Senior Healthcare Scientist London, England
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About the job
Job summary
The Central Sequencing Laboratory (CSL) Team is recruiting a Senior Healthcare Scientist – Quality, Robotics and LIMS lead to take a leading role in the routine provision, delivery and development of genomic services for customers of CSL, and act as a lead specialist providing senior scientific support for laboratory development of Whole Genome Sequencing and the Sanger services. The Senior Healthcare Scientist will support the Unit Head, Deputy Unit Head and Laboratory Manager in:
- Provision of genomic services for CSL that meet agreed quality standards
- Promoting health & safety
- Promoting learning & development opportunities for staff members
- Contributing to UKHSA committees and working groups, as required
- Maintaining and developing national and international profile of section and unit
- Being the lead Senior Healthcare Scientist responsible for – Quality, Robotics and LIMS
Job description
As a Senior Healthcare Scientist, you will have line management responsibility for Healthcare Scientists and Healthcare Scientist Support Worker staff within the unit. They will also be responsible for the following duties/activities:
General:
- Supervise the daily workflows of NGS & Sanger services on a rotational basis, provide supervision of staff or persons seconded to the Unit
- Perform manual and automated laboratory techniques
- To provide senior scientific support for the CSL services, with a particular expertise and leadership in in LIMS and Robotics.
- To quality check and support the issuing of CSL results to service users
- To provide advice and prepare proposals that contribute to enhancing the effectiveness of the work and achieving unit objectives
- With the designated Laboratory Caldicott Guardian, Data Protection Officer and Security of Information Officer, to ensure confidentiality and conformity to the requirements of the Data Protection Act.
- To identify new and support existing income generation activities.
- To write, prepare, review and comply with standard documents and draft SOPs as required.
- To assess, initiate and monitor appropriate action when a situation may cause service delivery delay or failure
- To provide technical advice including describing highly complex information to users of CSL services
Management of Staff
To ensure, with others, efficient and effective management of technical, scientific, support workers and clerical staff including the management of day to day work across CSL, ensuring sufficient levels of competency in Robotics and LIMS are maintained as well as supporting a training programme
Quality
- To support the quality lead with activities for establishing, implementing and maintaining the quality management system (QMS)
- To deputise in terms of quality activities when absent
- To support in collating key performance indicators of the QMS
- Ensure the promotion of awareness for quality activities within the laboratory
- Ensure compliance with UKAS and other accreditation and certificate standards and help to maintain laboratory accreditation and help maintain other agreed national and international standards.
- To contribute to internal audit programmes and corrective actions.
- Contribute to internal and quality assurance programmes.
Financial management
- To assist the head and deputy head of CSL in the maintenance and development of the Laboratory service
- To participate in the business management of the Laboratory
- Participate as the lead Senior Healthcare Scientist for laboratory development in equipment procurement and development of business cases
Technical Services
- To maintain professional competence and be aware of relevant developments
- To be responsible for maintaining, reviewing and developing LIMS and Robotic services
- To review and develop LIMS and Robotics methodologies and programmes
- To ensure accurate and timely provision of laboratory results for release to users
- In consultation with appropriate Units to consider adoption of new and improved technical procedures.
- To have an expert understanding of WGS and Sanger based methodologies used in the unit
- Manage the unit workflow, including documentation and troubleshoot issues related to LIMS and Robotics
Management of Support Services and Equipment
- Be responsible for development of Robotics maintenance programme for CSL.
- To determine the requirements for new or replacement equipment, software and hardware.
- To be responsible for the acquisition of agreed equipment, software and hardware purchases
- To ensure the CSL equipment and services are maintained
- Support the development and maintenance of the Laboratory Information Management system
Strategy and Leadership
- To work with other staff to improve working practices.
- To provide effective scientific leadership particularly with respect to laboratory development
- Contribute to key unit and directorate plans and strategies
- Advise on future CSL, LIMS and Robotics developments
- To adopt new technology and quality innovations
Teaching
- To provide training leadership for staff of the Unit
- To report on unit training activities and to maintain training lab status
- To promote the personal and professional development of staff
- To ensure junior staff and assigned visitors or trainees are competent to carry out the tasks given to them
- To develop and supervise developmental projects
Information Technology
- To lead the development of laboratory information technology systems and databases as required
- To programme and support robotic equipment to improve service resilience
- To provide LIMS and Robotic ‘super user’ knowledge for the unit
- Manage the development of analytical tools and reporting of CSL results
- Manage the introduction of LIMS changes to accommodate new tests, efficient working and service improvements
Safety
- To ensure health, safety and welfare are afforded priority and to demonstrate commitment to health, safety and welfare of self, staff and visitors.
- Ensure relevant UKHSA health and safety policies and laboratory safety committee recommendations and actions are implemented.
- Ensure implementation of remedial actions resulting from safety inspections and audits
- To notify accidents, near misses, dangerous situations and shortcomings in health and safety via the appropriate management structure.
- To report staff sickness and carryout return to work interviews with staff members
- To escalate risks that cannot be controlled to the Unit Head, deputy Unit Head and laboratory manager.
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
Person specification
It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 1200 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the following criteria:
Essential
- Maintain CPD portfolio
- Educated to degree level in relevant subject i.e., microbiology, biological science, molecular biology
- Post-graduate degree in relevant subject i.e., microbiology or biological science (or equivalent experience)
- Extensive knowledge and experience in at least one of the specialist areas of the unit
- Substantive experience in Public Health genetic methods
- Good knowledge and experience of quality management systems and good working practices in this area
- Proven record of supporting LIMS and automation in relevant areas
- Able to provide/receive highly complex information, negotiate and present to peers/customers/others
- Ability to negotiate on difficult and controversial issues including performance and change
- Problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands
- Ability to analyse complex facts and situations and develop a range of options
- Ability to prioritise work in a timely manner
- Evidence of using technical experience to assess new and existing technologies and processes to innovate and initiate change in laboratory practice
- Ability to undertake evaluation of new Robotics to allow efficient service delivery
- Demonstrated capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly
- Ability to prioritise own work effectively and be able to direct activities of other. Experience of managing and motivation a team and reviewing performance of individuals
- Working knowledge of Microsoft office with intermediate keyboard skills
Desirable
- Relevant professional qualification i.e., registration with the health and care professional council (HCPC) as clinical scientist or Biomedical Scientist (Desirable)
- Member of IBMS
- Training and supervising a team
- Comprehensive experience of project principle techniques and tools
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%
Things you need to know
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. It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of no more than 1200 words that you give evidence and examples of the criteria required.
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.
Expected Timeline:
Advert close: 23:55hrs on 24th May 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: 2nd June 2023
Interviews: w/c 12 June 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 at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules This 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 the European 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 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: [email protected]. 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.
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 Basic Personnel Security Standard. People working with government assets must complete Basic Personnel Security Standard 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&C’s 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/
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
This 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 the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- 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
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
Recruitment team
