Job Description

We are looking for two Bioinformaticians to work within Core Bioinformatics Division; the division is part of the Digital & Data Directorate within UKHSA.



UKHSA currently performs genomic sequencing of around 20 human pathogens, this data is used to inform clinical and public health pathways for managing the spread of human pathogens within the UK.



Both roles within the Bioinformatics Division will be part of a small team of bioinformaticians supporting the service delivery and the development of new pathogen pipelines and analysis components which will be integrated into the overarching bioinformatics processes for delivering a genomics service.



Digital and Data



The Data Digital & Data Directorate provides strategic leadership and oversight for developing and managing a common and bespoke suite of performant, modern, secure, data and analytical tools, services, platforms and applications, ensuring access to high quality data and analytics services.



Bioinformatics



Based within the Digital & Data Directorate, the Bioinformatics Division works across the organisation and with external partners to lead the design, development, maintenance and delivery of surveillance systems, with a focus on accessibility, interoperability and improving health security outcomes.



The Division is also responsible for the provision of an informatics capability to support laboratory services and has oversight of the bioinformatics function to support whole genome sequencing.



Contribute to day-to-day running and maintenance of the software and computer systems delivering existing UKHSA Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) pipelines.

Contribute to expanding deployment of existing WGS pipelines to additional computational platforms (external cloud)

Support the identification and sharing of best bioinformatics practice

Contribute to refactoring existing WGS software components

Develop tested, validated, and versioned software components for WGS analyses, incorporate into and validate new WGS pipeline versions

Satisfy support requests logged through helpdesk

Analyse data from projects to which you are assigned, accepting responsibility for generating reports within agreed timelines.

Lead preparation of reports, posters and publications arising from the data

Represent UKHSA at internal, National, and international meetings.

Work consistent with the Bioinformatics Unit quality management system, ISO and other accreditation standards; participate in quality audits to support the unit's accredited service.

Always comply with safety and quality protocols and procedures



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



Responsibilities will include



Communication and key working relationships



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. This will include:



Internal



Substantial interactions with members of the Bioinformatics Team and the Central Sequencing Lab (CSL)

Regular interactions with Laboratory scientists, embedded bioinformaticians and epidemiologists.

Substantial interactions within Digital & Data and with central IT (ICT) colleagues.



External



Interaction with external scientific computing experts to deliver appropriate technologies through external cloud-based resource and utilising UKHSA computing infrastructure.

Interactions with collaborating centres (Oxford University, EBI) to deliver software process for analysing WGS data.

Essential criteria:

Degree in Bioinformatics or a related life science and postgraduate training in Bioinformatics

Familiar with Linux/Unix

Knowledge of Next Generation Sequencing technologies and associated bioinformatic analytical approaches

Experience of bioinformatics tool use, preferably to the analysis of microbial DNA

Coding skills, preferably python

Highly motivated, enthusiastic, and hard working

Problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands

An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships

Desirable criteria:

Ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise

Experience of VCS systems (e.g. Git) for software versioning and documentation

Awareness of software containerization (e.g. Docker, Singularity)

Selection Process Details:

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours, Experience, Ability and Technical skills.

Stage 1:

Application & Sift



You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 8 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:



Application form ('Employer/ Activity history' section on the application)

800-word supporting statement.



This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.



The Application form and supporting statement will be marked together.

Longlisting:

In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:



Meets all essential criteria

Meets some essential criteria

Meets no essential criteria



The pile that meets all essential criteria will be used for further sifting.

Shortlisting:

In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on 'Degree in Bioinformatics or a related life science and postgraduate training in Bioinformatics'



Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications / large amount of successful candidates



If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment



Please do not exceed 800 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.



Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2:

Interview (success profiles)



You will be invited to a single remote interview.



Behaviours, technical, and ability will be tested at interview.



The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be



Delivering at pace (lead behaviour)

Working together

Making effective decisions,

Changing and Improving



Technical skills and ability will be tested via technical questions in the interview.



Interviews will be held week commencing 25 th August 2025. Please note, these dates are subject to change.



Eligibility Criteria



External



Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).



Security Clearance Level Requirement



Successful candidates for this role must pass an enhanced 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



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). 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.



Location



This role is being offered as hybrid working based at any of our Core HQ's. 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) working at one of UKHSA's core HQ's (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London) or at one of our scientific campus sites (Colindale)



Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport link and benefit from benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).



UKHSA is investing in a new state-of-the-art National Biosecurity Centre in Harlow, Essex, which will eventually bring together teams currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale and Porton Down. For more details, please see: Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection - GOV.UK .



The new facilities will start becoming operational in the mid-2030s, with full completion by 2038. Staff will move in phases as facilities become available. If you're appointed to a role currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale or Porton Down, please note that we'll continue investing in these sites for the next decade. As we get closer to the transition, we'll provide full information about relocation support available to staff.