Laboratory Manager

We are looking for an experienced Laboratory Manager to join The Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory (RIPL).
This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in protecting the health security of the United Kingdom. The Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory (RIPL) is the front-line diagnostic laboratory for the detection of the Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers (Ebola, Lassa, CCHF, Marburg) and biothreat agents including Bacillus anthracis and Francisella tularensis. RIPL provides a 24/7 on-call service for the diagnosis of VHFs to ensure patients suspected of infection are identified rapidly and managed appropriately in order to prevent transmission within the UK.
RIPL also provides the UK’s clinical diagnostic service for rare, imported infections and difficult to diagnose infections such as vector-borne viruses, Rickettsiae and a range of ACDP Hazard Group 3 bacteria.
RIPL is also the provider of the UK’s Leptospira acute diagnostic service and the Lyme disease specialist unit diagnostic service.
RIPL is UKAS ISO15189(2022) accredited and holds approval to provide IBMS registration and Virology specialist portfolios.
The portfolio of work encompasses testing for high-consequence infections, routine diagnostic services, specialist testing for difficult to diagnose infections, and work with external partners such as APHA to ensure access to diagnostics for infections of national public health importance., The postholder will be responsible for the day to day running and management of RIPL services. They will be a senior HCPC registered biomedical scientist and will hold an MSc or higher in virology, bacteriology or a related bioscience.
The postholder will be a member of the RIPL Senior Management Team and will be responsible for:
+ leading delivery of the laboratory diagnostic services to provide high quality analyses which meet clinical and scientific requirements, in accordance with UKHSA policies and procedures and in line with the relevant accreditation schemes
+ overseeing the day-to-day management of laboratory functions including training, information technology, laboratory quality management, risk management, service development, and research
+ providing support for operational management of UKHSA Porton Laboratories, in conjunction with other site Laboratory Managers, Head of Operations, RIPL Unit Head and the Porton Site Management teams.
+ deputising for the Operations Manager when required
+ in partnership with the Unit Head and the RIPL clinical team, to provide vision, leadership and direction to the Laboratory, and to lead in strategic development, including identification, prioritisation of, and support for specific service developments and research areas
Continued below, + ensuring the laboratory is licensed and compliant with relevant legislation including the Specified Animal Pathogens Order, ATCSA Schedule 5, and the Human Tissue Act (2004)
+ working with the Diagnostics Evaluations and Innovations Scientific Lead and development team staff linked to the Laboratory to ensure that RIPL maintains current capabilities effectively and is able to respond appropriately to incidents such as outbreaks or identification of emerging pathogens
+ providing support as needed for a UKHSA coordinated incident response, or to activity of a national/international nature, e.g. a bioterrorism incident or a major disease outbreak.
+ liaising with other UKHSA microbiology laboratories (e.g. High Containment Microbiology, relevant Colindale laboratories) as needed
+ liaising with NHS and private laboratories as required to provide a high quality frontline diagnostic service for patients in the UK
+ liaising with other external laboratories (e.g. APHA, international/research partners) to support health security strengthening activities as required
+ RIPL is a WHO collaborating laboratory and the post-holder will cooperate with the clinical leads in delivering support requested through WHO.
+ providing technical support for other laboratories (UKHSA and external), where appropriate, in developing laboratory networks and project groups
The postholder will:
+ take responsibility for acquisition and stock management of consumables.
+ have responsibility for the acquisition, maintenance and use of equipment, including maintaining the inventory/asset register.
+ oversee local site services in the provision of maintenance, engineering and structural services to the laboratory.
+ be required to oversee equipment requirements, including monitoring performance and maintenance
+ determine requirements for new or replacement equipment and liaise with senior colleagues to ensure equipment is updated and replaced as needed
+ ensure Laboratory Information Management Systems are appropriately managed to support the diagnostic, analytical, epidemiological and administrative needs of the service.
This is not an exhaustive list please see Job description document for full list of duties., This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your qualifications, knowledge and experience, skills and abilities outlined in the essential criteria.
You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 9 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of:
+ Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
+ 1250 word Statement of Suitability.
Your application and statement of suitability will be marked together.
Please note: The system will allow you to write up to 1500 words but please do not exceed 1250 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 face to face interview.
Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview
There will be a Presentation- details to be confirmed to those invited to 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 Porton. 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).
Security Clearance Level Requirement
Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.
This role is based at Porton. If based at one of our scientific locations 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.
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.
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/
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.

Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
+ UK nationals
+ nationals of the Republic of Ireland
+ nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
+ individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
+ Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

+ Degree in an appropriate medical/microbiological/biological science discipline.
+ MSc or higher qualification in an appropriate medical / microbiological/biological science or equivalent experience.
+ Registration with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) as Biomedical Scientist.
+ Significant postgraduate practical, technical and theoretical experience in Medical Microbiology and Medical Laboratory Sciences.
+ Extensive knowledge and expertise in various managerial fields, including Finance, HR, business, project management, planning, leadership, procurement etc.
+ In depth working knowledge and competency in laboratory bench areas eg serology and molecular biology as appropriate.
+ Sound knowledge of common IT programs, LIMS systems and excellent keyboard and IT skills.
+ Thorough knowledge of UK Laboratory Health & Safety legislation and compliance.
+ Experience of Quality Systems, laboratory accreditation and compliance for clinical diagnostic laboratories.

+ 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%