Job summary

We are looking for an experienced Laboratory Manager to join The Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory (RIPL).

This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in protecting the health security of the United Kingdom. The Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory (RIPL) is the front-line diagnostic laboratory for the detection of the Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers (Ebola, Lassa, CCHF, Marburg) and biothreat agents including Bacillus anthracis and Francisella tularensis. RIPL provides a 24/7 on-call service for the diagnosis of VHFs to ensure patients suspected of infection are identified rapidly and managed appropriately in order to prevent transmission within the UK.

RIPL also provides the UK's clinical diagnostic service for rare, imported infections and difficult to diagnose infections such as vector-borne viruses, Rickettsiae and a range of ACDP Hazard Group 3 bacteria.

RIPL is also the provider of the UK's Leptospira acute diagnostic service and the Lyme disease specialist unit diagnostic service.

RIPL is UKAS ISO15189(2022) accredited and holds approval to provide IBMS registration and Virology specialist portfolios.

The portfolio of work encompasses testing for high-consequence infections, routine diagnostic services, specialist testing for difficult to diagnose infections, and work with external partners such as APHA to ensure access to diagnostics for infections of national public health importance.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will be responsible for the day to day running and management of RIPL services. They will be a senior HCPC registered biomedical scientist and will hold an MSc or higher in virology, bacteriology or a related bioscience.

The postholder will be a member of the RIPL Senior Management Team and will be responsible for:

leading delivery of the laboratory diagnostic services to provide high quality analyses which meet clinical and scientific requirements, in accordance with UKHSA policies and procedures and in line with the relevant accreditation schemes overseeing the day-to-day management of laboratory functions including training, information technology, laboratory quality management, risk management, service development, and research providing support for operational management of UKHSA Porton Laboratories, in conjunction with other site Laboratory Managers, Head of Operations, RIPL Unit Head and the Porton Site Management teams. deputising for the Operations Manager when required in partnership with the Unit Head and the RIPL clinical team, to provide vision, leadership and direction to the Laboratory, and to lead in strategic development, including identification, prioritisation of, and support for specific service developments and research areas

Continued below

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

Job description

Job responsibilities

Responsibilities continued:

ensuring the laboratory is licensed and compliant with relevant legislation including the Specified Animal Pathogens Order, ATCSA Schedule 5, and the Human Tissue Act (2004) working with the Diagnostics Evaluations and Innovations Scientific Lead and development team staff linked to the Laboratory to ensure that RIPL maintains current capabilities effectively and is able to respond appropriately to incidents such as outbreaks or identification of emerging pathogens providing support as needed for a UKHSA coordinated incident response, or to activity of a national/international nature, a bioterrorism incident or a major disease outbreak. liaising with other UKHSA microbiology laboratories ( High Containment Microbiology, relevant Colindale laboratories) as needed liaising with NHS and private laboratories as required to provide a high quality frontline diagnostic service for patients in the UK liaising with other external laboratories ( APHA, international/research partners) to support health security strengthening activities as required RIPL is a WHO collaborating laboratory and the post-holder will cooperate with the clinical leads in delivering support requested through WHO. providing technical support for other laboratories (UKHSA and external), where appropriate, in developing laboratory networks and project groups

The postholder will:

take responsibility for acquisition and stock management of consumables. have responsibility for the acquisition, maintenance and use of equipment, including maintaining the inventory/asset register. oversee local site services in the provision of maintenance, engineering and structural services to the laboratory. be required to oversee equipment requirements, including monitoring performance and maintenance determine requirements for new or replacement equipment and liaise with senior colleagues to ensure equipment is updated and replaced as needed ensure Laboratory Information Management Systems are appropriately managed to support the diagnostic, analytical, epidemiological and administrative needs of the service.

This is not an exhaustive list please see Job description document for full list of duties.

Selection Process

Stage 1: Application & Sift

This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your qualifications, knowledge and experience, skills and abilities outlined in the essential criteria.

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 9 essential criteria, which have been selected from the job description, and this will be in the form of:

Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application) 1250 word Statement of Suitability.

Your application and statement of suitability will be marked together.

Please note: The system will allow you to write up to 1500 words but please do not exceed 1250 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.Feedback will not be provided at this stage.Interview stage

You will be invited to a single face to face interview.

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

There will be a Presentation- details to be confirmed to those invited to interview.

Interview dates to be confirmed.

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

This role is based at Porton. Please note hybrid working is not available for this role.

Eligibility Criteria

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

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

This role is based at Porton. If based at one of our scientific locations you will be required to have a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum. 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 3 years as the role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance. In exceptional circumstances UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

Essential

Degree in an appropriate medical/microbiological/biological science discipline. MSc or higher qualification in an appropriate medical / microbiological/biological science or equivalent experience. Registration with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) as Biomedical Scientist. Significant postgraduate practical, technical and theoretical experience in Medical Microbiology and Medical Laboratory Sciences. Extensive knowledge and expertise in various managerial fields, including Finance, HR, business, project management, planning, leadership, procurement etc. In depth working knowledge and competency in laboratory bench areas eg serology and molecular biology as appropriate. Sound knowledge of common IT programs, LIMS systems and excellent keyboard and IT skills. Thorough knowledge of UK Laboratory Health & Safety legislation and compliance. Experience of Quality Systems, laboratory accreditation and compliance for clinical diagnostic laboratories.