Job summary
At the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) our mission is to provide health security for the nation by protecting from infectious disease and external hazards.� We are a trusted source of advice to government and to the public, focusing on reducing inequalities in the way different communities experience and are impacted by infectious disease, environmental hazards, and other threats to health.
Our mission is challenging, innovative and in the spotlight. We will work to ensure our people have the diverse skills, experiences and backgrounds we need to thrive, that our employees are representative of the communities we serve and feel valued and enabled to play their part in delivering our work.
Creating our working culture is an ongoing process which we are developing by listening and learning together, hearing and acting upon diverse voices and opinions to develop a common sense of identity and effective ways of working.
The Deputy Director will provide clinical, scientific, and professional leadership for Public Health Microbiology (PHM) Reference Services in the UKHSA, bringing together the skills and expertise across Reference Microbiology Laboratories, Food, Water and Environmental Microbiology laboratories, the Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory and UKHSA Culture Collections. In this context, Public Health Microbiology encompasses bacteriology, mycology, parasitology and virology and supporting laboratory technologies.
Job description
The DD PHM will lead and manage Clinical and Scientific aspects of the Division�s services, with a specific focus on reference laboratories in Colindale and Porton. The successful candidate will work in close collaboration with the DD PHM for Network Laboratories to ensure consistent standards of service delivery and will ensure that public health microbiology services deliver the requirements of UKHSA.
The work of the PHM Division supports UKHSA�s surveillance programmes, aids detection of infectious diseases, characterises microbial pathogens efficiently and effectively, and supports effective treatments and interventions, all within the wider UKHSA objective, to significantly reduce their overall public health burden.
The PHM Division operates within the Specialised Microbiology and Laboratories Directorate and supports the wider UKHSA structure and provide safe, effective, efficient and innovative laboratory microbiology services to it. This is a critical role which supports the delivery of a primary UKHSA function to protect the public health.
The post-holder must ensure that UKHSA PHM Reference laboratories are at the forefront of scientific innovation, and that the evidence base for intervention in, and prevention of, outbreaks, and surveillance of infectious disease covered by their services is world leading.
The success of the PHM Division will be dependent on two key activities: firstly, the effective and efficient delivery of laboratory microbiology services to the highest scientific, quality and safety standards and, secondly, robust career development of staff. The first of these requires close working with other laboratory functions and with other UKHSA leaders. The second is to ensure career development of all staff groups within the Division. The complementary roles of the PHM Division�s two DDs will cover these, and both individuals are expected to work together to manage the single Division.
The DD PHM Reference Laboratories will be expected to lead and manage the PHM Division alongside the DD PHM Network Laboratories, supported by a senior management team who will assist in the management and delivery of laboratory services and associated research and development programmes on a day-to-day basis.
Key responsibilities include the direct management of a team of senior specialists, leadership of a larger multidisciplinary team, and acting as a spokesperson and champion for UKHSA on all matters pertaining to public health microbiology laboratories. The Deputy Director will develop strategic partnerships with local, national and international organisations, academia, industry and research funding bodies to maintain and develop world-class expertise in public health microbiology.
The key deliverables are to develop and implement laboratory microbiology activities to reduce the impact of infectious diseases on health, prepare for effective contribution to outbreaks and incidents and to ensure that public health microbiology is at the heart of relevant policies, programmes, and interventions in the UK and internationally. The formation of the senior leadership team in Specialist Microbiology & Laboratories will determine Senior Leads for the main sites and this role may be one of these leads.
The post holder is required to:
1. Lead and strengthen the Clinical and Scientific aspects of the Public Health Microbiology Division, and the provision of clinical and scientific laboratory services to stakeholders, internal and external, including the public.
2. Be responsible for Health and Safety across the PHM Division under their accountability.
3. Ensure effective public health microbiology contribution to outbreak response and other efforts to protect health from infectious diseases.
4. Ensure the PHM Division�s effective contribution to the delivery of UKHSA�s strategic priorities.
In conjunction with the DD PHM Network Laboratories and DD PHM Operations, Programme and Performanceand for those departments under the post holder�s direct management:
5. Management and Leadership: Lead the PHM Division to deliver defined outputs and services safely, to the required quality standards, within budget and on-time.
6. Management and Leadership: Accountable for managing the resource and budget of the PHM Division.
7. Management and Leadership: Act as budget holder responsible for the financial performance of the PHM Division and delivery of a balanced budget.
