JOB SUMMARY

The Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory (RIPL) provide a front-line diagnostic service for the detection of Viral Haemorrhagic Fever (Ebola, Lassa, CCHF, Marburg), Arboviruses, Rickettsiae, and a range of ACDP Hazard Group 3 bacteria including Bacillus anthracis and Francisella tularensis.
RIPL is also the provider of the Leptospira acute diagnostic service and the Lyme disease specialist unit diagnostic service. We are UKAS ISO15189 accredited and hold approval to provide IBMS registration and Virology specialist portfolios.
The role is for an HCPC registered Biomedical Scientist responsible for the management and upkeep of the Department’s Quality Management System. The post holder will focus on maintenance of UKAS ISO 15189 accreditation status.
The post holder will also provide expert technical support for the specialist diagnostic laboratory work undertaken within RIPL in accordance with UKHSA and laboratory policies and procedures with particular focus on areas of serological diagnosis by ELISA and IFA and molecular identification using real-time PCR.

JOB DESCRIPTION

• Influence long term decision making, planning and project management within RIPL.
• Maintain links between quality and governance arrangements, including supporting adverse incident investigation.
• Implement quality improvements within RIPL, involving development of new protocols and procedures.
• Support laboratory staff to perform quality activities and monitor effectiveness.
• Champion Change Control within the Department.
• Provide expertise and support for preparation, and organisation of, inspections by third party assessors, such as UKAS and certification bodies, commercial organisations, or research councils and progress issues arising from assessments and inspections.
• Lead delivery of laboratory’s diagnostic and reference activities.
• Report directly to Laboratory Director on performance of quality management system and identify need for improvement.
• Ensure RIPL participates in suitable EQA surveys, monitors results and feeds back to Management any deficiencies.
• Ensure awareness of users’ needs and requirements throughout the laboratory organisation.
• Provide Quality feedback on laboratory performance with regular communications.
• Undertake a range of diagnostic assays and techniques as required, meeting RIPL service provision needs.
• Assist in identification, evaluation and adaptation of new technologies and diagnostic tests to enhance the laboratories capabilities and to ensure the project area works to a high scientific standard.
• Supply data to agreed timescales required by RIPL service level agreement.
• Deputise for Laboratory Manager as required.
• Maintain high professional standards by continual professional development keeping up to date with advances in medical microbiology.
  Please see the job description for the full list of duties and responsibilities.

NATIONALITY REQUIREMENTS

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)
• 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

Further information on nationality requirements

Quality
Science