent opportunity to work in UKHSA’s world-leading National Mycobacterial Reference Service (NMRS). The successful candidate will be part of an innovative and supportive team delivering whole-genome sequencing for TB as a routine diagnostic service for clinical and public health use. This is a fixed term appointment until September 2027, for applicants who have completed IMT / CMT or at ST 3-7, allowing the post-holder to develop expertise in genomic microbiology and mycobacteriology, with exciting possibilities for being involved in and developing research projects.

2 positions are available; one is based at NMRS North and Central (Heartlands Hospital, Laboratory and Pathology Building, Bordesley Green East, Birmingham, B9 5SS), the other at NMRS South (Colindale, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ).

Further details of qualifications required, and duties of the post-holder can be found in the person specification.

Job description

The principal activities of the service include provision of a Mycobacterial Reference Service based on Whole Genome Sequencing for identification of Mycobacterium species isolates. The NMRS provides information and advice to clinical and public health teams for the identification and investigation of outbreaks and TB transmission. Our activities support surveillance activity for TB in the UK.
The successful applicant will be expected to participate fully in the clinical service provision (supervised by consultants) of the laboratory.

Person specification

This is an exciting opportunity to work within UKHSA’s world-leading National Mycobacterial Reference Service (NMRS). The department works in close collaboration with NHS and public health colleagues. This post is NOT recognised for training purposes but will provide valuable experience in clinical and laboratory microbiology, advanced laboratory techniques, public health investigation of outbreaks. The post offers excellent opportunities for developing research interests in the field of tuberculosis and/ or non-tuberculous mycobacteria and offers an example of the implementation of pathogen genomics for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Disease for those in training in the speciality. Training will be provided appropriate to the background of the applicant. The post-holder will be expected to contribute, with the support of senior colleagues, to the routine clinical functioning of the laboratory.

This will include, but is not limited to:
• Advising clinical and public health colleagues on the selection of diagnostic tests and interpretation of results (molecular, genomic and conventional).
• Clinical authorisation of results and participation in weekly multidisciplinary meetings to discuss complex cases and laboratory results.
• Initiation of and participation in clinical audit.
• Liaison with public health teams in outbreaks and incidents
• Postgraduate teaching of medical and biomedical scientist trainees
• In addition, dependent on the post-holder’s experience and interests, there will be opportunities to participate in tuberculosis and non-tuberculous mycobacteria outpatient clinics, TB cohort reviews and other clinical activities by arrangement.
• Ensuring that the epidemiology, surveillance and monitoring of communicable disease covered by your service is of the highest standard.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Education and Development
The post holder is required to:
• Meet regularly with their Clinical supervisors and maintain their training portfolio
• Be subject to annual appraisal, if appropriate.
• Attend Laboratory induction and training appropriate to working in a clinical role within a CL3 laboratory
• Participate in mandatory training for Health and Safety and Clinical Governance appropriate for the role.
Clinical Governance
The post holder is required to:
• Maintain personal professional accreditation/registration.
• Be fully aware of the requirements of Clinical Governance, Patient Confidentiality and Patient Safety and to ensure that the service operates within these standards.
• Be responsible for the provision of expert input into the quality agenda for your Service, including influencing and delivering the Clinical Governance agenda.
• Inform and challenge established specialist opinion and public health management on the basis of specialist knowledge, expertise and best practice examples.

Please refer to the attached Job Description for further details and the full essential criteria for the role.

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity

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/

BENEFITS
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 https://gov.uk/ukhsa/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

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

Applicants are strongly advised to use the criteria in the Person Specification of the Job Description as sub-headings in their application to make it clear how they meet each of the selection criteria.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on essential criteria, and this will be in the form of
• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• a (1500) word Statement of Suitability.

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.

Applicants must have full registration (and with a licence to practise) with the General Medical Council (GMC).

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

Please do not exceed 1500 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.

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).

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered .

Stage 2: Interview (Competency-based)

You will be invited to a remote interview.

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

Interviews will be held week commencing 16th February 2026. Please note, this date is subject to change.

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

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security 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.

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.

For Temporary Appointments, if you are not currently a civil servant, you will take up the post on a Fixed Term appointment. You may be able to take this role up as a Secondment. If you are an existing Civil Servant, based outside of the UKHSA, you will take up the post as a loan which you will need your department to agree. You cannot take the post up as a fixed term. If you are an existing UKHSA member of staff, you will take up the post as either a level transfer or a temporary promotion as per the UKHSA’s Pay policy.

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

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.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 : Esther Robinson, Head of Tuberculosis Unit
• Email : esther.robinson@ukhsa.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : scs.mdrecruitment@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

Attachments

Job Description & Person Specification - Birmingham Opens in new window (pdf, 170kB)Job Description & Person Specification - London Opens in new window (pdf, 170kB)