Job vacancy: Consultant Medical Microbiologist, UK Health Security Agency, London

Job summary

Main area

Epidemic and Emerging Infections, Gastrointestinal Infections, Food Safety & One Health

Grade

NHS Medical & Dental: Consultant or Agenda for Change band 8d

Contract

Permanent

Hours

Part time
Job share
Flexible working

5 sessions per week (Part time 5 Programmed Activities per week / 20 hours per week (NHS Medical and Dental pay scale) or 18.75 hours per week (NHS Agenda for Change).)

Job ref

919-KP-307960-EXT

Employer: UK Health Security Agency
Employer type: Public (Non NHS)
Site: Colindale
Town: London
Salary: £91,342 - £145,478 per annum, pro rata
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 20/07/2025 23:59

Consultant Medical Microbiologist

NHS Medical & Dental: Consultant or Agenda for Change band 8d

The United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is a system leader for health security; taking action internationally to strengthen global health security, providing trusted advice to government and the public and reducing inequalities in the way different communities experience and are impacted by infectious disease, environmental hazards, and other threats to health.

UKHSA’s remit, as an agency with a global-to-local reach, is to protect the health of the nation from infectious diseases and other external threats to health. As the nation’s expert national health security agency UKHSA will:

Prevent: anticipate threats to health and help build the nation’s readiness, defences and health security
Detect: use cutting edge environmental and biological surveillance to proactively detect and monitor infectious diseases and threats to health
Analyse: use world-class science and data analytics to assess and continually monitor threats to health, identifying how best to control and mitigate the risks
Respond: take rapid, collaborative and effective actions nationally and locally to mitigate threats to health when they materialise
Lead: lead strong and sustainable global, national, regional and local partnerships designed to save lives, protect the nation from public health threats and reduce inequalities.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Providing specialist clinical advice to a range of stakeholders e.g. NHS clinicians, health protection teams, partner agencies (Food Standards Agency and Animal and Plant Health Agency) and international agencies (ECDC, WHO and CDC). The role includes medical leadership for national gastrointestinal outbreaks and food safety incidents. The postholder will contribute to generation of national guidance on management of various gastrointestinal infections (e.g. Enteric fever guidance, BASSH guidance on enteric pathogens, Shigellosis, STEC, amoebiasis). They will contribute to various national reports on antimicrobial resistance (e.g. One Health and ESPAUR).

The postholder will be advising government on the risks posed by various gastrointestinal pathogens and responding to national and international health concerns.

The post holder will present at major national and international infection and pathogen specific conferences and multiagency meetings.

The job is designed to cover the full range of clinical and public health infection in the UKHSA Gastrointestinal Infections, Food Safety & One Health Division (GIFSOH). The purpose of this post covers eight broad areas:
a) Contribute intellectual and scientific leadership to the GIFSOH Division.
b) Participate in Division and Directorate management activities.
c) Line manage GIFSOH Division staff as delegated by the Deputy Director GIFSOH.
d) Contribute to education and training of clinical and scientific staff.
e) Develop and execute clinical and epidemiological studies in gastrointestinal infection.
f) Supporting the Gastrointestinal Bacteria Reference Unit (GBRU) - for clinical interpretation of results, clinical liaison with external stakeholders.
g) Contribute to relevant public health policies and guidance.
h) Provide medical input and leadership to incidents and outbreaks related to gastrointestinal infections.
i) Ensure that the GIFSOH Division works to the highest standards of Clinical Governance.
j) Support and develop the Epidemic and Emerging Infections (EEI) workforce, in line with UKHSA’s remit, to support capability and capacity, including technical and professional skills to meet the challenges involved in protecting and improving the public’s health.
k) Ensure that the Health & Safety of staff is paramount, that the H&S arrangements for your service are of the highest standards, and that you work closely with the HSE to address any recommendations that they may have in a timely fashion.

The postholder will have a CCT in Medical Microbiology/Infectious Diseases, or be within 6 months at interview date of achieving CCT.
This 5PA post (includes 1 supplementary PA) will provide an excellent opportunity for experienced NHS Consultants wanting to explore a national role, equally new Consultants within 6 months of CCT are also welcome to apply. The job requires specialist knowledge and appropriate pathogen specific knowledge and outbreak response training will be provided.

