Fw&e Lead Public Health Microbiologist

**Details**:
**Reference number**:

- 350628**Salary**:

- £69,275 - £78,805- A Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%**Job grade**:

- Grade 6**Contract type**:

- Permanent**Type of role**:

- Health Adviser
- Science**Working pattern**:

- Full-time**Number of jobs available**:

- 1Contents

Location

About the job

**Benefits**:
Things you need to know

Location
- London York Porton DownAbout the job

**Job summary**:
The Food, Water and Environmental (FW&E) Microbiology Laboratories are specialist microbiology laboratories within UKHSA. Based in 3 sites across the country, the laboratories are geographically well placed to work with local authorities in order to protect the public from health threats posed by contaminated food, water and the environment.

The FW&E Laboratories provide a microbiology testing and advisory service to Local Authorities, Port Health Authorities, hospitals, and commercial clients across England. The laboratories are accredited to ISO 17025 and are recognised as Official Food Control Laboratories for the microbiological examination of food and foodstuffs within the EU.

As the Lead Public Health Microbiologist, you will be responsible for leading and managing the routine provision, delivery and development of FW&E services and act as the senior scientific specialist for FW&E Microbiology services within Public Health Microbiology. You will also be accountable for scientists within the unit, providing leadership and oversight for the day-today running and development of the FW&E Microbiology services.

You will provide for scientific leadership and having comprehensive oversight and responsibility of all scientific and managerial matters across FW&E Microbiology services. The post holder may work with colleagues who are based across the country at different sites and/or who work remotely.

**Location**

The role can be based at one of the following FW&E Laboratories:
York - Biotech Campus, Sand Hutton YO41 1LZ

Porton Down - Salisbury SP4 0JG

London - Colindale Avenue NW9 5EQ
- *Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available.*_

**Working Pattern - **Full Time

**Job description**:
**Responsibilities section**:
As the Lead Public Health Microbiologist, your main responsibilities will include:

- To be responsible for, lead and manage the FW&E Microbiology service.
- Provide expert scientific leadership and be responsible for the strategic development and operational service delivery for FW&E Microbiology.
- To manage the budget of FW&E Microbiology and any contracts and to ensure that work is delivered on time and within budget.
- Ensure that FW&E Microbiology services work to the highest standards of Quality, Health and Safety and governance
- Provide leadership to ensure services contribute to the national development of FW&E Microbiology service based public health delivery.
- Contribute to test development and validation.
- Review technology use and manage implementation of new equipment to support improvements in service delivery.
- Ensuring familiarity with the latest developments in the field, and also representing FW&E in outbreak responses
- Leading on behalf of the Deputy Director on all areas relating to finance, business planning and commercial development, working with Heads of Laboratory Business Operations, corporate leads e.g. Finance Business Partner, ensuring embedded teams work to common national standards and practices.

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 attached job description for a full list of duties and responsibilities.

**Person specification**:
**Essential Criteria**:
**Essential**
- PhD with a major component of public health, medical microbiology, food water or environmental microbiology
- Eligible to be a Food Examiner
- Understanding of Food Water and Environmental microbiology and the regulatory requirements
- Experience in the investigation of infections transmitted through food, water or the environment as well as wider issues of Environmental Health
- Evidenced leadership and management experience involving laboratory microbiology service delivery
- Experience and understanding of (i) quality management systems e.g. UKAS and ISO 17025; (ii) laboratory safety and procedures and (iii) risk management

**Desirable**
- Relevant business or management training to certificate level
- Registered Clinical Scientist or Chartered Scientist award, and with evidence of CPD

**Benefits**:

- Alongside your salary of £69,275, UK Health Security Agency contributes £18,704 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.- Learning and developmen