Swydd wag: Principal Healthcare Scientist (Global AMR), UK Health Security Agency, Colindale

Crynodeb o'r swydd

Prif leoliad

Healthcare Scientists

Gradd

Civil Service: Grade 7

Contract

Parhaol

Oriau

Llawnamser
Rhan-amser
Rhannu swydd
Gweithio hyblyg

37.5 awr yr wythnos

Cyfeirnod y swydd

919-IS-308240-External

Cyflogwr: UK Health Security Agency
Math o gyflogwr: Public (Non NHS)
Gwefan: Hybrid/Colindale
Tref: Colindale
Cyflog: £55,799 - £65,089 per annum, pro rata
Cyfnod cyflog: Yn flynyddol
Yn cau: 24/07/2024 23:59

Principal Healthcare Scientist (Global AMR)

Civil Service: Grade 7

The United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is a system leader for health security; taking action internationally to strengthen global health security, providing trusted advice to government and the public and reducing inequalities in the way different communities experience and are impacted by infectious disease, environmental hazards, and other threats to health.

UKHSA’s remit, as an agency with a global-to-local reach, is to protect the health of the nation from infectious diseases and other external threats to health. As the nation’s expert national health security agency UKHSA will:

Prevent: anticipate threats to health and help build the nation’s readiness, defences and health security
Detect: use cutting edge environmental and biological surveillance to proactively detect and monitor infectious diseases and threats to health
Analyse: use world-class science and data analytics to assess and continually monitor threats to health, identifying how best to control and mitigate the risks
Respond: take rapid, collaborative and effective actions nationally and locally to mitigate threats to health when they materialise
Lead: lead strong and sustainable global, national, regional and local partnerships designed to save lives, protect the nation from public health threats and reduce inequalities.

Swydd ddisgrifiad a phrif gyfrifoldebau manwl

This post will work in partnership with the Co-directors of the WHO CC and other senior staff within the AMRHAI Reference Unit and the HCAI, Fungal, AMR, AMU, & Sepsis Division in delivering the global diagnostics, research, laboratory capacity strengthening objectives of the WHO CC and other related activities that disseminate UK best practice. This role will be crucial in achieving these objectives through i) provision of technical input and in-country training (requiring travel overseas) to support countries seeking to build capacity in microbiological diagnostic and reference laboratory testing and strengthen their national antimicrobial resistance surveillance systems; ii) development and delivery of capacity building modules and curricula, and other training materials on laboratory standards and procedures for antimicrobial resistance surveillance; and iii) input into other relevant UKHSA global health activities that focus on antimicrobial resistance.

As the Principal Healthcare Scientist you will be expected to work as a scientific/technical expert either alone or in support of the WHO CC Co-directors, playing a leading role in enabling UKHSA to meet its objectives as a WHO CC for Reference & Research on Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections and fulfil its global health commitments as outlined in the UK National Action Plan for tackling antimicrobial resistance.
You will be expected to apply your extensive knowledge of clinical diagnostic microbiology and antimicrobial susceptibility testing, playing a leading role in shaping and delivering training materials and programs on laboratory improvement processes. You will participate in overseas visits to assess current clinical diagnostic laboratory capability, make recommendations and deliver in-country training. You will be required to provide expert scientific and technical support in implementation of microbiological laboratory procedures for surveillance of antimicrobial resistance that assist overseas laboratories in achieving ISO 15189 laboratory accreditation.
You will be responsible for delivery of laboratory-based surveillance activities, including characterisation of healthcare-associated bacterial pathogens collected in collaborating countries that do not yet have a functioning reference laboratory.
You will be responsible for ensuring that risk assessments are undertaken for all new and existing work relating to WHO CC activities and that controls are implemented, monitored and maintained.
You will be expected to work and communicate with a wide range of people, maintaining awareness of the wider work of UKHSA to identify appropriate colleagues who can contribute to the delivery of the WHO CC objectives and actively networking in the research and capacity strengthening community (both within UKHSA and beyond) to identify and develop potential areas of engagement and collaboration.
This role will also require you to actively seek funding opportunities for ongoing research activities, write research grant proposals and regularly review research activities to ensure that they are in line with the WHO CC objectives. You will be expected to present research findings and training updates at internal, national and international meetings and where appropriate prepare manuscripts for publication in peer-viewed journals.
Our ideal candidate is a self-starter with an adaptable ‘can do’ attitude that can see a way through challenges, is able to make decisions autonomously on difficult issues and is able to work to tight and often changing timescales. You will be adept at problem solving to deliver solutions to practical challenges in laboratory workflows and workloads.
Ultimately, your role will play an important part in driving the success and effectiveness of the WHO CC’s laboratory-based global health activities and you will be expected to carry out any other duties reasonably required by the directorate.

For a full list of the main duties and responsibilities of the role, please refer to the attached Job Description.

Essential criteria

You will be assessed on the below 6 essential criteria, which have been selected from the Job Description.

