Job summary
- Main area
- Undergraduate Placement
- Grade
- Civil Service: Administrative Assistant (AA)
- Contract
- Fixed term: 12 months (FTC 15/09/2025 – 28/08/2026)
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Job share
- Flexible working
- Job ref
- 919-GB-309395-EXT
- Employer
- UK Health Security Agency
- Employer type
- Public (Non NHS)
- Site
- Colindale
- Town
- Colindale, London
- Salary
- £26,593 per annnum, pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 24/03/2025 23:59
Employer heading

BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science Undergraduate Placement Student
Civil Service: Administrative Assistant (AA)
Job overview
UKHSA, Colindale is offering work placement opportunities to second year undergraduates studying an IBMS accredited Biomedical Science or Healthcare Science (Life Science) degree (Hons).
This is an exciting opportunity, offering a 50-week placement in one of the laboratories within Public Health Microbiology, Colindale. During your placement you will have the opportunity to:
- Complete the IBMS Registration Training Portfolio for the Certificate of Competence, leading to registration with the Health and Care Professions Council as a Biomedical Scientist.
- Attend the in-house tutorial programme, seminars, scientific meetings and courses held on-site.
- Enhance your scientific and technical skills and knowledge, writing and personal skills such as communication, team working and time-management.
The placements on offer are positioned within the Reference Laboratories on the Colindale site.
Note: vaccinations will be required for some of these roles, as per the individual job hazard profiles
Main duties of the job
- Process specimens received and undertake the related tasks in the various sections of the laboratory, leading to the reporting and interpretation of results in accordance with agreed policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs)
- Contribute to the proper storage and management of the laboratory specimens
- Keeping accurate, legible and up-to-date records of work carried out in the laboratory
- Contribute to routine maintenance of all equipment, which will include high cost, complex equipment requiring calibration and regular maintenance
- To participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e. fire safety, information governance as well as the in-house tutorial programme
- Daily duties and responsibilities will vary depending on unit
For a full list of the main duties and responsibilities of the role, please refer to the attached Job Description.
Working for our 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
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Essential criteria - you will be assessed on the below (8) essential criteria, which have been selected from the Job Description Document.
- Registered on an IBMS-accredited BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science or Healthcare Science (Life Sciences) degree
- Currently in second year of study
- Has an interest in microbiology
- Has an interest in a career as a biomedical scientist
- Experienced in using equipment commonly found in a microbiology laboratory
- Ability to work effectively as part of a team
- An ability to maintain confidentiality and trust.
- Able to follow instructions – written and oral
Selection Process Details:
This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience, Technical skills.
Stage 1: Application & Sift
You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed (8) essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:
-
Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
-
750 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 Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.
Please note you will not be able to upload your CV. You must 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
The following will be taken through to the next stage:
- Meets all essential criteria
Shortlisting:
In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on the following:
- Registered on an IBMS-accredited BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science or Healthcare Science (Life Sciences) degree
- Currently in second year of study
- Has an interest in a career as a biomedical scientist
- Has an interest in microbiology
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview and assessment
Please do not exceed 750 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.
Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Stage 2: Interview
You will be invited to a (single) remote interview.
Behaviours, technical, experience, and strengths will be tested at interview.
The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be
- Seeing the bigger picture
- Communicating and influencing
- Working together
- Delivering at pace
Interviews will be held week commencing 14th April 2025. 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 - External
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
Location
This role is being offered as office/lab based at our Scientific Campus in Colindale.
Please note hybrid working is not available for this role.
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.
Security Clearance Level Requirement
Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.
Successful candidates will require Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) as a minimum with willingness and capability to work towards Counter Terrorism Check (CTC clearance.
You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years to obtain Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting at this higher level and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder / Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.
Person specification
Application form and statement of suitability
Essential criteria
- Application form and statement of suitability
Behaviours
Essential criteria
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
- Delivering at Pace
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Gurkamal Bhambra
- Job title
- Resourcing
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Additional information
For information regarding the role please contact - [email protected]
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