26398547

**Location**: UKHSA Colindale / Hybrid / Home working

This post is primarily for co-ordination and delivery of food, water and environmental (FW&E) microbiology services to partners in public health. The post-holder will link in with the FW&E microbiology laboratories and also work as part of a team with colleagues in the Field Service during outbreak investigations and in developing preventative strategies. The post-holder will liaise with all local partners in health protection both within UKHSA (particularly colleagues within the Field Service and Health Protection Teams) and with those outside UKHSA (e.g. local authorities, port health authorities, NHS Trust laboratories and government bodies such as the Health and Safety Executive, the Food Standards Agency and Animal and Plant Health Agency) for the delivery of FW&E services.

The role includes interpretation of laboratory results and advice on appropriate action, sampling support, inspection of sites, training health protection partners and liaison with public health partners to assist in the regional development of services. Collective working with the other out-posted scientists to develop and maintain a consistent service, and coordination of local surveillance activities. You will also have a background of at least five years’ experience as a senior FW&E Microbiologist or as a qualified Environmental Health Officer, or equivalent.

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where
Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to
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.

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

- To assist in the co-ordination of local and wider regional FW&E Microbiology services.
- To assist in the development and direction of local strategies that are aligned with the national strategies of FW&E Microbiology Services.
- To support the aims and objectives of the FW&E Microbiology Services and Field Service.
- To take a lead for specific areas of work and represent FW&E Microbiology Services and Field Services at National and International meetings as appropriate.
- To contribute to management information on workload, finance and performance indicators
- Analyse and interpret microbiological testing information.
- Communicate complex information both written and oral, clearly and concisely with colleagues at all levels within the organisation and work across organisational boundaries.
- Deliver training and presentation of data to stakeholders.
- Analyse, interpret and evaluate information when problem solving and making decisions.
- To provide regional development of services by review, analysis and interpretation of complex facts, specialist FW&E data and surveillance data and make appropriate judgements and interpretations which contribute to the regional and national development of public health delivery within FW&E Microbiology Services and Field Services.
- To provide local surveillance of food and water safety and quality using FW&E results and provide information on the potential for infection from the environment in relation to the health of the local
- To participate and offer support in the investigation and control of food and waterborne outbreaks including participation with and advice to incident/outbreak control
- To be responsible for ensuring service and developments are maintained at a high
- To contribute to service continuity and contingency plans for the provision of appropriate responses to adverse incidents including those for large
- Manage a team (if required), to include, recruitment and selection, development, and training of people, planning and allocating and delegating activities and reviewing performance. Analyse, interpret and evaluate information when problem solving and making decisions. Use IT systems within an office environment; demonstrate a high level of motivation and commitment to high standards; willingness to travel both locally and nationally.
- To contribute to the FW&E Microbiology Services compliance with relevant standards, governance and statutory requirements, in particular UKAS / ISO17025 Accreditation

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

Selection process details

**STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT**:
If you are successful at this stage, you will pr