Job responsibilities
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:
- Carry out, and where appropriate drive forward, a range of virology and molecular biology activities to deliver diagnostic services and associated assay development, both independently and as part of a team
- Participate in work carried out at high containment (CL3 and CL4), subject to satisfactory completion of the HCM containment training portfolio
- Maintain awareness of relevant developments in diagnostic virology and to assist the department in identifying, evaluating and adapting new technologies and methods where appropriate
Security Clearance Level Requirement:
This role will require full UK security clearance and you should have resided in the UK for the past 5 years. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed.
The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.
See full job description attached for full list of duties and responsibilities.
Essential Criteria:
It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 1250 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the following criteria:
Essential
- Degree or equivalent in a relevant subject (e.g. BSc Virology/Microbiology/Immunology/Molecular Biology/Biomedical Science)
- Relevant postgraduate qualification (e.g. MSc or equivalent in Virology/Microbiology/Molecular Biology/Immunology)
- Experience working in a diagnostic or research laboratory and of working to laboratory quality standards
- Experience working at ACDP Containment Level 3 and/or 4
- Experience working in Class III Microbiological Safety Cabinets or Flexible Film Isolators
- Experience of methods relevant to diagnostic virology (e.g. cell and virus culture, PCR and/or serology)
- This role will require full UK security clearance and you should have resided in the UK for the past 5 years. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed.
Selection process details
STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT:
You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed in line with the advertised essential criteria please do provide evidence of how you meet this.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview.
STAGE 2 INTERVIEW
This competition will involve an interview by video.
As part of the process, candidates will be invited to interview which will involve an in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification.
Your Statement of Suitability should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria (outlined in the person specification section).
You will also be asked to provide information within the Employer/ Activity history section of the application form. This is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV, setting out your career history.
The Success Profiles framework will be used to assess and recruit the most suitable candidate. The following behaviours and strengths will be used at the interview:
- Changing and Improving
- Working Together
- Managing a Quality Service
- Delivering at Pace
Strengths:
Catalyst, Disciplined, Efficient, Focussed, Inclusive, Improver, Mediator, Organiser, Precise, Preventer, Problem Solver, Relationship Builder, Resilient, Team Player
Expected Timeline:
Advert close: 23:55hrs on 22nd October 2023 unfortunately, late applications will not be considered. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Shortlist: 27th October 2023
Interviews: w/c 6th November 2023
Please note these dates could be subject to change.
Eligibility Criteria
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
Nationality requirements
Appointments to roles within UKHSA will be made in accordance with the Civil Service nationality rules. These can be found athttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rulesThis job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- Nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of theEuropean Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
- Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
- Certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
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 embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.
Please Note
This role is to be appointed under Civil Service Terms & Conditions. Full details on the T&Cs are found https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/
Are you already a civil servant, or employed by a Civil Service Commission accredited public body? Please state home department on your application form.
Do you meet the nationality requirements for this post? https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/
Complaint process:
The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email:Complaints1@ukhsa.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website.
