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Job summary

We are looking to recruit an experienced Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) specialist to assist in development and delivery of a new semi-automated, high throughput PCR testing facility at our Porton Down scientific campus.

Successful applicants will join a new team, Amplify, within the Diagnostic and Pathogen Characterisation Division and work alongside colleagues in the Rare and Imported Pathogen Laboratory and Diagnostics Development and Implementation team. You will be responsible for implementing and maintaining the facility’s LIMS and IT systems and processes to ensure the facility has capacity for high throughput testing and meets ISO 15189 accreditation standards, but develop flexibility to function for other projects and processes. The Post Holder will be expected to be flexible to the demands of the project area, have excellent communication skills and use their technical experience and expertise to ensure the service is has the capacity and capability to respond to business requirements. This will include working across the division to ensure compatibility and integration with systems used by the Rare and Imported Pathogen Laboratory and support of research and training activities in support of wider organisational priorities. Ensure the LIMS supports accurate, compliant, and efficient diagnostic workflows while meeting regulatory, quality, and data governance requirements.

Job description

• Oversee planning, implementation, configuration, validation, maintenance and operation of laboratory IT (LIMS, networks, platforms)
• Act as primary contact for LIMS, IT, quality and clinical teams; provide expert user support, training, and liaise with vendors/partners
• Collaborate with Scientific and Operational Leads, Laboratory, Quality, Genomics and wider LIMS teams to ensure seamless integration of systems
• Support procurement of LIMS/IT solutions with commercial and procurement colleagues
• Align systems with organisational data strategies; ensure compliance with UKHSA cyber, information governance and privacy policies
• Work with Surge Response Service to support pandemic preparedness capabilities
• Integrate LIMS into sample receipt, tracking, workflows, reporting, billing and surveillance
• Ensure systems meet research, diagnostic and training needs, and all regulatory, clinical, safety and data security requirements
• Identify and implement IT improvements and innovations in line with policy and standards
• Monitor and maintain LIMS and IT systems to ensure operational readiness and testing capacity
• Ensure systems remain responsive, flexible and fit for diagnostics, preparedness, surveillance and research
• Coordinate networked lab instrumentation with cyber/ICT teams; contribute to contract management
• Maintain resilience and compliance through change control, documentation, risk management and audits
• Track and report KPIs and system performance metrics

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Post Holder will:

• Support UKHSA’s role as a Category 1 responder by enabling rapid scale-up of diagnostic laboratory capacity during emerging public health threats.
• Contribute to the development of a standby, semi-automated high-throughput PCR testing facility at Porton Down.
• Lead the implementation and optimisation of Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) and associated IT infrastructure.
• Work within the Amplify team in the Diagnostic and Pathogen Characterisation Division, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams including Rare and Imported Pathogens
  Laboratory and Diagnostics Development.
• Ensure systems are flexible, scalable, and compliant with ISO 15189 and relevant regulatory standards.
• Provide technical expertise to ensure systems meet operational, diagnostic, research, and pandemic preparedness needs.
• Support integration of laboratory systems across the organisation to enhance interoperability and response capability.
• Maintain a high level of adaptability, communication, and stakeholder engagement in a dynamic project environment.
• Lead the planning, implementation, configuration, validation, and maintenance of LIMS and laboratory IT systems.
• Act as the primary LIMS subject matter expert, providing user support, training, and vendor liaison.
• Ensure seamless integration of LIMS with laboratory workflows, including sample tracking, reporting, and surveillance.
• Collaborate with scientific, operational, quality, genomics, and IT teams to align systems and processes.
• Support procurement and deployment of LIMS/IT solutions with commercial and procurement teams.
• Ensure compliance with ISO 15189, data governance, cyber security, and UKHSA policies.
• Work with the Surge Response Service to support pandemic preparedness and response capabilities.
• Maintain system readiness to support high-throughput testing capacity and operational resilience.
• Identify and implement system improvements and innovations aligned with organisational standards.
• Coordinate with ICT and cyber teams to manage networked laboratory instrumentation and infrastructure.
• Maintain documentation, change control processes, risk management, and audit readiness.
• Monitor system performance, track KPIs, and report on operational effectiveness.
• Ensure systems remain adaptable for diagnostics, research, training, and surveillance activities.
• Comply with all UKHSA policies, values and procedures and the Civil Service Code.
• Perform any other duties required by the line manager commensurate with grade.
• Have strong communication skills, with both technical and non-technical colleagues.
• Be resilient and able to work at pace to ensure delivery of a highly responsive diagnostic service
• Participate and/or support for out of hours testing capability when required.
• Have a high attention to detail with strong commitment to quality and competence.
• Be adaptable to changing workflow scenarios in a regulated environment.
• Undertake performance management against business plan objectives and in accordance with UKHSA policies and procedures.
• Supervise staff and work closely and effectively in a team to deliver objectives.
• Maintain an understanding of Clinical diagnostic testing procedures.

This list is not exhaustive.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

• Degree in Biological Science (e.g. microbiology, virology) or Computing and Information Technology (e.g. computer science with artificial intelligence, computing and information technology).
• MSc or PhD in biological or clinical sciences and/or computing, data or informatics or relevant experience (e.g. IBMS Certificate of Expert Practice in Laboratory IT and Clinical Informatics).
• Significant experience of implementing and managing LIMS and laboratory networking in an ISO-accredited laboratory, including data management, data monitoring, sample tracking and automated testing pathways.
• Proactive, organised and capable of working independently and with teams.
• Demonstratable experience and understanding of regulatory compliance (e.g. ISO 15189, GDPR) and cybersecurity protocols.
• Experience of procurement procedures, including writing technical specifications.
• Experience in leading and/or managing projects ensuring delivery of organisational and departmental goals, with the ability to prioritise and organise own workload and of those of others often working to tight deadlines.

Desirable criteria:

• Technical knowledge and experience in developing and implementing LIMS for automated, high throughput testing workflows.
• Demonstrable programming experience and/or HL7 integrations
• Experience of laboratory integrations and laboratory automation.
• Experience of Labgnostics (NPEx) integrations.
• Knowledge of wider NHS data, reporting and operational requirements.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £56,185, UK Health Security Agency contributes £16,276 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• 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

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 is using Success Profiles and will assess your behaviours, strengths and Technical skills.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

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:

• an application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• a 1250 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 1250 words. We will not consider any words over 1250 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:

• Significant experience of implementing and managing LIMS and laboratory networking in an ISO-accredited laboratory, including data management, data monitoring, sample tracking and automated testing pathways.
• Demonstratable experience and understanding of regulatory compliance (e.g. ISO 15189, GDPR) and cybersecurity protocols.
• Experience of procurement procedures, including writing technical specifications.

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 (Success Profiles)

You will be invited to a face to face interview at our Porton site.

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 through questioning.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Changing and Improving
• Managing a Quality Service (Lead Behaviour)
• Delivering at Pace

Interview dates are yet 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 Porton Scientific Campus.

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. If based at one of our Scientific Campuses you will be required to have a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum. 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. 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.

Eligibility Criteria

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.

Civil Service: Grade 7 (National)

£56,185 - £66,581

Qualifications and Registrations

For roles where specific qualifications or registrations are required, successful applicants will be asked to provide appropriate evidence. Employment cannot commence until satisfactory documentation has been received and verified.

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

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).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 : Lisa Tweedie
• Email : Lisa.Tweedie@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/

http://www.healthjobsuk.com/vacancy/8144517