Scheme Organiser FEPTU

Job summary

We are currently seeking a Scheme Organiser FEPTU to provide strong and effective leadership and management of the Food and Environmental Proficiency Testing Unit (FEPTU) staff and services.

They will actively and visibly role model the values of the organisation by being inspirationally, confident and empowering. They will be responsible and accountable for all FEPTU’s overall functions and support all EQA operations and deliverables. This includes safety, strategic/business, continuity and financial activities, risk management, and administrative/logistic functions ensuring maximum productivity of the work within allocated resources and budgets and within agreed performance and quality standards in accordance with UKHSA policies.

They will be responsible for the development of FEPTU’s services national and international, define the strategic direction and fit of the unit to deliver and support wider public health deliveries and outcomes. Collaborative working with other parts of UKHSA within Public Health Microbiology is essential.

Job description

• Ensure effective leadership supporting all aspects of all service delivery that is compliant with relevant safety/governance/statutory requirements
• Communicate complex information clearly and concisely, tailoring messages to a wide range of audiences in line with Civil Service expectations for Communicating & Influencing
• Provide expert scientific advice and interpretation on quality assurance matters ensuring understanding across both technical/non-technical audiences and support effective decision-making and public health outcomes
• Establish and maintain transparent communication channels ensuring that priorities, risks and resource requirements are communicated proactively to support accountability, timely decisions and service resilience
• Lead business development activity by using market intelligence and stakeholder engagement to identify opportunities for growth and innovation, maintaining the international profile and competitiveness of FEPTU services
• Build and sustain strong collaborative relationships across multidisciplinary teams/wider organisational functions/external stakeholders fostering a culture of open and transparent communication, continuous improvement and high performing teams to maximise engagement

Communication & Key Working Relationships

To identify, develop and maintain strong meaningful relationships with a wide range of colleagues and professionals within UKHSA and outside the organisation.

Internal

Director of Public Health Microbiology (PHM) Laboratories or UKHSA. Including but not limited to lead clinical and FW&E Scientists, Finance and any others as required.

External

Liaison with external collaborating institutions and stakeholders as appropriate including the staff at all levels in participating food and water testing and/or clinical microbiology diagnostic labs in the UK and overseas.

Management

• Provide leadership for the optimal co-ordination for all services and other activities within the FEPTU unit and wider across EQA services
• Be responsible for the management of staff within the unit in accordance with UKHSA policies & procedures
• Be responsible and accountable for the Health and Safety of the FEPTU unit
• Lead and develop a high performing team by ensuring all staff receive appropriate training and development and by delivering a workforce development plan that continuously builds capability
• Ensure effective internal communications resulting in information to all staff
• Be responsible for ensuring that strategic direction and developments are aligned with the UKHSA strategies
• Take a national and international lead for specific areas of work and represent EQA Services

Service Delivery

• Ensure that operational responsibility for service delivery of the unit
• Develop international services in line with agreed strategies within UKHSA
• Be responsible for ensuring that microbiological standards for both service and development are maintained at a high level
• Initiate, review, analyse and interpret complex facts, specialist data and make judgements and interpretation which contributes to the development of public health delivery in EQA/PT
• Provide assistance and microbiological advice for laboratory testing procedures, interpretation of results and the impact on public health of incorrect results
• Co-ordinate and initiate all research projects in specialist area securing funding as appropriate
• Actively seek ways of promoting EQA/PT where appropriate, leading on areas of business development

Budget Responsibilities

• Be responsible for managing the budget allocated including control of income and expenditure ensuring service delivery is achieved within agreed resources and manage contracts and invoicing with internal/external customers

Strategy, Policy & Service Development

• Identify and be responsible for delivering the long-term development of EQA/PT and related services within food, water and environmental area
• Ensure business plan and marketing plans are reviewed and objectives re-aligned in accordance with UKHSA objectives
• Ensure the lab has the capability to implement and resource research and development activities in support of national and international UKHSA objectives
• Plan, co-ordinate and analyse surveys and co-ordinated studies

Quality

• Ensure the unit complies with relevant standards, governance and statutory requirements, in particular ISO/IEC 17043:2023 and ISO/IEC 17025:2017

Security / Health & Safety

• Be responsible and accountable for ensuring that the unit complies with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) requirements, risk management and other statutory regulations including the safety of staff working off-site

The above is only an outline of the responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by your line manager.

The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• PhD (or equivalent experience) in public health, medical microbiology, or food, water and environmental (FW&E) microbiology, or a postgraduate qualification with demonstrable experience coordinating international microbiology EQA/PT schemes
• Postgraduate management qualification (e.g. MSc, MBA, HSM) and/or equivalent senior management experience
• Demonstrable knowledge and experience of clinical and/or FW&E lab procedures including lab safety, quality and regulatory requirements
• Evidence of effective stakeholder management, building and sustaining relationships across multidisciplinary teams, external partners and international networks
• Demonstrable experience of risk management and strategic planning with clear understanding of internal/external operating environments
• Significant leadership and management experience in microbiology labs or international EQA/PT schemes including evidence of developing high performing teams and driving continuous improvement
• Excellent communication skills with evidence of conveying complex information clearly and concisely - both written and oral

Desirable Criteria

• Understanding of organisational structures, priorities and ways of working within a public health setting
• Experience of reviewing/improving processes to deliver efficient and cost-effective services
• Experience of data collection, analysis and surveillance of infection/ disease
• Ability to work across organisational boundaries and engage with colleagues at all levels

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £68,626, UK Health Security Agency contributes

£19,880 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.

• 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 is using Success Profiles Success Profiles - GOV.UK and will assess your Experience and Behaviours.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

At sift stage you will be assessed against the 7 Essential Criteria listed in this advert. You will be required to complete:

• An Application Form - Employer/Activity History section on the application
• A 1000 word Supporting Statement - do not exceed 1000 words as we will not consider any words over this amount

This should outline how you consider your skills, experience and knowledge provides evidence of your suitability for the role with reference to the 7 Essential Criteria listed in this advert.

You will receive a joint score for your Application Form & Supporting Statement. The Application Form is the information you would put on your CV – please note you will not be able to upload or email us your CV. Please complete the Application Form in as much detail as possible.

Longlisting

In the event of numerous applications, we may longlist into 3 piles:

• Meets all Essential Criteria
• Meets some Essential Criteria
• Meets no Essential Criteria

Only 'Meets all Essential Criteria' will progress to Shortlisting.

Shortlisting

In the event of many applications, we may conduct an initial sift on the following Essential Criteria:

• Evidence of effective stakeholder management, building and sustaining relationships across multidisciplinary teams, external partners and international networks

Desirable criteria may be used if there is a large number of applications/successful candidates.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview. Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview

You will be invited to a single face-to-face interview at our Colindale Scientific Campus in North London. Interview date(s) to be confirmed.

Due to the nature of the assessment at interview, face-to-face interviews are preferred. In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

The Behaviours being tested at interview stage will be:

• Leadership - Lead Behaviour
• Communication and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Managing a Quality Service

On arrival, you will be given a short scenario exercise on the strategic review of an EQA service. You will have 30 minutes to review the information and gather your thoughts followed by a 10-minute discussion with the panel about your approach and recommendations. The exercise is designed to explore your strategic thi