• Job Description

  Req#: K9919-25-0227?language=en&page=990&sort=publicationDateDesc

  Job summary

  UKHSA provides microbiology services through a network of regional laboratories and central reference laboratories. UKHSA commissions its diagnostic Microbiology service for the Yorkshire & Humber region from Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT).

  The post holder will work as part of the UKHSA employed team based in the Leeds Regional Laboratory based at the Centre for Laboratory Medicine at the St James University Hospital, providing microbiology support for the laboratory based CDRN surveillance activities. The Leeds Regional Laboratory is the national laboratory for the Clostridium difficile Ribotyping Network (CDRN) in England. UKHSA is currently implementing a plan to introduce new technologies and services, such as Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) to the Clostridium difficile services it currently provides. This role will support the Lead Scientist in the CDRN unit in delivering this plan.

  The post holder will be required to support the emergency response capability of the Leeds Laboratory should this be required and also to work with colleagues to provide a laboratory liaison service to the Yorkshire & Humber Health Protection teams.

  Main duties of the job

  o To work as part of the laboratory team, providing a high-quality Clostridium difficile ribotyping service to provide patients and clinicians with the highest level of diagnosis, treatment and surveillance.o To assist the Lead Scientist in the development and transition to a whole genome sequencing (WGS) service for CDRNoTo provide expert technical support for the specialist work undertaken within the laboratory in accordance with UKHSA and laboratory policies and procedureso The post holder would be expected to assist in any UKHSA coordinated response or activity of a national/international nature, e.g., a Bioterrorism incident or a major disease outbreak.oTo participate in Quality Assurance and Quality Control activities and assist the department in maintaining ISO 15189 accreditation from UKAS (UK Accreditation Service).o To participate in the provision of out-of-hours services should these be requiredo To provide support for any PH initiatives undertaken in Leeds UKHSAo Responsible for organising and controlling own workload ensuring deadlines are observed and duties performed efficiently.o Provide cover as directed by Line Manager for other members of the team in their absence and assist with their workloads as necessary.o Act independently on day-to-day issues and to use own judgement within the autonomy and limitations of the post

  About us

  We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.

  UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.

  Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

  Details

  Date posted

  10 June 2025

  Pay scheme

  Agenda for change

  Band

  Band 6

  Salary

  £37,338 to £44,962 a year Per annum, Pro rata

  Contract

  Permanent

  Working pattern

  Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working

  Reference number

  919-HM-300529-EXTA

  Job locations

  Leeds

  Centre for Laboratory Medicine, St James University Hospital

  Leeds

  LS9 7TF

  
  

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.

  Stage 1 Sift:

  Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.

  If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview.

  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 (competancy based)

  You will be invited to a single face to face interview

  Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview.

  A test scenario will also be given to assess your technical skills, details will be provided during the interview.

  Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

  Eligibility Criteria

  Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).

  Location

  This role is being offered as lab working based at Leeds, Centre for Laboratory Medicine, St James University Hospital. Please note hybrid working is not available for this role.

  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.

  Job description

  Job responsibilities

  This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.

  Stage 1 Sift:

  Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.

  If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview.

  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 (competancy based)

  You will be invited to a single face to face interview

  Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview.

  A test scenario will also be given to assess your technical skills, details will be provided during the interview.

  Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

  Eligibility Criteria

  Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).

  Location

  This role is being offered as lab working based at Leeds, Centre for Laboratory Medicine, St James University Hospital. Please note hybrid working is not available for this role.

  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.

  Person Specification

  Qualifications

  Essential

  • Educated to degree level in an appropriate medical / microbiological/biological science or equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level in a specialist area e.g., molecular biology
  • IBMS Specialist Diploma in Medical Microbiology. (Please note that this qualification is not fulfilled by your HCPC registration or your degree)
  • Registration with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) as Biomedical Scientist

  Knowledge and Experience

  Essential

  • Experience in diagnostic bacteriology and bacterial culture techniques
  • Experience of diagnostic molecular biology testing, molecular methods including real time PCR and sequencing
  • Experience of working in a regulated environment with quality systems and knowledge of UKAS/ISO
  • Experience of evaluating new techniques/equipment
  • Experience of using computerised data systems.

  Person Specification

  Qualifications

  Essential

  • Educated to degree level in an appropriate medical / microbiological/biological science or equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level in a specialist area e.g., molecular biology
  • IBMS Specialist Diploma in Medical Microbiology. (Please note that this qualification is not fulfilled by your HCPC registration or your degree)
  • Registration with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) as Biomedical Scientist

  Knowledge and Experience

  Essential

  • Experience in diagnostic bacteriology and bacterial culture techniques
  • Experience of diagnostic molecular biology testing, molecular methods including real time PCR and sequencing
  • Experience of working in a regulated environment with quality systems and knowledge of UKAS/ISO
  • Experience of evaluating new techniques/equipment
  • Experience of using computerised data systems.

  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).

  UK Registration

  Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

  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).

  UK Registration

  Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

  Employer details

  Employer name

  UK Health Security Agency

  Address

  Leeds

  Centre for Laboratory Medicine, St James University Hospital

  Leeds

  LS9 7TF

  
  

  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

  Leeds

  Centre for Laboratory Medicine, St James University Hospital

  Leeds

  LS9 7TF

  
  

  Employer's website

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

• About the company

  National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly-funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). The founding principles were that services should be comprehensive, universal and free at the point of delivery—a health service based on clinical need, not ability to pay. Each service provides a comprehensive range of health services, free at the point of use for people ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom apart from dental treatment and optical care.

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