8. Management and Leadership: Ensure the business and budgetary planning processes are fully in place and functioning effectively, reporting to agreed standards and timescales.
9. Management and Leadership: Lead and manage change positively, when necessary.
10. Be responsible for policy development in the PHM Division and the creation, implementation and review of clinical guidelines in conjunction with other consultant colleagues and clinical users
11. Research & Development: to undertake programmes of research, test and product development and evaluation in the PHM Division that are aligned with the research priorities of UKHSA.
12. Research & Development: Take overall scientific responsibility for development work for the PHM Division.
13. Clinical Governance: Ensure that the PHM Division works to the highest standards of Clinical Governance.
14. Developing and maintaining relationships with key partners and stakeholders in the UK and internationally.
15. Providing input to policymakers in DHSC and other government departments.
16. Maintain technical expertise and research commitments and support report writing and relevant peer review publications
Working for your organisation
At the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) our mission is to provide health security for the nation by protecting from infectious disease and external hazards. We are a trusted source of advice to government and to the public, focusing on reducing inequalities in the way different communities experience and are impacted by infectious disease, environmental hazards, and other threats to health.�
Our mission is challenging, innovative and in the spotlight. We will work to ensure our people have the diverse skills, experiences and backgrounds we need to thrive, that our employees are representative of the communities we serve and feel valued and enabled to play their part in delivering our work.�
Creating our working culture is an ongoing process which we are developing by listening and learning together, hearing and acting upon diverse voices and opinions to develop a common sense of identity and effective ways of working.�
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. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
17. Qualification requirements: MB ChB and / or PhD in an appropriate scientific discipline or equivalent experience
18. For medical practitioners: In line with legislation, inclusion in the GMC Full and Specialist Register with a license to practice in a relevant specialty/GDC Specialist List, or inclusion in the UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) for Public Health Specialists at the point of application
19. For Clinical Scientists: Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) in an appropriate discipline
20. For other professions: Registration with the UKPHR or Consultant level accreditation for nurses or allied health professionals or equivalent OR For those from other professional backgrounds professional registration is not required; equivalent level of expertise and experience is required
21. For medical microbiology / virology / infectious diseases consultants: Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists (FRCPath)
22. For public health consultants: Membership of the Faculty of Public Health (FPH)
23. For Clinical Scientist and other Specialities: For non-medical or Clinical Scientist applicants, qualifications and experience commensurate with a Clinical Scientist of equivalent standing (inclusive of a PhD and substantial appropriate post-doctoral experience and state registration with the HCPC)
24. Evidence of continuing professional development (existing consultants must be able to demonstrate active participation in a recognised CPD scheme)
25. Public Health consultant applicants must meet minimum CPD requirements ( be up to date) in accordance with Faculty of Public Health requirements or other recognised body
Desirable criteria
26. Management / Leadership / Finance qualification
Knowledge and Experience
Essential criteria
27. Strong leadership capability to drive work across a broad portfolio
28. Experience in the management of multidisciplinary teams
29. Broad experience and understanding of public health microbiology and virology
30. Experience of leading microbiology laboratories
31. Experience of managing financial resources
Desirable criteria
32. Experience leading complex network of laboratories
33. Experience in providing advice for government policy
34. Experience of national policy development and implementation
35. Evidence of commitment to research and development, peer reviewed scientific publications
Skills and Capabilities
Essential criteria
36. Evidence of managing major change successfully and positively
37. Proven skill in people management in mobilising and motivating multi-disciplinary teams to learn, develop and deliver to high standards
38. Able to coach teams and individuals to deliver improvement
39. Demonstrated ability to operate at pace in a fast-changing complex environment to manage competing priorities effectively
40. Proven skills in development of creative and innovative interventions to support the organisation and development of a high performing workforce
41. Excellent written and oral communication skills proven when communicating to national and local audiences
42. Enthusiastic team player with a can-do attitude
43. Comfortable with Information Technology and experienced at introducing and managing Information Systems projects
Equality and Diversity
Essential criteria
44. An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems
45. Knowledge and understanding of the public sector equality duty (the Equality Act 2010). Understanding of the protected characteristics in terms of both epidemiology and barriers to access are critically important in delivering this role
Benefits
46. Learning and development tailored to your role
47. An environment with flexible working options
48. A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity