Quality Manager

UK Health Security Agency; England; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

The UK Health Security Agency is seeking an HCPC registered Biomedical Scientist to manage the Quality Management System for their Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory. This role demands robust leadership in quality assurance activities and advanced technical support in diagnostic virology.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Professional development opportunities

Inclusive workplace culture

Qualifications

• Substantial experience in quality management systems.
• Experience in diagnostic virology laboratory including ELISA and PCR.
• Proven ability to lead and influence teams.

Responsibilities

• Manage and uphold ISO15189 accreditation standards.
• Support laboratory staff in quality activities.
• Lead delivery of diagnostic and reference activities.

Skills

Quality Management

Technical Support

Communication

Leadership

Education

MSc or higher in Microbiology

HCPC registration as Biomedical Scientist

Job description

Porton Down, Wiltshire, SP4 0JG

Job Summary

The Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory (RIPL) provide a front-line diagnostic service for the detection of Viral Haemorrhagic Fever (Ebola, Lassa, CCHF, Marburg), Arboviruses, Rickettsiae, and a range of ACDP Hazard Group 3 bacteria including Bacillus anthracis and Francisella tularensis.

RIPL is also the provider of the Leptospira acute diagnostic service and the Lyme disease specialist unit diagnostic service. We are UKAS ISO15189 accredited and hold approval to provide IBMS registration and Virology specialist portfolios.

The role is for an HCPC registered Biomedical Scientist responsible for the management and upkeep of the Department’s Quality Management System. The post holder will focus on maintenance of UKAS ISO 15189 accreditation status.

The post holder will also provide expert technical support for the specialist diagnostic laboratory work undertaken within RIPL in accordance with UKHSA and laboratory policies and procedures with particular focus on areas of serological diagnosis by ELISA and IFA and molecular identification using real-time PCR.

Working for your organisation

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

Job Description

• Influence long term decision making, planning and project management within RIPL.
• Maintain links between quality and governance arrangements, including supporting adverse incident investigation.
• Implement quality improvements within RIPL, involving development of new protocols and procedures.
• Support laboratory staff to perform quality activities and monitor effectiveness.
• Champion Change Control within the Department.
• Provide expertise and support for preparation, and organisation of, inspections by third party assessors, such as UKAS and certification bodies, commercial organisations, or research councils and progress issues arising from assessments and inspections.
• Lead delivery of laboratory’s diagnostic and reference activities.
• Report directly to Laboratory Director on performance of quality management system and identify need for improvement.
• Ensure RIPL participates in suitable EQA surveys, monitors results and feeds back to Management any deficiencies.
• Ensure awareness of users’ needs and requirements throughout the laboratory organisation.
• Provide Quality feedback on laboratory performance with regular communications.
• Undertake a range of diagnostic assays and techniques as required, meeting RIPL service provision needs.
• Assist in identification, evaluation and adaptation of new technologies and diagnostic tests to enhance the laboratories capabilities and to ensure the project area works to a high scientific standard.
• Supply data to agreed timescales required by RIPL service level agreement.
• Deputise for Laboratory Manager as required.
• Maintain high professional standards by continual professional development keeping up to date with advances in medical microbiology.
  
  

Please see the job description for the full list of duties and responsibilities.

• Influence long term decision making, planning and project management within RIPL.
• Maintain links between quality and governance arrangements, including supporting adverse incident investigation.
• Implement quality improvements within RIPL, involving development of new protocols and procedures.
• Support laboratory staff to perform quality activities and monitor effectiveness.
• Champion Change Control within the Department.
• Provide expertise and support for preparation, and organisation of, inspections by third party assessors, such as UKAS and certification bodies, commercial organisations, or research councils and progress issues arising from assessments and inspections.
• Lead delivery of laboratory’s diagnostic and reference activities.
• Report directly to Laboratory Director on performance of quality management system and identify need for improvement.
• Ensure RIPL participates in suitable EQA surveys, monitors results and feeds back to Management any deficiencies.
• Ensure awareness of users’ needs and requirements throughout the laboratory organisation.
• Provide Quality feedback on laboratory performance with regular communications.
• Undertake a range of diagnostic assays and techniques as required, meeting RIPL service provision needs.
• Assist in identification, evaluation and adaptation of new technologies and diagnostic tests to enhance the laboratories capabilities and to ensure the project area works to a high scientific standard.
• Supply data to agreed timescales required by RIPL service level agreement.
• Deputise for Laboratory Manager as required.
• Maintain high professional standards by continual professional development keeping up to date with advances in medical microbiology.
  
  

Please see the job description for the full list of duties and responsibilities.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• MSc or higher qualification in an appropriate medical / microbiology / biological science or substantial post-registration experience
• Registration with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) as Biomedical Scientist.
• Experience of managing quality systems and a working knowledge of ISO15189:2022.
• Experience of managing change and instigating system improvements from a quality management perspective.
• Evidence of efficient and effective project and programme participation and management.
• Substantive experience in a diagnostic or reference virology laboratory, including knowledge and experience of serological and molecular methods including ELISA, IFA and real time PCR.
• Ability to analyse and interpret information including performance indicators, pre-empt and evaluate issues, and recommend an appropriate course of action to address the issues or areas of risk.
• Experience of leadership and management, excellent communication skills with the ability to positively influence others and present complex matters, and resilience to cope with uncertainty and change.
• Experience of training and performance management.
  
  

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of diagnostic metagenomic services and High Containment /CL3 microbiology.
• Skills for establishing and effective working relationships with internal and external partners/stakeholders.
• Recognised relevant Quality qualification, such as the IBMS certificate of expert practice.
• IBMS Specialist Diploma in Medical Microbiology or Virology.
• IBMS Higher Specialist Diploma in relevant discipline.
• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
  
  

Selection process details

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

Stage 1: Application & Sift

Required

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

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

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

Please note you will not be able to upload your CV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible. Please do not email us your CV.

The Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.

Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:

• Meets all essential criteria
• Meets some essential criteria
• Meets no essential criteria
  
  

Only those meeting all essential criteria will be taken through to shortlisting.

Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on:

• Experience of managing quality systems and a working knowledge of ISO15189:2022.
• Experience of managing change and instigating system improvements from a quality management perspective.
  
  

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

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.

Stage 2: Interview

You will be invited to a face to face interview. In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to consider remote interviews.

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

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

Location

This role is being offered as lab based at our Scientific Campus in Porton Down. Please note that hybrid working is not available for this role.

Eligibility Criteria

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.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Counter Terrorism Checks.

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. 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.

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/

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.

Internal Fraud check

If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant’s personal details – name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional circumstances. Currently this is only for External candidates to the Civil Service.

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.

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 counter-terrorist 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.

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 counter-terrorist 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
  
  

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

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.

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).

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 : Jon Payne
• Email : [e-mail]
  
  

Recruitment team

• Email : [e-mail]
  
  

Further information

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: [e-mail] 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

http://www.healthjobsuk.com/vacancy/7239317