• Postgraduate degree in a relevant subject (e.g., PhD in microbiology, biomedical science or molecular biology) or equivalent postgraduate experience (LEAD)

• Extensive knowledge and experience working in clinical diagnostic microbiology laboratories handling patient clinical samples and delivering phenotypic and genotypic methods to characterise a wide range of bacteria (including biocontainment at CL3) (LEAD)

• Broad working knowledge and experience in antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods and resistance mechanism detection; use of molecular diagnostics techniques

• In-depth knowledge and understanding of laboratory health and safety requirements and procedures; experience of performing laboratory risk assessments

• In-depth understanding of relevant laboratory policies, standards and guidelines including those relevant to quality control/assurance and ISO 15189 accreditation processes

• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with a range of people on a range of matters using writing, report writing and presentation skills

Selection Process:

This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your Qualifications, knowledge and experience and / or skills and capabilities outlined in the essential criteria.

Stage 1: Application & Sift (competency-based)
You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the above listed 6 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of

a CV/ Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)

a 1250 word Statement of Suitability.

This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.

The CV / Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.

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

Please do not exceed 1250 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview (competency based)

You will be invited to a (single) remote interview.

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

There will be a Presentation. Details will be provided prior to interview.

Interviews will be held Wednesday 7th August 2024. Please note, these dates are 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.

Eligibility Criteria  

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

Security Clearance Level Requirement  

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.  

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard.

Manyleb y person

Qualifications

Meini prawf hanfodol

Postgraduate degree in a relevant subject (e.g., PhD in microbiology, biomedical science or molecular biology) or equivalent postgraduate experience

Knowledge & Experience

Meini prawf hanfodol

Extensive knowledge and experience working in clinical diagnostic microbiology laboratories handling patient clinical samples and delivering phenotypic and genotypic methods to characterise a wide range of bacteria (including biocontainment at CL3)

Knowledge & Experience

Meini prawf hanfodol

Broad working knowledge and experience in antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods and resistance mechanism detection; use of molecular diagnostics techniques
In-depth knowledge and understanding of laboratory health and safety requirements and procedures; experience of performing laboratory risk assessments
In-depth understanding of relevant laboratory policies, standards and guidelines including those relevant to quality control/assurance and ISO 15189 accreditation processes

Skills & Capabilities

Meini prawf hanfodol

Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with a range of people on a range of matters using writing, report writing and presentation skills

IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ

Your application may be rejected and/or you may be subject to disciplinary action if evidence of plagiarism is detected. Examples of plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence (AI), as your own.

This is a Non-Reserved post under the Civil Service Nationality Rules. To be eligible for employment in the UK Civil Service applicants must meet the Civil Service Nationality Rules (CSNRs) which operate independently of and additionally to the Immigration Rules. Applicants must also meet necessary security and vetting requirements, along with any other relevant pre-employment checks.

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

For more information on job nationality requirements and the right to work in the UK, see the Civil Service Nationality rules (opens in a new window) and the UK Visas and Immigration rules (opens in a new window)

For posts on UKHSA Civil Service terms and conditions, new entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. For existing Civil Servants and roles advertised across government, the rules of transfer apply, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive a 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

The Civil Service pay structure and progression is different from NHS Agenda for Change (AfC), most local authority pay grades and other systems that have annual pay increments. For further details, please refer to the Information Sheet- Starting Salaries & Benefits attachment.

For AfC or Medical/Dental posts, you must have the correct professional registration to be appointed. The pay will follow the AfC or Medical & Dental terms & conditions. You may be asked to provide evidence of previous service whilst we are conducting pre-employment checks to determine your starting salary.

For Temporary Appointments, if you are not currently a civil servant, you will take up the post on a Fixed Term appointment.  If you are an existing Civil Servant, based outside of the UKHSA, you will take up the post as a loan.  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. 

Given the nature of the work of the UKHSA, as a Category 1 responder under the Civil Contingencies Act, you may be required in an emergency, if deemed a necessity, to redeploy to another role at short notice. You may also be required to work at any other location, within reasonable travelling distance of your permanent home address, in line with the provisions set out in your contract of employment.

Late Applications will unfortunately not be considered.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. 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 (attached as a supporting document).

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:  [email protected] 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 here.

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.

Interview expenses will not be reimbursed.

UKHSA is required to check employment and/or education history covering three consecutive years. Please ensure you give details of at least two different referees, even if you were employed in one company for three years or more.

If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system. Please note, all communication regarding your application will be made via email, please ensure you check your junk/spam folders as emails are sometimes filtered there.

Any move to UKHSA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

 Benefits of working at UKHSA include:

Generous annual leave:
-26 days for the first 5 years of continuous service
-28 days after 5 years of continuous service
-32 days after 10 years of continuous service
-Plus public holidays and one privilege day for the King’s birthday
Access to a generous Defined Benefit pension scheme with employer contributions.
Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme, season ticket advances and payroll giving.
Access to a retail discounts and cashback site.
We also promote flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours). UKHSA views flexible working as essential in enabling us to recruit and retain talented people, ensuring that they are able to enjoy a long-lasting career with us. All employees have the right to apply for flexible working and there are a range of options available including working from home, compressed hours and job sharing.
We also offer a generous maternity/ paternity and adoption leave package.

Hybrid Working

UKHSA operates a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce.

As a hybrid worker, you will usually spend a minimum of 60% of your contracted hours (averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's locations (approximately 3 days a week pro rata) and the rest of your time working from home.

Disability Confident Scheme

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria at sift to ensure these candidates are invited to interview.   If you wish to be included in this scheme please tick the box on your application form.

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 take into account 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/