Public Health Microbiologist

Working for our organisation

Launched in 2016, the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team (UK-PHRST) is an innovative government-academic partnership funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and co-led by UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), with a consortium of academic and implementing partners in the UK and internationally. It is comprised of a multidisciplinary team of public health professionals and researchers with a novel integrated triple-remit of outbreak response, research and capacity strengthening to prevent and control epidemics of infectious diseases in countries eligible for UK Official Development Assistance (ODA). Both institutes contribute and are responsible for delivery of the UK-PHRST triple mandate across outbreak response, research and capacity strengthening, with LSHTM leading the research programme and UKHSA who lead the outbreak response.

Job overview

The Public Health Microbiologist post will support the UK-PHRST Senior Microbiologist to deliver the operational diagnostics, research, and capacity strengthening objectives to Official Development Assistance-eligible (ODA) countries. The post-holder will also work with the UK-PHRST Microbiology team at UKHSA, and the Assistant Professor in Molecular Epidemiology based at LSHTM. The post will be required to deploy for outbreak response to advise on the provision of public health microbiology services directly, or through WHO, to the Ministries of Health in ODA Countries. Diagnostic support may include implementation of agreed objectives including laboratory- based training. As a member of the Core Deployable Team, the post holder will be available to be deployed to outbreaks within 48 hours’ notice. The post holder will develop and manage a robust research and capacity development portfolio to inform and improve future outbreak responses in ODA-eligible countries in alignment with UK-PHRST strategic goals. The post-holder should expect to spend up to 40 percent of their time overseas. They may be asked to act as team leader for outbreak deployments if needed.

Successful overseas operations are a dependent on good team dynamics; strong team building and working skills are an essential requisite of the job. Effective communication skills will be needed to support team function and to maintain and develop good working relations with multiple partners both in the UK and overseas.

Main duties of the job:

PUBLIC HEALTH MICROBIOLOGY

• Responsible for advising on the provision of public health microbiology services directly, or through WHO, to the Ministries of Health in ODA Countries including the support of the development of policies, planning and implementation strategies for laboratory services during UK-PHRST outbreak responses.
• Act as the representative for the UK-PHRST as part of the multidisciplinary teams delivering outbreak detection and control activities in ODA countries.
• Formulating plans and supporting or leading the implementation of laboratory improvement and training programmes in ODA countries.
• Act as a scientific expert for microbiology and genomics between UK-PHRST and stakeholders during outbreak response, research, and capacity strengthening projects.
• When necessary, act as team lead, during deployments of the UK-PHRST flight case laboratory, responsible for provision of a diagnostic service for outbreak response.
• Perform any other duties required by the Director/Senior Microbiologist.
• Perform any other duties required by the Director/ Lead Microbiologist.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

• Actively participate in and lead or support the R&D projects and activities.
• Encourage, facilitate, develop, and implement research activity for UK-PHRST into outbreak response microbiology, in collaboration with the Assistant Professor in Molecular Epidemiology.
• Actively network in the research and capacity strengthening community (both within LSHTM and UKHSA and beyond) to identify and develop potential areas of engagement and collaboration.
• Ensure that research programmes are co-ordinated, appropriately funded, reviewed regularly and are in line with UK-PHRST goals and strategies.
• Identify funding opportunities for novel and ongoing research activity.
• Write research grant proposals.
• Secure UK and overseas ethical approval and ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements for all projects.
• Support UK-PHRST Microbiology and Molecular Epidemiology in developing a robust and dynamic genomic research and capacity strengthening programme, harnessing new and innovative techniques and platforms.
• Present research findings at national and international conferences.

PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

• Develop and nurture key relationships with a wide range of individuals and stakeholders as required for role.
• Contribute to strengthening regional and in-country capacity through training and coaching, in line with International Health Regulations and Global Health Security Agenda requirements.

TEACHING AND TRAINING

• Teach colleagues and stakeholders on microbiology and genomics and support ongoing training activities within the UK-PHRST and partners.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT

• To provide support to UK-PHRST Laboratory Preparedness Manager in the day-to-day operational management of UK-PHRST laboratory, including HR matters such as recruitment, career development and discipline and, together with the UK-PHRST Senior Microbiologist in having accountability for the flight case laboratory.
• To represent UK-PHRST Microbiology at a wide range of committees at Directorate, Division level.
• To ensure that the UKHSA’s standing financial instructions, professional standards of conduct and other UKHSA policies and procedures, including health and safety, are observed.
• Using analytical and judgement skills, to take a leading role in planning and formulating strategy as applied to business and action plans, staffing, equipment and facilities.
• Ensure UK-PHRST Microbiology programmes/projects/initiatives maintain momentum through robust and effective management (flagging-up potential issues and proactively troubleshooting where possible).
• To ensure full compliance with the requirements and policies of UK-PHRST and UKHSA.
• To ensure confidentiality and conformity with the requirements of the Data Protection Act.
• To prepare and create innovations which enhance the effectiveness of the Microbiology work for UK-PHRST.
• Develop and maintain good user / customer relationships both internally and externally.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Pursue a programme of continuous professional development in accordance with any relevant professional registration or statutory requirements.
• Undergo mandatory pre-deployment training and other appropriate training courses as required by members of the UK-PHRST Core Deployable team.
• Maintain professional credibility, autonomy, and accountability in line with professional code of conduct.

HEALTH & SAFETY

• To ensure health, safety and welfare are afforded priority.
• To be responsible for all aspects of health, safety and welfare of self, staff, and visitors. To ensure attendance of self and staff on safety training courses as required in the UKHSA Health and Safety Training Policy and other safety policies as appropriate.
• To agree safety objectives with managed staff and to review performance at appraisal.
• To ensure adequate execution of safety responsibilities including responsibility for implementation of remedial actions resulting from safety tours or audit.
• To ensure that relevant UKHSA health and safety policies are implemented.
• To ensure that risk assessments are carried out and reviewed for all new and existing work and that controls are implemented, monitored, and maintained.
• To escalate risks that cannot be controlled to the Senior Microbiologist Lead/ UK-PHRST leadership as required.
• To ensure safety inspections and audit programmes are carried out in accordance with UKHSA safety policies.
• To ensure safety is an agenda item at management and staff meetings and raise relevant safety issues with the Senior Microbiologist Lead/ UK-PHRST leadership as required.
• To ensure “return to work interviews” are undertaken in accordance with the UKHSA Sickness Absence and Control procedure.
• To ensure that incidents and accidents are reported on a timely basis and that UKHSA`s statutory responsibilities for health, safety and welfare matters are fulfilled, e.g., Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations.

FINANCIAL

• To ensure compliance with ODA requirements in all UK-PHRST Microbiology activities.
• To produce workload, financial and KPI information as required.
• To attend and contribute to Service Review and Finance meetings.
• To ensure, and where appropriate undertake, sophisticated data analysis for financial and managerial purposes.
• In collaboration with other senior staff, to support the use of the flight case laboratory in research projects, where appropriate.
• To produce business plans / cases as required.