Senior 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.

To take a supervisory role in supporting the routine provision, delivery and development of genomic services for customers of CSL, and act as senior scientific support for laboratory development of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) and the Sanger services. The post holder will supervise and provide line management for scientists within the unit, providing supervision for the day-to-day running of the NGS and Sanger services, while acting as part of the team by being involved in performing the tests being carried out. The post holder will also be expected to train other members of the team.

The post holder will also support the CSL senior leadership team to ensure high standards of safety, quality & training are maintained with CSL. Additional roles will be assigned by the CSL senior leadership team to ensure that the laboratory complies with all relevant legislation, as well as training all unit staff in appropriate related issues. This post has the additional responsibility of supporting the service delivery aspects of the laboratory. This role will ensure the laboratory is aligned with organisational and legal requirements for health and safety. In addition, they will work with the CSL senior leadership team to ensure smooth service delivery daily across all areas of the laboratory.

Line management responsibilities

The post holder may have line responsibility for Healthcare Scientists and Healthcare Scientist Support Worker staff within the unit.

Job description

• To provide professional leadership for those members of staff for whom s/he is accountable, leading the staff by example and in a manner which will encourage the development of a positive working attitude by each member.
• To follow agreed protocols and policies in accordance with the UKHSA policies and procedures.
• Perform manual and automated laboratory techniques following Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• To provide line management for staff within CSL.
• Supervise the daily workflows of NGS & Sanger services on a rotational basis and provide supervision of staff or persons seconded to the Unit.
• To participate in and carry out formal staff appraisal(s) to agreed UKHSA deadlines.
• To provide senior scientific support for the CSL services.
• To quality check and support the issuing of CSL results to service users.
• To provide advice and prepare proposals that contribute to enhancing the effectiveness of the work and achieving unit objectives.
• With the designated Laboratory Caldicott Guardian, Data Protection Officer and Security of Information Officer, to ensure confidentiality and conformity to the requirements of the Data Protection Act.
• To identify new and support existing income generation activities.
• To write, prepare, review and comply with standard documents and draft SOPs as required.
• To support the development of a flexible team by fostering staff training, development and rotation.

This list is not exhaustive.

Management of Staff

To ensure efficient and effective management of technical, scientific, support workers and clerical staff as appropriate in accordance with UKHSA policies and procedures, including:

• Participating in the CSL’s management team meetings.
• Facilitating the induction, education, training and professional development of appropriate staff.
• Ensuring the required deployment, availability and welfare of staff as indicated above.
• Maintain good working relationships with all members of staff and foster teamwork, flexible working and staff development.

Technical Services

• To maintain professional competence and be aware of relevant developments in appropriate technologies.
• To be responsible for maintaining a high standard of work.
• To ensure the provision of an efficient, effective and timely service, ensuring maximum efficiency within allocated resources.
• In consultation with appropriate Units to consider adoption of new and improved technical procedures.
• To ensure accurate and timely provision of laboratory results for release to users.
• To have an expert understanding of NGS and Sanger-based methodologies used in the unit.
• Manage the unit workflow, including documentation.
• Troubleshoot issues related to NGS and Sanger services.

Strategy and Leadership

• To work with other staff to improve working practices.
• To provide effective scientific leadership, particularly with respect to service delivery by supporting the CSL senior leadership team in the daily provision of CSL services.
• Contribute to key unit and directorate plans and strategies.
• To adopt new technology and quality innovations to enhance the effectiveness of the CSL services.

Quality

• Maintain a high standard of work, and appraise and contribute to developing services so that they are safe, effective, and economical and follow best practice
• Work towards ensuring an efficient quality management system
• Contribute to internal and external quality assurance programmes
• Ensure compliance with UKAS and other accreditation and certification standards
• Ensure the continual development and compliance of internal and external audit programmes and corrective actions

Information Technology

• To be competent in the use of the Laboratory Information Technology Systems (LIMS) and use the LIMS to carry out sample tracking throughout the process.
• To support robotic equipment to improve service resilience.
• Manage the development of analytical tools and reporting of CSL results through the provision of scientific advice and timely collaboration with service users and collaborators.
• To use software packages as appropriate for word processing, presentations, and data analysis.
• Manage the introduction of workflow changes to accommodate new tests, efficient working and service improvements.

Safety

• To promote a strong safety culture and in the laboratory to ensure a safe working environment.
• To support health, safety and welfare are afforded priority and to demonstrate commitment to health, safety and welfare of self, staff and visitors.
• Ensure relevant UKHSA health and safety policies and laboratory safety committee recommendations and actions are implemented.
• To notify accidents, near misses, dangerous situations and shortcomings in health and safety via the appropriate management structure.
• To report staff sickness.
• To escalate risks that cannot be controlled to the CSL senior leadership team.

Communication and key working relationships

Internal

• CSL senior leadership team, all staff within the unit and staff from other Specialist Microbiology & Laboratories or UKHSA departments
• UKHSA safety, training or quality leads, as appropriate.
• Bioinformatics team
• Specialist Microbiology & Laboratories Laboratory Managers as users of the service

External

• Collaborators, visitors, external CSL customers and stakeholders.
• CSL partners and suppliers.
• Staff in other diagnostic and research laboratories outside of UKHSA.
• Professional contacts, including UKAS staff.
• Suppliers of Liquid Handling and Sequencing Platforms

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Educated to a degree (or equivalent level qualification) in a relevant subject, i.e., microbiology, biological science, or molecular biology.
• Maintain CPD portfolio.
• Extensive knowledge and experience in at least one of the specialist areas of the unit.
• Substantive experience in Public Health genetic methods.
• Proven record of supporting WGS and Sanger services, and automation in relevant areas.
• Able to provide/receive highly complex information, negotiate and present to peers/customers/others.
• Ability to negotiate on difficult and controversial issues, including performance and change.
• Problem-solving skills and the ability to respond to sudden, unexpected demands.
• Ability to analyse complex facts and situations and develop a range of options.
• Ability to prioritise work in a timely manner.
• Evidence of using technical experience to assess new and existing technologies and processes to innovate and initiate change in laboratory practice.
• Ability to undertake evaluation of new WGS and Sanger services to allow efficient service delivery.
• Demonstrated capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly.
• Ability to prioritise own work effectively and be able to direct the activities of others. Experience in managing and motivating a team and reviewing the performance of individuals.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office with intermediate keyboard skills.

Desirable criteria

• Training and supervising a team.
• Comprehensive experience of project principal techniques and tools.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,310, UK Health Security Agency contributes

£13,416 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%

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, Experience and Technical skills.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 15 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• 1200 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 1200 words. We will not consider any words over 1200 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

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:

• Educated to a degree (or equivalent level qualification) in a relevant subject, i.e., microbiology, biological science,