Director of Public Health Microbiology

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) prepares for and responds to infectious diseases and environmental hazards, to keep all our communities safe, save lives, and protect livelihoods.

The UKHSA is responsible for protecting every member of every community from the impact of infectious diseases, chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear incidents, and other health threats. We provide intellectual, scientific, and operational leadership at national and local levels, as well as on the global stage, to make the nation's health secure.

We are a system leader for health security; taking action internationally to strengthen global health security; providing trusted advice to government and the public; and reducing health inequalities. As the nation's expert national health security agency, the UKHSA works to:

1. Prevent: anticipate threats to health and help build the nation's readiness, defences, and health security.
2. Detect: use cutting-edge environmental and biological surveillance to proactively detect and monitor infectious diseases and threats to health.
3. 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.
4. Respond: take rapid, collaborative, and effective actions nationally and locally to mitigate threats to health when they materialise.
5. 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.

Job Summary

The Director of Public Health Microbiology leads on the delivery of UKHSA public health microbiology and laboratory-based infectious diseases scientific work to save lives and contribute to prosperity.

This is a critical role which supports the delivery of the primary UKHSA functions of reducing harm from infectious diseases, preparing for future health security hazards, and strengthening health security capability. The post-holder must ensure that the UKHSA Directorate of Public Health Microbiology is at the forefront of scientific innovation and develop the core UKHSA laboratory network, working closely with the NHS, academia, and industry to strengthen public health microbiology.

Job Description

This role spans the country with accountability for the microbiology laboratory functions in Colindale, Porton Down, Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Manchester, and York. The work of the UKHSA laboratory network is to undertake surveillance, research, and support effective control programmes and interventions, all within the wider UKHSA objective of significantly reducing the public health burden from infectious diseases.

The Director will also oversee a range of standing contracts for laboratory services commissioned from the NHS and undertake liaison with the NHS and other laboratory providers in relation to the delivery of day-to-day laboratory services, and the generation of additional capacity to support surge operations in response to small- and large-scale public health incidents. In this respect, the Director must have a track record of operational delivery.

The Director will support the research activities of the UKHSA and ensure UKHSA is a trusted partner in the review, development, and deployment of new public health tests and other scientific developments. This influence will also extend to the review and assurance around the employment of microbiology standards and quality practice given that the UKHSA operates laboratories at the highest levels of containment.

A full list of key responsibilities can be found in the Candidate Pack.

As one of its most senior leaders, you will also be a visible role model for the Civil Service Leadership behaviours. We expect all our senior leaders to be:

1. Inspiring: about our work and its future.
2. Confident: in our engagement with others.
3. Empowering: to allow our teams to deliver.

Person Specification

To be successful in this role, you will need to be qualified in microbiology, public health, or other relevant disciplines with inclusion in the GMC Specialist Register or qualified to an essential of PhD level (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline. In addition, you also need to be able to demonstrate your capability and potential against full criteria detailed in the Job Description.

Selection Process

Sarah Pittam, a Civil Service Commissioner, will chair the process.

You will receive an acknowledgement of your application through the online process.

The Panel will then assess your application to select those demonstrating the best fit with the role by considering the evidence you have provided against the criteria set out in the 'Person Specification' section. Failure to address any or all of these may affect your application.

Interviews are expected to be held on 3rd April 2025, and all shortlisted candidates will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible thereafter.

How to Apply

Perrett Laver have been appointed to support with the recruitment for this post. For details of the appointment, including further information about the job description, person specification, and how to apply, please visit: quoting reference number 7706.

For an informal and confidential discussion about the role, please contact Annabel Holt on (0) or via email at .

The closing date for applications is 09:00 GMT Monday 17th February 2025.

If you require any reasonable adjustments to assist you in the selection process, please advise us of these so that we can make appropriate arrangements.

Should you require access to these documents in alternative formats, please contact Sarah Snelling on .

If you have comments that would support us to improve access to documentation, or our application processes more generally, please do not hesitate to contact us via .