Senior Biomedical Scientist - Quality Lead

As a category 1 responder UKHSA has a critical responsibility to scale laboratory diagnostic capacity within the first 6 weeks of an emerging threat with epidemic or pandemic potential. One way in which this will be delivered is through a new standby semi-automated and high throughput PCR testing facility at our Porton Down scientific campus. We are therefore looking for an HCPC registered Senior Biomedical Scientist to lead delivery of the facility's quality management system.

Successful applicants will join a new team, Amplify, within the Diagnostic and Pathogen Characterisation Division and work alongside colleagues in the Rare and Imported Pathogen Laboratory (RIPL) and Diagnostic Development and Implementation team. You will be responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of the facility's quality management system, under the umbrella of RIPL, the co-located and ISO 15189 accredited clinical laboratory for rare, emerging, imported and high consequence infectious diseases.

The Post holder will be expected to be flexible to the demands of the project area, have excellent communication skills and use their technical experience to ensure the service is delivered on time and remains ready to respond. This will include changing patterns of work to include out of hours shifts when incident or outbreak response mode is activated and supporting the delivery of research testing and training activities in support of wider organisational priorities.

• o Implement the facility's quality management system (QMS), ensuring compatibility and compliance with the RIPL QMS to enable ISO 15189 accreditation under a single schedule of accreditation.
• o Support and train laboratory staff to perform quality activities and monitor their effectiveness.
• o Deputise as appropriate for senior staff and act as head BMS in the absence of the facility manager.
• o Deliver training to internal and external scientists in support of wider pandemic preparedness activities, with a focus on how to implement effective QMS for high throughput testing facilities.
• o Participate in routine and out of hour testing rotas to ensure provision of sufficient testing capacity in line with business needs.

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.