Please see attached job Description & Person Specification for full list of essential criteria and further details.

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

Stage 1: Application & Sift

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on essential criteria, and this will be in the form of
• an Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• an 1100 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.

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

Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered

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

Please do not exceed 1100 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number. Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview (competency based)

You will be invited to a remote interview held by MS Teams with camera on.
Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview.

Interviews will be held from week commencing 11th August 2025. Please note, these dates are subject to change.

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

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-terrorist Check. 

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our Scientific Campus at Colindale, London. We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month).

If based at one of our scientific campuses, you will be required to have a minimum of 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.

Candidates should refer to the Job Description for a full overview of the role and remit of the post prior to completing their application.

Person specification

Education/ Qualification

Essential criteria

MBBS or equivalent medical qualification
Full and Specialist registration (and with a licence to practise) with the General Medical Council (GMC) or be eligible for registration within six months of interview. for Medical Microbiology and Virology and/or Infectious Diseases
Applicants that are UK trained, must ALSO be a holder of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT), for Medical Microbiology and Virology and/or Infectious Diseases or be within six months of award of CCT by date of interview Infectious Diseases and/or Microbiology. Applicants that are non-UK trained, will be required to show evidence of equivalence to the UK CCT
FRCPath in Microbiology OR evidence of equivalent qualification (i.e. completion of Training as an ID physician with evidence of specialist interest in Bacteriology or Virology e.g. MD or PhD)
MRCP or evidence of equivalent qualification
Applicants must meet minimum CPD requirements in accordance with the requirements of the Royal College of Pathologists, the Royal College of Physicians, or other recognised body Evidence of continuing medical education (existing consultants must be able to demonstrate active participation in recognised CPD scheme)

Desirable criteria

Dual training in Infectious Diseases and Microbiology/ Virology
MSc, MD, PhD or evidence of equivalent qualification through documented research output.
Relevant higher qualifications e.g. teaching, management or infection control.

Experience

Essential criteria

Training in clinical microbiology, infectious diseases and public health microbiology Evidence of experience in clinical microbiology, infectious diseases and public health microbiology
Evidence of experience in clinical microbiology, infectious diseases and public health microbiology
Relevant post registration experience
Experience of clinical risk management
Recent experience of clinical and/ or laboratory diagnostics for infectious diseases
Experience of working at a local/ regional and/or national level on guidelines, policies and other matters that influence clinical infection and/ or public health practice
Knowledge of methods of developing clinical quality assurance, audit, quality improvement and evidence based clinical and/or public health practice

Desirable criteria

Experience in other related specialities
Public health experience
Demonstrates breadth of experience and awareness in and outside speciality/ medicine
Demonstrate use of evidence-based practice
Experience of leading on teaching and training for specialist microbiology trainees (STs)
Research experience, presentations, publications, prizes and honours.

Skills

Essential criteria

Clear, logical thinking showing an analytical scientific approach
Ability to foster and promote the delivery of the clinical diagnostic service of the laboratory
Understanding of epidemiology and statistics, data analysis and public health practice
Decisiveness/accountability (ability to take responsibility, show leadership, make decisions, exert appropriate authority)
Ability to organise self and own work and to prioritise clinical need
Interpersonal skills (see patients as people, empathise, work co-operatively with others)
Flexibility (able to change and adapt, respond to rapidly changing circumstances)
Resilience (able to operate under pressure, cope with setbacks, self-aware)
Thoroughness (is well prepared, shows self- discipline/commitment, is punctual and meets deadlines)
Shows initiative/ drive/ enthusiasm
Probity (displays honesty, integrity, aware of ethical dilemmas)
Ability to communicate effectively with clinical members of staff

Desirable criteria

Understanding of NHS, clinical governance and resource constraints
Evidence of leading audits
Management/ financial awareness
Information technology skills
Enthusiasm for teaching
Familiarity with specialist training program requirements and competencies in clinical and or educational supervision.

Equality and diversity

Essential criteria

An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships appreciation and acknowledgment of the range and complexities of diversity in the UK.

