Lead Clinical Scientist, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus Section

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., 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., 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.

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)

+ 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., + 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

+ 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%, 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.