UK Health Security Agency

Project Manager/ Scientific Lead

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

Project Manager/Scientific Lead

Grade 7 (Upper) - (National) £59,325 to £61,414 (Inner) £63,300 to £65,089

(Dependent on location)

UKHSA Porton Down/ UKHSA Colindale

Permanent Contract

Are you looking for a challenging and rewarding role in high containment microbiology? Do you have the skills and experience to lead a team of scientists in delivering cutting-edge diagnostic, research and development activities? If yes, then this is the opportunity for you!

Main duties of the job

We are seeking a Project Manager/Scientific Lead to join our High Containment Microbiology and Imaging department. You will oversee teams of scientists at Porton and Colindale, who work on a range of projects involving high-risk pathogens, such as Ebola, Marburg, Nipah and Lassa viruses. You will provide project management and scientific leadership for work at Containment Levels 3 and 4. You will also be responsible for ensuring project safety and quality, as well as managing resources, contracts and budgets.

This is a rare and exciting opportunity to join a world-class organisation that is at the forefront of public health science. You will be part of a dynamic and diverse team that is committed to protecting the health and wellbeing of the nation. You will also enjoy a competitive salary and benefits package, as well as opportunities for career development and progression.

Porton Down or Colindale - On-site

The successful candidate will be preferably based predominantly on-site at Porton, although there is some flexibility around candidate base.

*Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available.*

Working Pattern - Full Time

About us

Working for the UKHSA

For more information on the UKHSA please visit: UK Health Security Agency - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Benefits

  • 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 average employer contribution of 27%
  • Range of health and wellbeing support

Any move to UKHSA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at Childcare Choices | 30 Hours Free Childcare, Tax-Free Childcare and More | Help with Costs | GOV.UK

Details

Date posted

30 October 2023

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£59,325 to £65,089 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

UKHSA00807

Job locations

UKHSA Porton Down

Porton Down, Salisbury

SP4 0JG


Job description

Job responsibilities

Responsibilities section:

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

  • Using scientific knowledge and expertise, manage project planning, prioritising and delivery on a day-to-day basis.
  • Liaison with HCMI senior staff and other areas of the organisation as appropriate to ensure project delivery.
  • Line management and support of Team Leaders.
  • Management of project resources and budgets.
  • Ensure projects are delivered in accordance with regulatory requirements.
  • Management of customer relationships to ensure customer needs are met without detriment to UKHSA.
  • Prepare project proposals, reports and publications.
  • Assist senior colleagues in developing the scientific and technical direction of the area

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.

Please see full duties and responsibilities attached

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

  • PhD in appropriate discipline with considerable post-doctoral level experience (or equivalent) in an appropriate scientific discipline (e.g. clinical microbiology or virology).
  • Evidence of independent thought and scientific research.
  • Evidence of training and supervisory
  • Aptitude for managing people and assessing performance.
  • Experience dealing with customers
  • Experience in preparation of written reports and published work.

Desirable

  • Registration with HCPC as clinical scientist or biomedical scientist.
  • Experience with UK Home Office, HSE & DEFRA regulations, UK Anti-bioterrorism legislations and US Welfare & Select Agent regulations.

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 a face-to-face interview

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.

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. Candidates will also be asked to participate in a session where they will be required to prepare and deliver a 10-minute presentation to the panel. This will be followed by a question-and-answer segment. The presentation will be designed to assess each candidates experience in line with the requirements of the role. Full details will be provided prior to the interview.

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. A selection of the following behaviours will be assessed at the interview:

  • Seeing the big picture
  • Changing and improving
  • Making effective decisions
  • Leadership
  • Communicating and influencing
  • Working Together
  • Developing self and others
  • Managing a quality service

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 19th November 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: 24th November 2023

Interviews: w/c 4th December 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.

Security clearance level requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Security Clearance Check, which has minimum UK residency requirements. People working with government assets must complete Security Clearance checks.

