Senior Healthcare Laboratory Scientist

Job summary

The purpose of this role is to provide technical expertise and support to strengthen laboratory capability and capacity across the UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs) Health Security Programme, contributing to improved public health outcomes. Working closely with the Consultant Microbiologist and the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Lead, the post holder will support activities to strengthen laboratory services, workforce capability, quality systems and resilience across the Territories. The role is supervised by the Consultant Microbiologist, with overall oversight provided by the Head of Programme and Senior Leadership Team.

The role focuses on developing safe, high-quality and resilient laboratory services in geographically isolated territories. This includes supporting quality and accreditation standards, workforce development, public health and clinical services, and helping laboratories address challenges such as workforce shortages, supply chain constraints, equipment maintenance, sample transport delays and emergency preparedness.

The post holder will require strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to build partnerships, work independently and collaboratively, and deliver at pace. Based in the UK, the role requires international travel several times a year.

The post holder will work with regional partners, Ministries of Health and other stakeholders to support quality assurance systems aligned with WHO guidance and national regulations, develop sustainable quality management systems, and advise on laboratory workflow, service organisation and demand management.

Working for your organisation

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

Job description

This post will be undertaken as part of the infectious disease strengthening element of the UKOTs Health Security Programme within the Health Protection Operations Directorate. The post will also involve collaboration with the Science Group as required. Working with colleagues across the UKOTs, the post holder will provide technical leadership and support to strengthen laboratory governance, quality systems, workforce capability and resilience across a geographically dispersed laboratory network.

The main duties and responsibilities include:

• Working closely with the Consultant Microbiologist allocated to the UKOTs Health Security Programme, the post holder will provide technical input and support to public health institute/Ministry of Health laboratories in UKOTs to strengthen and build capacity in microbiological and virological diagnosis, laboratory strategy, service development, public health surveillance and outbreak preparedness, including providing specialist advice to senior healthcare and government stakeholders
• The post holder will work with UKOT colleagues to develop their capacity in laboratory governance, quality management systems, accreditation and quality assurance processes; laboratory workflow design, development of External Quality Assurance (EQA) schemes; standardised operating procedure (SOP) production, review, and management; biosafety training and planning; laboratory information and data management, including their utility for public health use; and laboratory staff training and development.
• Help support the UKOT laboratory teams in developing and implementing governance arrangements, harmonised workflows, SOP and referral pathways to promote consistency and equitable access to laboratory services across partner networks.
• Help develop the safety management, clinical governance and incident reporting systems, including the investigation of incidents, complaints, non-conformances and near misses to support patient safety and regulatory compliance
• Champion the maintenance of internal quality controls within a robust quality management system and an EQA system compatible with and progressing towards, WHO guidance, ISO 15189 and good and in-country regulations, supporting audits and corrective actions to improve laboratory performance
• Advise on and contribute to the development and delivery of training programmes for local staff, workforce development initiative, professional exchanges and recruitment and retention activities, ensuring integration with and compliance with local arrangements.
• Ensure confidentiality and conformity with the requirements of best practice in data protection.
• Contribute to safety inspections, H&S policy reviews risk investigations and laboratory infrastructure and equipment assurance activities where appropriate.
• The post holder may also assist in reviews of current laboratory practice, including network laboratory activities, service performance, quality indicators, equipment standardization and opportunities for service development
• To report on progress regularly to the UKOTs Health Security Programme Senior Leadership.
• Support laboratory preparedness and response for outbreaks and public health emergencies, working with partner organisations, reference laboratories and public health agencies to strengthen surveillance and testing capacity.
• Support the development of laboratory referral networks and systems for the safe and compliant transport of specimens between partner laboratories and reference centres, including adherence to relevant transport regulations

Other duties as agreed by negotiation between the post holder line manager and UKOTs Health Security Programme Senior Leadership Team

Incident Response Activity

From time to time, the role holder may be required to support UKHSA’s incident response activity by contributing their appropriate expertise within an Incident Cell; during such periods, supported by the line manager, this work will take priority over normal day-to-day responsibilities, commensurate with their grade, skills and experience.

Person specification

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.

Essential Criteria

• Relevant post graduate degree/certificate or equivalent in a relevant subject (e.g.in Microbiology / Virology / Molecular Biology)
• Extensive knowledge and experience working in clinical diagnostic microbiology laboratories or equivalent experience from diagnostic support/development laboratories
• In depth working knowledge and competency in molecular diagnostic techniques (qPCR etc.), bacteriology, and serological methods (e.g. ELISA) and knowledge of Laboratory Health and Safety arrangements including high containment (BSL3 minimum)
• An understanding of and experience in laboratory quality management and assurance procedures
• Experience of designing and delivering training modules including training more junior staff.
• Adept at problem solving through analysis of complex facts and situations to deliver solutions to practical problems in laboratory workflows and workloads
• Travel to UKOTs within the programme, as and when required

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £60,494, UK Health Security Agency contributes

£17,525 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 will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your qualifications, knowledge and experience and / or skills and abilities outlined in the essential criteria.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

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

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• 1,000 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.

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1,500 but your supporting statement must be no more than 1,000 words. We will not consider any words over 1,000 words.

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 CV. 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.

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(s) ‘Meets all essential criteria’ and 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 :

• Extensive knowledge and experience working in clinical diagnostic microbiology laboratories or equivalent experience from diagnostic support/development laboratories
• In depth working knowledge and competency in molecular diagnostic techniques (qPCR etc.), bacteriology, and serological methods (e.g. ELISA) and knowledge of Laboratory Health and Safety arrangements including high containment (BSL3 minimum)

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 ) remote interview

If face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

Knowledge , Experience Skills & abilities will be tested at interview .

Reserve List

If more than the required number of suitable candidates pass the interview criteria, you may be kept on a reserve list for 12 months subject to your agreement. You may be contacted, in merit-order, if similar roles with closely matching essential criteria become available and the department choose to appoint from a reserve list. The panel will assess if candidates meet the requirement of the role first, using a specific benchmark system. If you are interviewed for the post and do not meet the required threshold for the specified grade, your application may be assessed against a similar, lower grade role and you may be offered the post should one be available.

Eligibility Criteria - External

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside