What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Public Health Microbiology position at UK Health Security Agency?
Location
This role is being offered as hybrid working based at one of our lab locations, scientific campus locations or London headquarters . We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's labs/scientific campus or office.
About The Job
Job summary
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) prepares for and responds to infectious diseases, and environmental hazards, to keep all our communities safe, save lives and protect livelihoods.
The UKHSA is responsible for protecting every member of every community from the impact of infectious diseases, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents and other health threats. We provide intellectual, scientific and operational leadership at national and local level, as well as on the global stage, to make the nation health secure.
We are a system leader for health security; taking action internationally to strengthen global health security; providing trusted advice to government and the public; and reducing health inequalities. As the nation’s expert national health security agency, the UKHSA works to:
This is a critical role which supports the delivery of the primary UKHSA functions of reducing harm from infectious diseases, preparing for future health security hazards, and strengthening health security capability. The post-holder must ensure that the UKHSA Directorate of Public Health Microbiology is at the forefront of scientific innovation, and develop the core UKHSA laboratory network, working closely with the NHS, academia and industry to strengthen public health microbiology.
Job Description
This role spans the country with accountability for the microbiology laboratory functions in Colindale, Porton Down, Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Manchester and York. The work of the UKHSA laboratory network is to undertake surveillance, research, and support effective control programmes and interventions, all within the wider UKHSA objective of significantly reducing the public health burden from infectious diseases
The Director will also oversee a range of standing contracts for laboratory services commissioned from the NHS and undertake liaison with the NHS and other laboratory providers in relation to the delivery of day-to-day laboratory services, and the generation of additional capacity to support surge operations in response to small- and large-scale public health incidents. In this respect, the Director must have a track record of operational delivery.
The Director will support the research activities of the UKHSA, and ensure UKHSA is a trusted partner in the review, development, and deployment of new public health tests and other scientific developments. This influence will also extend to the review and assurance around the employment of microbiology standards and quality practice and given that the UKHSA operates laboratories at the highest levels of containment..
A full list of key responsibilities can be found in the Candidate Pack.
As one of its most senior leaders, you will also be a visible role model for the Civil Service Leadership behaviours. We expect all our senior leaders to be:
To be successful in this role, you will need to be qualified in microbiology, public health or other relevant discipline with inclusion in the GMC Specialist Register or qualified to an essential of PhD level (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline. In addition, you also need to be able to demonstrate your capability and potential against full criteria detailed in the Job Description.
Benefits
Selection process details
Sarah Pittam, a Civil Service Commissioner, will chair the process.
You will receive an acknowledgment of your application through the online process.
The Panel will then assess your application to select those demonstrating the best fit with the role by considering the evidence you have provided against the criteria set out in the ‘Person Specification’ section. Failure to address any or all of these may affect your application.
Interviews are expected to be held on 3rd and 4th April 2025 and all shortlisted candidates will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible thereafter.
How To Apply
Perrett Laver have been appointed to support with the recruitment for this post. For details of the appointment, including further information about the job description, person specification and how to apply, please visit: Perrett Laver: Director of Public Health Microbiology or https://candidates.perrettlaver.com/vacancies/ quoting reference number 7706.
For an informal and confidential discussion about the role, please contact Annabel Holt on 44(0)20 7340 6219 or via email at annabel.holt@perrettlaver.com .
The closing date for applications is 09:00 GMT Monday 17th February 2025.
If you require any reasonable adjustments to assist you in the selection process, please advise us of these so that we can make appropriate arrangements.
Should you require access to these documents in alternative formats, please contact Sarah Snelling on sarah.snelling@perrettlaver.com .
If you have comments that would support us to improve access to documentation, or our application processes more generally, please do not hesitate to contact us via accessibility@perrettlaver.com .
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including 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.
You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/
Security Clearance Level Requirement
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 5 / 10 years as the role requires Security Check (SC) / Developed Vetting (DV) clearance. UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the 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.
This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise.
As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.
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 security 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:
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
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) .
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.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window) .
Apply and further information
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
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: Complaints@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: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/
https://perrettlaver.com/ukhsa-director-of-public-health-microbiology/
This role is being offered as hybrid working based at one of our lab locations, scientific campus locations or London headquarters . We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's labs/scientific campus or office.
About The Job
Job summary
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) prepares for and responds to infectious diseases, and environmental hazards, to keep all our communities safe, save lives and protect livelihoods.
The UKHSA is responsible for protecting every member of every community from the impact of infectious diseases, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents and other health threats. We provide intellectual, scientific and operational leadership at national and local level, as well as on the global stage, to make the nation health secure.
We are a system leader for health security; taking action internationally to strengthen global health security; providing trusted advice to government and the public; and reducing health inequalities. As the nation’s expert national health security agency, the UKHSA works to:
- Prevent: anticipate threats to health and help build the nation’s readiness, defences and health security
- Detect: use cutting edge environmental and biological surveillance to proactively detect and monitor infectious diseases and threats to health
- Analyse: use world-class science and data analytics to assess and continually monitor threats to health, identifying how best to control and mitigate the risks
- Respond: take rapid, collaborative and effective actions nationally and locally to mitigate threats to health when they materialise
- Lead: lead strong and sustainable global, national, regional and local partnerships designed to save lives, protect the nation from public health threats, and reduce inequalities
This is a critical role which supports the delivery of the primary UKHSA functions of reducing harm from infectious diseases, preparing for future health security hazards, and strengthening health security capability. The post-holder must ensure that the UKHSA Directorate of Public Health Microbiology is at the forefront of scientific innovation, and develop the core UKHSA laboratory network, working closely with the NHS, academia and industry to strengthen public health microbiology.
Job Description
This role spans the country with accountability for the microbiology laboratory functions in Colindale, Porton Down, Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Manchester and York. The work of the UKHSA laboratory network is to undertake surveillance, research, and support effective control programmes and interventions, all within the wider UKHSA objective of significantly reducing the public health burden from infectious diseases
The Director will also oversee a range of standing contracts for laboratory services commissioned from the NHS and undertake liaison with the NHS and other laboratory providers in relation to the delivery of day-to-day laboratory services, and the generation of additional capacity to support surge operations in response to small- and large-scale public health incidents. In this respect, the Director must have a track record of operational delivery.
The Director will support the research activities of the UKHSA, and ensure UKHSA is a trusted partner in the review, development, and deployment of new public health tests and other scientific developments. This influence will also extend to the review and assurance around the employment of microbiology standards and quality practice and given that the UKHSA operates laboratories at the highest levels of containment..
A full list of key responsibilities can be found in the Candidate Pack.
As one of its most senior leaders, you will also be a visible role model for the Civil Service Leadership behaviours. We expect all our senior leaders to be:
- Inspiring – about our work and its future
- Confident – in our engagement with others
- Empowering – to allow our teams to deliver.
To be successful in this role, you will need to be qualified in microbiology, public health or other relevant discipline with inclusion in the GMC Specialist Register or qualified to an essential of PhD level (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline. In addition, you also need to be able to demonstrate your capability and potential against full criteria detailed in the Job Description.
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 employer contribution of 28.97% when the role is taken up on Civil Service T&Cs.
Selection process details
Sarah Pittam, a Civil Service Commissioner, will chair the process.
You will receive an acknowledgment of your application through the online process.
The Panel will then assess your application to select those demonstrating the best fit with the role by considering the evidence you have provided against the criteria set out in the ‘Person Specification’ section. Failure to address any or all of these may affect your application.
Interviews are expected to be held on 3rd and 4th April 2025 and all shortlisted candidates will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible thereafter.
How To Apply
Perrett Laver have been appointed to support with the recruitment for this post. For details of the appointment, including further information about the job description, person specification and how to apply, please visit: Perrett Laver: Director of Public Health Microbiology or https://candidates.perrettlaver.com/vacancies/ quoting reference number 7706.
For an informal and confidential discussion about the role, please contact Annabel Holt on 44(0)20 7340 6219 or via email at annabel.holt@perrettlaver.com .
The closing date for applications is 09:00 GMT Monday 17th February 2025.
If you require any reasonable adjustments to assist you in the selection process, please advise us of these so that we can make appropriate arrangements.
Should you require access to these documents in alternative formats, please contact Sarah Snelling on sarah.snelling@perrettlaver.com .
If you have comments that would support us to improve access to documentation, or our application processes more generally, please do not hesitate to contact us via accessibility@perrettlaver.com .
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including 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.
You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/
Security Clearance Level Requirement
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 5 / 10 years as the role requires Security Check (SC) / Developed Vetting (DV) clearance. UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the 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.
This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise.
As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.
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 security 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
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
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) .
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.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window) .
Apply and further information
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Annabel Holt
- Email : annabel.holt@perrettlaver.com.
- Email : SCS.MDrecruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk
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: Complaints@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: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/
https://perrettlaver.com/ukhsa-director-of-public-health-microbiology/
