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Job summary

Main area
Laboratory Informatics
Grade
Civil Service: Senior Executive Officer (SEO)
Contract
Permanent
Hours
  • Full time
  • Part time
  • Job share
  • Flexible working
Job ref
919-IS-308317-EXT
Employer
UK Health Security Agency
Employer type
Public (Non NHS)
Site
Hybrid/Colindale
Town
Colindale
Salary
£42,716 - £48,068 per annum, pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
12/07/2024 23:59

Employer heading

UK Health Security Agency logo

Data Manager (Laboratory Informatics)

Civil Service: Senior Executive Officer (SEO)

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.

Job overview

UKHSA’s Bacteriology Reference Department (BRD) is a national and international reference centre for a wide range of bacterial infections. We receive clinical samples and bacterial isolates from public health departments, National Health Service and commercial laboratories across the UK and internationally for specialist testing, bacterial characterisation and susceptibility testing.

The Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections (AMRHAI) Reference Unit is the national reference laboratory for investigation of antibiotic resistance in, and characterization of, healthcare associated bacterial pathogens.  AMRHAI seeks to define outbreaks and identify transmission pathways using established and developmental phenotypic and genotypic methods to type isolates, to identify biomarkers associated with virulence, “fitness” and such and to determine their susceptibility to relevant antibiotics.  AMRHAI undertakes surveillance, advises on outbreak investigations, antimicrobial agents that may be appropriate for therapy, and on any public health risk.  The Unit also provides identification service for difficult to identify bacteria and from culture negative clinical samples; information and advice on infection control issues; investigation of healthcare- and community-associated infection, aspects of laboratory safety and other related matters.

 

 

Main duties of the job

The postholder shall lead the development and management of laboratory information systems within AMRHAI including LIMS, MOLIS, WHONet, workload analysis, and business intelligence. The postholder shall provide data outputs from various sources in the unit, assist with service development work, including through the use of IT and informatics skills, facilitate computer-assisted work processes and greater use of automation, including the integration of whole genome sequencing into service delivery. 

 

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.  

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

 

•    To be responsible for the development and management of information systems within the AMRHAI Reference Unit including LIMS, MOLIS, WHONet, workload analysis, and business intelligence. 
•    To advise the AMRHAI management team on the development and implementation of information systems as described above. 
•    To represent AMRHAI on WGS working groups, other IT-related committees including the groups for MOLIS and other IT/LIMS issues. 
•    To advise AMRHAI staff on data handling and analysis issues e.g., building data extraction queries, linkage of data. 
•    To produce and edit data for AMRHAI reports. 
•    To lead or participate in the development and deployment of databases and informatics tools within the Unit. 
•    To facilitate introduction of computer-assisted work processes, greater use of automation, and LIMS aspects of integrating whole genome sequencing, or other pipelines into service delivery. 
•    To be responsible for training staff in the use of departmental databases (including MOLIS superusers), applications, and other software tools or, where appropriate, to define training needs including his/her own and identify suitable courses. 
•    Ensure all AMRHAI information systems adhere to UKHSA Security of Information policy and all Caldicott regulations. 
•    To prepare papers and reports, and present work at appropriate meetings. 
•    Any other duties within the framework of the job summary. 

Quality 
In collaboration with AMRHAI management and the Quality Team, to: 

•    Maintain a high standard of work, and appraise and contribute to developing the service of the unit so that service delivery is safe, effective and follows best practice 
•    Contribute to audits within the unit as scheduled by the Quality Manager 
•    Take every opportunity to suggest quality improvements. 

Information Technology 
•    To contribute to the development of information technology systems and databases as required, including appropriate databases. 
•    To use software packages appropriate for word processing, presentations, data analysis, as well as specialist bioinformatics packages as required. 
•    To liaise with LIMS super users and DAS colleagues on the introduction of new tests and to facilitate the authorisation of reports at technical and medical level on the MOLIS database
•    To ensure that websites and webpages referring to UKHSA reference services are developed and regularly maintained. 
•    To undertake risk assessment for all new and existing work and to ensure that controls are implemented, monitored and maintained. 

Safety 
•    To ensure attendance of self on safety training courses as required in the UKHSA Health and Safety Training Policy and other safety policies as appropriate. 

Essential criteria

You will be assessed on the below 4 essential criteria, which have been selected from the Job Description:

•   Expertise in design, building and querying databases (MS Access and at least one other major Relational Database Management System e.g., postgreSQL, SQL Server, Oracle).
•    Knowledge of information technologies and biostatistics 
•    Experience of working in and an understanding of the IT requirements of a reference or clinical microbiology laboratory.
•    Ability to communicate information to all grades of staff in an accurate and fluent manner.

Desirable criteria

•    Knowledge of data security, information governance and confidentiality issues.
•    Experience in bioinformatics 

Selection Process:  
This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours/Strengths/Ability/ Experience/Technical skills.

Stage 1: Application & Sift  
 You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the above listed 4 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of  

  • a CV/ Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application) 
  • A 1000 word Statement of Suitability.  

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.  

The CV / Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together, and you must pass both to move forward to interview.

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

 Please do not exceed 1000 wordsWe 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.   

  The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

•    Managing a Quality Service
•    Changing and Improving
•    Working Together
•    Delivering at Pace

There will be a Presentation - details will be provided prior to interview. 

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. 

Location information  

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 be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month) working at UKHSA Colindale, London.

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

Working for the Civil Service 

TheCivil Service Codesets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.  
 
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles.  

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.  

It’s important to note that there are currently exceptions to applications being considered if your conviction relates to any of the following:  

  • life sentences  

  • arson  

  • sexual offences  

  • hate and terror offences  

Some departments will also consider the specific offence against the nature of the business, i.e., a conviction for fraud may rule you out for a finance role.  

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 

Starting salary 

Entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.   

The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase.   

Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.  

For further details please refer to the Information Sheet - Starting Salaries & Benefits attachment .

Person specification

CV and Statement of Suitability

Essential criteria
  • CV and Statement of Suitability

Behaviour

Essential criteria
  • Managing a Quality Service
  • Changing and Improving
  • Working Together
  • Delivering at Pace

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Purple SpaceApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyAge positiveImproving working livesMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerThe Employers Network for Equality & Inclusion (enei) is the UK's leading employer network covering all aspects of equality and inclusion issues in the workplace.Carer Confident -AccomplishedHappy to Talk Flexible Working

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Irene Scahill
Job title
Resourcing Support
Email address
[email protected]
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