Skip to main content
Please wait, loading

Job summary

Main area
Pathogen Diagnostic Assurance Group
Grade
Civil Service: Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Contract
9 months (We have 4 positions available, All Fixed Term with the possibility to be made permanent. Fixed term contract to end 31st March 2025)
Hours
  • Full time
  • Part time
  • Job share
  • Flexible working
  • Home or remote working
37.5 hours per week
Job ref
919-EA-61392701-EXT
Employer
UK Health Security Agency
Employer type
Public (Non NHS)
Site
Remote - Homeworking
Town
Remote
Salary
£30,473 - £41,478 per annum, pro Rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
11/07/2024 23:59

Employer heading

UK Health Security Agency logo

Diagnostic Assurance Scientist

Civil Service: Higher Executive Officer (HEO)

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

The Pathogen Diagnostic Assurance Group (PDAG) contributes to the UK’s testing abilities to support the UK Government’s ongoing response to COVID-19 and other pathogens.

PDAG is a remote team responsible for assurance that assays being used in the UK can detect the variants or mutations of SARS CoV-2 and other variants/mutations of pathogens of strategic interest, which are in circulation. Currently the role focuses on molecular and antigen tests on the market but may extend to novel technologies in development. The post holder will be required to specialise in one of the following areas:

  • Molecular Reviews
  • Antigen Reviews
  • Evaluation Pipeline Review

Whilst this role focuses on delivering diagnostic assurance, the postholder will be expected to work closely with colleagues in other workstreams and offer advice and support. Due to the dynamic nature of the operating environment, duties and responsibilities may change at short notice and in response to the operation and strategic demands associated with the evolving mandate of PDAG.

Knowledge, experience and skills/techniques for project can include:-

  • Development, validation, or verification of Diagnostic assays within health sciences or IVD industry development
  • immunoassays and/or PCR,
  • Bioinformatics/molecular biology and/or protein/protein antigen/antibody interactions.
  • Regulatory/Quality experience

Main duties of the job

The main duties of the job are:

The post holder will be required to undertake the following activities:

  1. Evaluate and utilise a range of molecular, serological, and antigenic assays in support of diagnostic evaluation, ensuring targets are met according to agreed specifications and timelines.
  2. Independent working under the direction of the Line Manager to identify, and evaluate diagnostic technologies, where appropriate, and to ensure that the project operates to a high scientific standard using current methods.
  3. Participate in the supervision and training of junior staff allocated to the project in specific areas of expertise.
  4. Provide reports through collation of data using software and databases as necessary, to meet project targets.
  5. To perform any other duties required by the Line manager commensurate with grade.
  6. To ensure that the project team undertakes work in accordance with UKHSA’s Code of Safety Practice and to work within any Quality Systems that are applicable to the site.
  7. To fulfil the requirements of UKHSA Values and Behaviours and the Civil Service Code.
  8. To comply with all UKHSA policies and procedures.

Other

The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by the directorate.

The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation.

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

The successful applicants will join as a Scientist in the Pathogen Diagnostic Assurance Team providing serological/molecular/antigenic expertise to deliver scientific and technical projects.

The post holders, being key members of the PDAG, will evaluate commercial assays and ensure assurance of diagnostic assays for use in UKHSA or NHS diagnostic labs as well as training and surge capacity in the event of an outbreak. They will work concurrently on projects to ensure the scientific strategy of the department, and group are met, incorporating with their Line Manager of the constraints of time, cost, and quality.

The post holders will be expected to be flexible to the demands of the project, have excellent communication skills and use their technical experience to ensure the project(s) worked on are done so effectively.

Professional development

You should pursue a programme of continuous professional development in accordance with any relevant professional registration or statutory requirements, while maintaining appropriate awareness of service provider requirements.

Essential Criteria:

  • Degree in relevant subject e.g., Biomedical Science Microbiology/Virology/Molecular Biology/Immunology or equivalent relevant experience
  • Substantive experience of microbiological diagnostic test development, evaluation, or validation for the diagnosis of bacteria and viruses. e.g., real time PCR, ELISA, IFA, LFD
  • Experience of working with clinical samples and diagnostic testing
  • Substantive experience in training junior staff and working within and across teams
  • Demonstrates experience of having work experience within a regulated environment (e.g., ISO 9001; GLP, UKAS).
  • An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems.

Desirable criteria

  • Experience or understanding of working at ACDP CL2 and/or CL3 with a range of microbial pathogens including culture, nucleic acid extraction, antigen preparation.
  • Track record of publications and submitting proposals to promote and develop research areas.
  • Experience or understanding of LIMS systems for patient sample management including data analysis and queries on samples, sample types and tests.

Selection Process Details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

Success profiles 

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

  • CV/ Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
  •  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 and Statement of Suitability will be marked together

Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on   Substantive experience of microbiological diagnostic test development, evaluation, or validation for the diagnosis of bacteria and viruses. e.g., real time PCR, ELISA, IFA, LFD

 Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered.

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

You will be invited to a (single) remote interview

Behaviours and technical experience, will be tested at interview.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

  • Changing and Improving
  • Communicating and influencing
  • Working Together
  • Managing a Quality Service

 Interviews will be held week commencing w/c TBC. 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.

Location information 

The successful candidate will be a contractual homeworker.

Eligibility Criteria

This vacancy is open to all Civil Service employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) who were appointed on merit following a fair and open competition; or were appointed to a permanent post through an exception in the Civil Service Commissioners' rules. Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return. 

Security Clearance Level Requirement 

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

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 / 5 / 10 years as the role requires Security Check (SC) .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.

Working for the Civil Service:

The Civil Service Code sets 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/Application form & Statement of Suitability

Essential criteria
  • CV/Application form & Statement of Suitability

Behaviour

Essential criteria
  • Changing and Improving
  • Communicating and influencing
  • Working Together
  • Managing a Quality Service

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
Elizabeth Amaihian
Job title
Recruitment Support
Email address
[email protected]
Additional information

For queries relating to your application please contact [email protected], for queries relating to the role please contact [email protected]

Apply online nowAlert me to similar vacancies