Job Description

The Rare & Imported Pathogens Laboratory (RIPL) provides frontline clinical diagnostics, specialist diagnostics, and clinical advice for rare, imported or hazardous infections. The RIPL clinical/science team has 19 staff (16 whole time equivalent) including medical consultants, a clinical scientist, senior scientists, and registrars/clinical fellows. Operational management and a dedicated diagnostic development unit are provided by associated units on the Porton site. A key programme is the National Imported Fever Service, a joint venture between RIPL and the Hospital for Tropical Diseases (part of UCLH) and the Royal Liverpool Hospital's Tropical and Infectious Diseases Unit. RIPL is also the National Laboratory for Lyme disease and provides a specialist clinical advice service.



RIPL provides reference diagnostic services for a wide range of zoonotic, imported, and dangerous pathogens including viral haemorrhagic fevers, the arbovirus group, hantaviruses, rickettsia and coxiella, anthrax, leptospirosis, tularaemia and other biothreat agents. RIPL is a WHO collaborating laboratory for special pathogens.



RIPL team members are highly research-active and also work closely with the wider research teams across UKHSA, including on biosafety and containment, diagnostics, vaccine and therapeutic development, and public health research studies.



The Consultant in Infection will provide expert consultant support for RIPL and the Imported Fever Service. The work covers a wide range of imported bacterial and viral agents and zoonoses and vector borne diseases in the UK, and the consultant will be a key part of the team offering advice on diagnosis, management, and infection control for these agents. As an expert in control of infection and antimicrobial resistance the consultant will bring this expertise to RIPL and UKHSA as required.



UKHSA Porton hosts an environmental laboratory testing samples for a range of pathogens from potentially contaminated sites. The site also includes facilities for studies on disease pathogenesis, and testing vaccines and therapeutics against dangerous infectious diseases, and there is a small vaccine production unit. The post-holder is also expected to work closely with the relevant teams at Porton and at other UKHSA sites.



In addition to supporting the clinical work of the Imported Fever Service, the consultant will gain experience in working with dangerous infectious organisms, in risk assessment and management for infectious agents, and aspects of preventing contamination, environmental sampling and decontamination. This knowledge is used to advise hospital staff on how to apply these principles rationally in their setting to allow both safe and effective working in the interests of patients and carers.



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



The post holder will



Share with colleagues' responsibility for the day-to-day provision of a comprehensive clinical microbiology and virology service covering unusual pathogens including arboviruses, Rickettsia, Q fever, Lyme disease. Additional training and support/mentoring will be provided through consultant colleagues as the range of pathogens extends beyond standard specialties.

Provide clinical support for RIPL services at a national level.

Liaise with patient and professional interest groups provide evidence-based advice to them and professional groups.

Assist with teaching and training of medical, scientific, biomedical scientist staff, international visitors, and undergraduates and postgraduates within UKHSA, university partners and other agencies.

Assist in the provision of a service to support public health investigations and management of cases and outbreaks of unusual diseases.

Be involved in the collection of epidemiological data in close liaison with the Health Protection Services, and in surveillance and prevention programmes as appropriate.

Carry out teaching, examination and accreditation duties as required and for contributing to undergraduate, postgraduate, and continuing medical education activity, locally and nationally.

Be involved in research when required.

Provide clinical/professional supervision and mentorship as appropriate.

Demonstrate high professional standards.

Deputise for the Head of RIPL as and when required.

Demonstrate a willingness to undertake additional professional responsibilities at local, regional, national, or international levels.

Assist with teaching and training of medical, scientific, biomedical scientist staff, international visitors, and undergraduates and postgraduates within UKHSA, university partners and other agencies.

Actively identify, lead, and contribute to quality improvement and governance initiatives in line with strategic direction of the region.

Actively assist in the development of joint plans and system wide priorities for public health action or improvement.

Ensure compliance with all confidentiality and governance requirements at all times.

Contribute to proactive and responsive media issues.

Participate in organisational and professional appraisal and revalidation as appropriate.

Share on-call duties with professional colleagues and to cross-cover for annual and study leave as necessary, in proportion to the postholder's base PAs (currently overall, averaged across the year, the post-holder will be on call on a c. 1:4 rota for nights and weekends: intensity supplement = A)



Other duties



It is the responsibility of the postholder to ensure that all duties are carried out to the highest possible standard, and in accordance with current quality initiatives within the area of work.

All staff who have access to or transfer data are responsible for that data and must respect confidentiality and comply with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998, in line with the UKHSA policies.

The postholder is responsible for data quality and complying with the policies, procedures, and accountability arrangements throughout the Trust for maintaining accuracy and probity in the recording of UKHSA's activities.

Staff are required to comply with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in line with UKHSA Policy.

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.

The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of UKHSA Centers and Regions.

Each year's Job Plan will be agreed annually in advance between the postholder and the Head of RIPL normally between January and March.

The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation.



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



UKHSA medical, scientific, biomedical scientists.

Other units within TARZET, particularly EIZ and Travel Health.

Other divisions within the Agency, particularly Health Protection Services.

The Imported Fever Service partners (the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, London, and the Tropical Infectious Diseases Unit, Liverpool)



External



Consultant Microbiologists and ID physicians within the UK and internationally

GPs and hospital consultants for Lyme disease queries

National and international experts for relevant pathogens

Other government departments, including APHA, and the relevant public health authorities in the Devolved Administrations



The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. Please refer to the .



You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by your line manager.

The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of UKHSA



Other Information



Applicants are strongly advised to use the criteria in the Person Specification of the as sub-headings in their application to make it clear how they meet each of the selection criteria.



The successful candidate will be appointed to the point of the Consultant salary scale appropriate to their years of seniority.



Inclusion in the GMC Full and Specialist Register with a license to practice (or be eligible for registration within six months of interview)



Specialty Registrar applicants who are not yet on the GMC Specialist Register must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they are within 6 months of gaining entry at the date of interview; all other applicants must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they have applied for inclusion in the GMC.



External



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

Stage 1:

Application & Sift



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

an Application form ('Employer/ Activity history' section on the application) up to 1500 word Statement of Suitability.

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



Please note you will not be able to upload your CV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible.



The Application Form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.



Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered



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

Stage 2:

Interview (competency based)



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 06 October 2025. Please note, this date is subject to change.



This vacancy is being assessed using Civil Service Competency framework. During the interview we will assess against the below:



Knowledge

Experience

Skills and Abilities



You will be asked to prepare and present an 5 minute presentation at the start of your interview. The subject of this will be sent to you prior to interview. Use of slides will be permitted.



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 lab based at our Scientific Campus in Porton Down.



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.



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 Basic Personnel Security Standard / Counter-terrorist Check



Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.



UK Health Security Agency promoted diversity in the workplace and is an Equal Opportunities employer