Visa sponsorshipHome Office sponsor register · Skilled Worker route
This role is listed by an employer that holds a live Home Office sponsor licence on the Skilled Worker route.
Salary for this role£28,547 – £33,196 a year
Health and Care route minimum£25,000 a year
Pay basisNational pay scales (NHS bands)
This occupation falls under the Health and Care Worker route. Salaries set by national pay scales (NHS bands) at or above the relevant band rate typically meet the occupation's requirement.
Closest occupation match: SOC 1231, Health care practice managers. Home Office going rate for this occupation: £40,400 a year.
Individual eligibility depends on personal circumstances. These figures are public reference information, not advice or a verdict on this job.
Role description
Job summary
The Food, Water and Environmental Microbiology Services (FWEMS) Laboratories are specialist microbiology laboratories within the UKHSA. Based in 3 sites across the country, the laboratories are geographically well placed to work with local authorities to protect the public from health threats posed by contaminated food, water and the environment. The Porton FWEMS Laboratory provides a microbiology testing and advisory service to Local Authorities, Port Health Authorities, hospitals and commercial clients across the south and west of England. The laboratory is accredited to ISO 17025 and is recognised as an Official Laboratory for the microbiological examination of food and foodstuffs within the EU.
The post holder will act as a Healthcare Scientist Practitioner and provide a technical service to customers for the diagnostic testing of Food, Water and Environmental samples as an aid to the investigation of outbreaks, food poisoning and routine control. They will perform basic and more complex investigations providing specialised testing using complex equipment.
The post holder will develop working relationships and communicate regularly with a wide range of individuals, clinical and non-clinical, internal and external to UKHSA.
Main duties of the job
Quality Management Systems- Participate in activities necessary for the maintenance and development of the Quality System in accordance with UKAS requirements.- Support the laboratory's accreditation to ISO 17025 and ensure compliance with UKAS and other accreditation and certification standards.- Assist the Quality Manager in ensuring good working practices and maintain a high standard of work, including participating in Internal Quality Control and External Quality Assessment schemes.- Assist, where appropriate, in regular audits of departmental procedures in support of the Quality Manager and assist in the analysis of the results.
Asset Management- Ensure efficient running and contribute to routine maintenance of all equipment, which will include high cost, complex equipment requiring calibration and regular maintenance.- Assist in the maintenance of stocks of reagents and consumables, ensuring that they are received, stored, verified and used appropriately.- Contribute to the care, maintenance and security of laboratory premises and equipment in order to ensure efficient and safe operation.
Management
- Take responsibility for the supervision of the day-to-day activities of less experienced staff
IT Infrastructure- Become competent in the use of the laboratory's IT systems and participate in the basic inputting of data into the system
About us
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
Details
Date posted
27 October 2026
Pay scheme
Other
Salary
£28,547 to £33,196 a year
Per annum, Pro rata
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time,
Part-time,
Job share,
Flexible working
Reference number
919-GB-301104-EXT
Job locations
Porton
Porton
SP4 0JG
United Kingdom
Job description
Job responsibilities
Strategy, Policy and Service Development
Assist in the improvement and development of the service, in the interests of efficiency and in order to meet changing demands.
Support the implementation of new methods and technologies into the laboratory, in order to maximise quality and efficiency of testing.
Support and participate in FW&E surveys, trials and research work and projects in collaboration with other senior staff of the FWEMS laboratories.
Support appropriate income generation activities for the laboratory, in accordance with the National FWEMS objectives, in conjunction with the Laboratory Management Team.
Participate in periodic reviews of laboratory methods with respect to performance and relevance.
Security/Health and Safety
Ensure confidentiality and conformity to the requirements of the Data Protection Act, Caldicott principles and the Laboratory Information Systems and Technology Security policy.
Ensure that health and safety are afforded priority and to demonstrate commitment to health, safety and welfare of self, staff and visitors.
Ensure attendance of self and managed staff on safety training courses as required in the UKHSA Health and Safety Training Policy and other safety policies as appropriate.
Agree to implement safety objectives.
Ensure that a Laboratory/Office Safety Code is implemented. Ensure that risk assessments are implemented and maintained.
Report risks that cannot be controlled to the Laboratory Manager. Notify accidents, near misses, dangerous situations and shortcomings in health and safety via the appropriate management structure.
ESSENTIAL CRITERIA
BSc (Hons) Science degree or BTEC with previous experience in microbiology OR equivalent experience
Understanding of quality management systems, especially in relation to UKAS Accreditation
Have extensive working knowledge of laboratory areas, including both practical and theoretical knowledge of the various methods employed. Also, to demonstrate a sound understanding of the basic scientific principles relevant to microbiology. Knowledge and understanding of laboratory safety requirements and procedures
Experience of automated testing systems
Skills for communication of complex information and administrative matters, requiring developed interpersonal and oral/ written communication skills
Skills for supporting project management, including ensuring that projects meet financial targets
Ability to work on own initiative and organise own workload with minimal supervision, working to tight and often changing timescales. Problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands
SELECTION PROCESS DETAILS
This vacancy is using SuccessProfiles andwill assess your Behaviours and Strengths.
Stage 1: APPLICATION & SIFT
You willbe requiredto complete an application form. You will be assessed onthe listed7 essentialcriteria,and this will be in the form ofa:
Application form(Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
1,000 wordsupporting statement.
This should outline how you consider your skills,experienceandknowledgeprovide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.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 beadvisedyou 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.
HealthjobsUK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than1,000 words. We will not consider any words over 1,000 words.
LONGLISTING
In the event ofa large number ofapplicationswewilllonglistinto 3 piles of:
Meets all essential criteria
Meets some essential criteria
Meets no essential criteria
If used, the pile(s) Meets all essential criteria willproceedto shortlisting.
SHORTLISTING
In the event ofa large number ofapplications wemay conductan initialsift, on the lead criteria of:
BSc (Hons) Science degree or BTEC with previous experience in microbiology OR equivalent experience
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment.
Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Stage 2:INTERVIEW
You will be invited to a single face to face interview at UKHSA Porton. In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.
Behaviours and Strengths will be tested at interview.
The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:
Working Together
Developing Self and Others
Managing a Quality Service
Delivering at Pace
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
LOCATION
This role is being offered as office/lab based at our Scientific Campus in Porton. Please note hybrid working is not available for this role.
When based at our scientific campus, 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.
SECRUITY CELARANCE LEVEL REQUIREMENT
Successful candidates must pass a basic disclosure and barring security check before they can be appointed.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Counter-Terrorist Check.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
EXTERNAL-This vacancy is open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service as well as internal applicants.
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.
Please be aware that the salary is based on the office location.
£28,547- £33,196 (National)
Person Specification
application form andsupportingstatement
Essential
application form andsupportingstatement
Behaviours
Essential
Working Together
Developing Self and Others
Managing a Quality Service
Delivering at Pace
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.