For posts on UKHSA Civil Service terms and conditions, new entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. For existing Civil Servants and roles advertised across government, the rules of transfer apply, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive a 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

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.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Responsibilities section:

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

  • Using scientific knowledge and expertise, manage project planning, prioritising and delivery on a day-to-day basis.
  • Liaison with HCMI senior staff and other areas of the organisation as appropriate to ensure project delivery.
  • Line management and support of Team Leaders.
  • Management of project resources and budgets.
  • Ensure projects are delivered in accordance with regulatory requirements.
  • Management of customer relationships to ensure customer needs are met without detriment to UKHSA.
  • Prepare project proposals, reports and publications.
  • Assist senior colleagues in developing the scientific and technical direction of the area

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.

Please see full duties and responsibilities attached

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

  • PhD in appropriate discipline with considerable post-doctoral level experience (or equivalent) in an appropriate scientific discipline (e.g. clinical microbiology or virology).
  • Evidence of independent thought and scientific research.
  • Evidence of training and supervisory
  • Aptitude for managing people and assessing performance.
  • Experience dealing with customers
  • Experience in preparation of written reports and published work.

Desirable

  • Registration with HCPC as clinical scientist or biomedical scientist.
  • Experience with UK Home Office, HSE & DEFRA regulations, UK Anti-bioterrorism legislations and US Welfare & Select Agent regulations.

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 a face-to-face interview

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.

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. Candidates will also be asked to participate in a session where they will be required to prepare and deliver a 10-minute presentation to the panel. This will be followed by a question-and-answer segment. The presentation will be designed to assess each candidates experience in line with the requirements of the role. Full details will be provided prior to the interview.

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. A selection of the following behaviours will be assessed at the interview:

  • Seeing the big picture
  • Changing and improving
  • Making effective decisions
  • Leadership
  • Communicating and influencing
  • Working Together
  • Developing self and others
  • Managing a quality service

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 19th November 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: 24th November 2023

Interviews: w/c 4th December 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.

Security clearance level requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Security Clearance Check, which has minimum UK residency requirements. People working with government assets must complete Security Clearance checks.

For posts on UKHSA Civil Service terms and conditions, new entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. For existing Civil Servants and roles advertised across government, the rules of transfer apply, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive a 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

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.

Person Specification

Essential

Essential

  • PhD in appropriate discipline with considerable post-doctoral level experience (or equivalent) in an appropriate scientific discipline (e.g. clinical microbiology or virology).
  • Evidence of independent thought and scientific research.
  • Evidence of training and supervisory
  • Aptitude for managing people and assessing performance.
  • Experience dealing with customers
  • Experience in preparation of written reports and published work

Desirable

  • Registration with HCPC as clinical scientist or biomedical scientist.
  • Experience with UK Home Office, HSE & DEFRA regulations, UK Anti-bioterrorism legislations and US Welfare & "Select Agent" regulations.
Person Specification

Essential

Essential

  • PhD in appropriate discipline with considerable post-doctoral level experience (or equivalent) in an appropriate scientific discipline (e.g. clinical microbiology or virology).
  • Evidence of independent thought and scientific research.
  • Evidence of training and supervisory
  • Aptitude for managing people and assessing performance.
  • Experience dealing with customers
  • Experience in preparation of written reports and published work

Desirable

  • Registration with HCPC as clinical scientist or biomedical scientist.
  • Experience with UK Home Office, HSE & DEFRA regulations, UK Anti-bioterrorism legislations and US Welfare & "Select Agent" regulations.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

UK Health Security Agency

Address

UKHSA Porton Down

Porton Down, Salisbury

SP4 0JG


Employer's website

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

UK Health Security Agency

Address

UKHSA Porton Down

Porton Down, Salisbury

SP4 0JG


Employer's website

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

RPO Talent Partner

Nathan Marron

Nathan.Marron@reed.com

Details

Date posted

30 October 2023

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£59,325 to £65,089 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

UKHSA00807

Job locations

UKHSA Porton Down

Porton Down, Salisbury

SP4 0JG


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

UK Health Security Agency's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)