Main area Biomedical Scientist Grade Civil Service: Executive Officer (EO) Contract Fixed term: 23 months (FTA from 22/8/2025 to 27/9/2027) Hours
* Full time
* Part time
* Job share
* Flexible working
37.5 hours per week Job ref 919-LT-301320-EXT
Employer UK Health Security Agency Employer type Public (Non NHS) Site Colindale (London) Scientific Campus Town London Salary £31,224 - £36,176 per annum, pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 04/05/2025 23:59
Biomedical Scientist and MSc Trainee
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.
Main duties of the job
The Public Health Microbiology Directorate, Reference Microbiology laboratories in UKHSA Colindale, Bacteriology Reference Department (BRD) and the Virus Reference Department (VRD) are national and international reference centres for a wide range of bacterial and viral infections. We receive clinical samples and/or bacterial/viral isolates from public health departments, National Health Service and commercial laboratories across the UK and internationally for specialist testing, characterisation and susceptibility testing.
The positions are training posts in the Bacteriology Reference Department and the Virus Reference Departments for a HCPC registered Biomedical Scientist who undertook their IBMS Competence Portfolio/undergraduate training in UKHSA Colindale. The role will involve three-month rotations in a selection of units within BRD or VRD and one three-month project within BRD or VRD. The training will also include attendance and completion of a MSc in Biomedical Science (Medical Microbiology) at Queen Mary’s, University of London (QMUL).
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Main Duties and Responsibilities
* To perform laboratory tests and procedures applicable to the training position HCPC registered biomedical scientist.
* To attend the MSc course and complete studies
* To maintain equipment, including calibration and safety checks.
* To facilitate the day to day running of the laboratory by ensuring the availability of stocks and reagents
* To assist in the instruction and training of other staff and visitors, and to ensure compliance with safety and quality systems.
* Any other duties within the framework of the job summary.
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.
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.
* Bachelor of Biomedical Science or equivalent
* HCPC Registration as a Biomedical Scientist before or on commencement of employment.
* IBMS Certificate of Competence completion at UKHSA Colindale
* Problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands
* Excellent time management skills with the ability to re-prioritise
* Ability to work on own initiative and organise own workload with minimal supervision working to tight and often changing timescales
Selection Process Details:
This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours, Ability, Experience and Technical skills.
Stage 1: Application & Sift
* Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
* 500 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.
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
Pile 'meets all essential criteria' will be taken through to shortlisting,
Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on these criteria:
* Bachelor of Biomedical Science or equivalent
* HCPC Registration as a Biomedical Scientist before or on commencement of employment.
* IBMS Certificate of Competence completion at UKHSA Colindale
Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications / large amount of successful candidates.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview and assessment.
Please do not exceed 500 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.
Stage 2: Interview
You will be invited to a single remote interview.
Behaviours, technical skills and ability will be tested at interview.
Interviews will be held week commencing 16th June. Please note, these dates are subject to change.
Eligibility Criteria
External: open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
Location
This role is based at Colindale. Please note hybrid working is not available for this role.
Security Clearance Level Requirement
Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.
This role is being offered as office/lab based at our Scientific Campus in Colindale.
Person specification
Application form and statement of suitability
* Application form and statement of suitability
Behaviours
* Seeing the big picture
* Communicating and influencing
* Working together
* Delivering at pace
IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ
Your application may be rejected and/or you may be subject to disciplinary action if evidence of plagiarism is detected.
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.
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 privileged 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).
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.
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.
Reasonable Adjustments
The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone.
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.
Internal Fraud check
If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant’s personal details will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub.
Security Vetting
Please check the Security Clearance needed for the role and follow the link for more information:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels
Name Lisa Tweedie Job title Resourcing Support Officer Email address Lisa.Tweedie@ukhsa.gov.uk Additional information
For additional information relating to the role, please contact Chris Gallimore, Chris.Gallimore@ukhsa.gov.uk
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