Values and Behaviours

Essential criteria

Commitment to and focused on quality, promotes high standards in all they do
Consistently thinks about how their work can help and support clinicians and frontline staff deliver better outcomes for patients
Values diversity and difference, operates with integrity and openness
Works well with others, is positive and helpful, listens, involves, respects and learns from the contribution of others
Consistently looks to improve what they do, looks for successful tried and tested ways of working, and also seeks out innovation
Actively develops themselves and supports others to do the same

IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Link below:

Artificial intelligence and recruitment | Civil Service Careers

This is a Non-Reserved post under the Civil Service Nationality Rules. To be eligible for employment in the UK Civil Service applicants must meet the Civil Service Nationality Rules (CSNRs) which operate independently of and additionally to the Immigration Rules. Applicants must also meet necessary security and vetting requirements, along with any other relevant pre-employment checks.

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

For more information on job nationality requirements and the right to work in the UK, see the Civil Service Nationality rules (opens in a new window) and the UK Visas and Immigration rules (opens in a new window)

For posts on UKHSA Civil Service terms and conditions, new entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. For existing Civil Servants and roles advertised across government, the rules of transfer apply, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive a 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

The Civil Service pay structure and progression is different from NHS Agenda for Change (AfC), most local authority pay grades and other systems that have annual pay increments. For further details, please refer to the Information Sheet- Starting Salaries & Benefits attachment.

For AfC or Medical/Dental posts, you must have the correct professional registration to be appointed. The pay will follow the AfC or Medical & Dental terms & conditions. You may be asked to provide evidence of previous service whilst we are conducting pre-employment checks to determine your starting salary.

For Temporary Appointments, if you are not currently a civil servant, you will take up the post on a Fixed Term appointment.  You may be able to take this role up as a Secondment. If you are an existing Civil Servant, based outside of the UKHSA, you will take up the post as a loan which you will need your department to agree. You cannot take the post up as a fixed term. If you are an existing UKHSA member of staff, you will take up the post as either a level transfer or a temporary promotion as per the UKHSA’s Pay policy. 

Given the nature of the work of the UKHSA, as a Category 1 responder under the Civil Contingencies Act, you may be required in an emergency, if deemed a necessity, to redeploy to another role at short notice. You may also be required to work at any other location, within reasonable travelling distance of your permanent home address, in line with the provisions set out in your contract of employment.

Late Applications will unfortunately not be considered.

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 equality of opportunity. 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:  [email protected] 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 here.

Reserve List - If more than the required number of suitable candidates pass the interview criteria, you may be kept on a reserve list for 12 months subject to your agreement. You may be contacted, in merit-order, if similar roles with closely matching essential criteria become available and the department choose to appoint from a reserve list.

The panel will assess if candidates meet the requirement of the role first, using a specific benchmark system. If you are interviewed for the post and do not meet the required threshold for the specified grade, your application may be assessed against a similar, lower grade role and you may be offered the post should one be available.

Interview expenses will not be reimbursed.

UKHSA is required to check employment and/or education history covering three consecutive years. Please ensure you give details of at least two different referees, even if you were employed in one company for three years or more.

If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system. Please note, all communication regarding your application will be made via email, please ensure you check your junk/spam folders as emails are sometimes filtered there.

Any move to UKHSA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

 Benefits of working at UKHSA include:

Generous annual leave:
-26 days for the first 5 years of continuous service
-28 days after 5 years of continuous service
-32 days after 10 years of continuous service
-Plus public holidays and one privilege day for the King’s birthday
Access to a generous Defined Benefit pension scheme with employer contributions.
Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme, season ticket advances and payroll giving.
Access to a retail discounts and cashback site.
We also promote flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours). UKHSA views flexible working as essential in enabling us to recruit and retain talented people, ensuring that they are able to enjoy a long-lasting career with us. All employees have the right to apply for flexible working and there are a range of options available including working from home, compressed hours and job sharing.
We also offer a generous maternity/ paternity and adoption leave package.

Hybrid Working

UKHSA operates a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce.

As a hybrid worker, you will usually spend a minimum of 60% of your contracted hours (averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's locations (approximately 3 days a week pro rata) and the rest of your time working from home.

Disability Confident Scheme

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria at sift to ensure these candidates are invited to interview.   If you wish to be included in this scheme please tick the box on your application form.

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 take into account 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 could be time accrued over that period.

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.

Security Vetting

Please check the Security Clearance needed for the role and follow the link for more information:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels