This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our lab in 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 labs 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.
Job Summary
The Culture Collections is a Biological Resource Centre that provides a service maintaining and supplying strains of cultured cells and microorganisms for public health research. It is structured as a fully integrated service, underpinning science with significant scientific, manufacturing and business activities and operates from laboratories across UKHSA and from a specialist cryo-storage facility on the Porton site.
The NCTC Operational Lead will oversee technical and laboratory operations for the manufacture, quality control, and maintenance of NCTC collection and associated services. This role ensures service delivery meets agreed quality standards, is safe, effective, and economical. The post holder will manage staffing, training, and business operations within the laboratory, deputise for the Lead Quality Assurance Manager, and provide professional leadership to operational staff.
Reporting to the Head of Culture Collections, the Operational Lead will:
- Plan, organise, and supervise NCTC manufacturing and quality control processes
- Maintain compliance with UKHSA policies, regulatory standards, and quality systems
- Manage operational staff, training programmes, and performance reviews
- Contribute to service improvement, business planning, and income generation
- Act as Laboratory Safety Officer and ensure health and safety compliance
Job Description
Production & Quality Control
- Maintain separation of production and quality control functions
- Manage manufacturing schedules, stock levels, and banking operations at Containment Levels 2 and 3 in compliance with current policies and procedures
- Oversee batch records, calibrations, and quality testing internally and externally
- Implement production planning and banking strategies for inventory continuity People Management & Training
- Devise and maintain a training programme for NCTC operational staff
- Supervise and train operational staff; maintain competency and safety standards across the team
- Conduct performance appraisals and development plans
- Participate in recruitment, induction, and disciplinary processes
- Develop professional/supervisory expertise by undertaking further appropriate training as required
Health, Safety & Security
- Act as Laboratory Safety Officer; ensure compliance with UKHSA health and safety policies
- Conduct risk assessments, implement corrective actions, and report incidents
- Participate in safety audits and maintain a safe working environment
- Take responsibility for health, safety and welfare of self, staff and visitors in NCTC
- Notify any accidents, incidents or near misses, dangerous situations or shortcomings in health and safety training instructions
- Comply to legislation and regulations relevant to managing a Containment Level 2 and 3 laboratory
Production & Quality Control
- Maintain separation of production and quality control functions
- Manage manufacturing schedules, stock levels, and banking operations at Containment Levels 2 and 3 in compliance with current policies and procedures
- Oversee batch records, calibrations, and quality testing internally and externally
- Implement production planning and banking strategies for inventory continuity People Management & Training
- Devise and maintain a training programme for NCTC operational staff
- Supervise and train operational staff; maintain competency and safety standards across the team
- Conduct performance appraisals and development plans
- Participate in recruitment, induction, and disciplinary processes
- Develop professional/supervisory expertise by undertaking further appropriate training as required
Health, Safety & Security
- Act as Laboratory Safety Officer; ensure compliance with UKHSA health and safety policies
- Conduct risk assessments, implement corrective actions, and report incidents
- Participate in safety audits and maintain a safe working environment
- Take responsibility for health, safety and welfare of self, staff and visitors in NCTC
- Notify any accidents, incidents or near misses, dangerous situations or shortcomings in health and safety training instructions
- Comply to legislation and regulations relevant to managing a Containment Level 2 and 3 laboratory
Person specification
Duties And Responsibilities
Quality Assurance
- Ensure compliance with ISO 9001:2015, ISO 17025:2017, and other accreditation standards
- Maintain documentation systems and support internal/external audits
- Identify and implement quality improvements
- Develop and analyse internal and external quality assurance programmes Technical/Scientific Duties
- Prepare and quality-control NCTC cultures through the application of clinical microbiology knowledge
- Assist in developing new accessions and specimen types
- Manage data entry, customer queries, and laboratory schedules
Financial & Business Management
- Support budget preparation and monitor expenditure
- Manage the maintenance and calibration schedules of equipment
- Purchase materials within authorisation limits
- Contribute to marketing, income generation, business planning and risk identification
Service Improvement & Project Management
- Ensure efficient, effective, and timely service delivery
- Introduce new technologies and maintain state-of-the-art procedures
- Oversee equipment maintenance and laboratory infrastructure
Communication
- Interact with other managers and staff both within the Culture Collections and also the UKHSA
- Communicate and liaise with external customers, collaborators, suppliers, consultants and other third parties
The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by your line manager.
Essential Role Criteria (including Qualifications, Licenses And Registrations)
- BSc in biomedical sciences, microbiology or equivalent level of experience of working in a diagnostic microbiology laboratory
- Evidence of several years’ experience in clinical diagnostic bacteriology
- Ability to organise and co-ordinate work.
- Able to analyse and evaluate evidence
- Evidence of supervisory experience and laboratory safety
- Clear communicator with excellent writing, report writing and presentation skills; capable of constructing and delivering clear ideas and concepts concisely and accurately for diverse audiences
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.
- Independent thinker with demonstrated good judgement, problem-solving and analytical skills
Desirable Role Criteria
- Evidence of success in efficient and effective project and programme management
- Independent thinker with demonstrated good judgement, problem-solving and analytical skills
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Communicating and Influencing
- Managing a Quality Service
- Changing and Improving
Alongside your salary of £60,494, UK Health Security Agency contributes £17,525 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
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.
Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours.
Stage 1: Application & Sift
This vacancy is using Success Profiles.
At sift stage you will be assessed against the qualifications, skills and experience listed in the job advert.
You Will Be Required To Complete An
- Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
- (up to 1000 number of words) word Statement of Suitability)
Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your statement of suitability must be no more than 1000 words.
This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role.
You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. (The application form is the kind of information you would put into your C.V –please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible. Please do not email us your CV).
Longlisting
In the event of a large number of applications, we may longlist into 3 piles of:
- Meets all essential criteria
- Meets some essential criteria
- Meets no essential criteria
We will take piles "Meets all essential criteria" through to shortlisting.
Shortlisting
In the event of a large amount of applications, we will sift on:
- Evidence of several years’ experience in clinical diagnostic bacteriology
- Evidence of supervisory experience and laboratory safety
Please note feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Stage 2: Interview (success profiles)
You will be invited to a face-to-face interview. If face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.
Interviews will be held week commencing 19th January 2026. Please note these dates are subject to change.
This vacancy is being assessed using Success Profiles. During the interview we will assess you against the below:
Behaviours
- Seeing the big picture
- Communicating and influencing
- Managing a quality service
- Changing and improving
Strengths
You will be asked to prepare and present a 10-minute presentation. The subject of this will be based on the laboratory management and leadership.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Additional Information
Eligibility Criteria
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
Location
This role is being offered as lab based at our Scientific Campus in Colindale, London.
If based at one of our scientific campuses, you will be required to have 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.
Salary Information
If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.
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 consider 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 it could be time accrued over that period.
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: Artificial intelligence and recruitment , Civil Service Careers
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.
Careers website
Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
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) (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
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)
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 equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
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 equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact
- Name : Tom Geldeard
- Email : tom.geldeard@ukhsa.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk
Further information
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: Complaints@ukhsa.gov.uk
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: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk
