Lead Clinical Scientist, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus Section
UK Health Security Agency
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 27th October 2024
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About the job
Job summary
As a HCPC-registered Clinical Scientist, the post-holder will work seamlessly between the Healthcare-Associated Infection (HCAI) and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Service and Laboratories: (i) to provide scientific and technical leadership in the area of Staphylococcus spp; (ii) to lead the laboratory team delivering national Staphylococcus spp reference services; (iii) to be responsible for validating and issuing clinical reports to customers for Staphylococcus spp and Streptococcus spp; and (iv) to provide scientific and strategic leadership for introducing novel technologies into reference services to meet the HCAI, Fungal, AMR, Antimicrobial Usage (AMU) & Sepsis Division objectives.
In addition, post will act as an expert Scientific Adviser to Deputy Director/s of HCAI, Fungal, AMR, AMU & Sepsis on Staphylococcus and Streptococcus spp. It will involve close liaison with laboratory staff working on these bacteria, providing scientific direction on areas of relevance to the HCAI, Fungal, AMR, AMU & Sepsis Division. In particular, this will focus on areas of national HCAI/AMR importance including outbreak investigation and assessment of vulnerable groups at risk of Staphylococcus and Streptococcus infection e.g., care home residents, people who inject drugs, prison and homeless populations.
Job description
To be a source of expert advice and information on microbiological aspects of staphylococci and the biology of staphylococcal disease. Provide information, interpretation and comment on national guidance, legislation, codes of practice and answers to Parliamentary Questions and media enquiries. Provide expert advice and knowledge to external bodies on the scientific basis of reference service tests, documents or services provided as appropriate.
To be responsible for ensuring the high-quality validation of clinical reports issued to customers for staphylococcal and streptococcal reference services, including strain characterisation, genomic assessment, virulence markers and toxin production.
To work with staff of Bacteriology Reference Division (BRD) and relevant consultant medical microbiologists in UKHSA to provide input into clinical interpretation and to ensure prompt and accurate delivery of staphylococcal reference services including discussing interpretation with microbiologists and clinicians in the field and health protection teams investigating outbreaks.
To arrange suitable and sufficient cover for reference service delivery, as necessary.
To lead staphylococcal and streptococcal service clinical governance meetings, developing automated services including auditing the impact of new methodologies including routine whole-genome sequencing for relatedness, resistance detection, and outbreak response.
Within the defined specialist area(s) to undertake the following scientific functions:
- To advise senior managers, including Deputy Directors, on all aspects of work associated with specialist area.
- To assess methodologies regularly to provide on-going improvement in services and to provide expert advice and knowledge on the scientific basis of reference service tests and results.
- To provide strategic opinion to senior managers, including Deputy Directors, for identifying methods and technologies relevant to the specialist area that are suitable for development, evaluation and implementation.
- To produce peer-reviewed publications on the results of reference and research activities. To develop, review and edit manuscripts, documents, protocols, procedures, guidelines, and other measurable outputs.
- To provide scientific advice and support in relation to internal quality controls and, where relevant, external quality assessment, proficiency testing and reference materials in collaboration with the UK National External Quality Assessment Service for Microbiology (NEQAS) and other organisations as appropriate.
- To present research findings at local, national and international scientific meetings.
- To participate in on-call services as required e.g., the Bacteria Reference Department senior scientist diphtheria on-call rota.
This is not an exhaustive list please see Job description document for full list of duties.
Person specification
Please be aware that we will assess on the12 essential criteria stated on the advert rather than the full list on the job description document.
Essential Criteria
Qualifications
- Relevant professional qualification: either full registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as Clinical Scientist, or an ACS Certificate of Attainment
- PhD in microbiology or a related discipline.
Knowledge and Experience
- Clinical scientific and molecular microbiology expertise of Staphylococcal & Streptococcal spp.
- Familiarity with diverse molecular diagnostic platforms
- LIMS experience. Validating reports through MOLIS or similar LIMS system.
- Experience working within the healthcare associated infection field and good working knowledge of antibiotic susceptibility testing and resistance mechanisms.
- Substantive (postdoctoral) experience in Public Health microbiology in reference and/or diagnostic settings.
- Demonstrable experience of laboratory quality systems, running services accredited to ISO15189 standard.
- Proven record of research in relevant areas including significant/relevant publications.
- Evidence of continuing professional development.
Skills, Capabilities and Behaviours
- Able to provide/receive highly complex information, negotiate and present to peers/others.
- Ability to negotiate on difficult and controversial issues including performance and change.
Benefits
- 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
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 12 essential criteria, which have been selected from the job description, and this will be in the form of a:
- Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
- 1000 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.
In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on the essential criteria:
- Relevant professional qualification: either full registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as Clinical Scientist, or an ACS Certificate of Attainment
- PhD in microbiology or a related discipline
- Familiarity with diverse molecular diagnostic platforms
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview and assessment
Please do not exceed 1000 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 to be confirmed to those successful at securing an interview.
Interview dates to be confirmed.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
This role is based at Colindale . Please note hybrid working is not available for this role.
Eligibility Criteria
External Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
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 consider 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/
Security Clearance Level Requirement
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. 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.
International Police check
If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and it could be time accrued over that period.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
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.
Careers website
Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
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Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Lisa Tweedie
- Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk
Further information
