At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the Virus Reference Department, providing clinical and scientific expertise.
- Company: Join the UK Health Security Agency, a leader in public health.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Hybrid working model available, promoting work-life balance.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on public health and viral infection control.
- Qualifications: Must be a registered medical practitioner or clinical scientist with virology expertise.
The predicted salary is between 109725 - 145478 £ per year.
This senior post is based on the Colindale site but will work with and provide expertise to other UKHSA sites as required. The post-holder will provide clinical and scientific leadership as Clinical Lead for the Virus Reference Department (VRD) within the Reference Services Division, which is part of the Public Health Microbiology Directorate in UKHSA's Science Group.
The postholder will provide scientific leadership and management in VRD, clinical advice, virology expertise to UKHSA and service users, contribute to strategic, academic and operational aspects of service delivery and development, and maintain oversight of clinical governance in VRD.
Appointment
This post is for a Consultant Medical Virologist or Infectious Diseases Physician with a special interest in Virology or Consultant Clinical Scientist to be employed as Clinical Lead for VRD by the UKHSA. A detailed job plan will be agreed on appointment between the post-holder and the Deputy Director, Public Health Microbiology, Reference Services. The job plan for this role will comprise up to 10 Programmed Activities (PAs) / 5 days per week. Applications from those wanting part-time, job-share or flexible working welcomed. This is a permanent appointment.
Main duties of the job
Clinical samples and isolates are received by VRD from public health departments, the National Health Service and commercial laboratories across the UK and internationally. Services include development and delivery of specialist molecular and serological diagnostics, complex reference testing, virus culture and characterisation, antiviral susceptibility testing, and methodology development, evaluation, validation and verification. VRD contributes to and where appropriate leads national incident responses, national guidance development, disease surveillance programmes, and epidemiology, investigation of national, uncommon, high consequence and complex outbreaks, response to international health alerts. Its eight units are accredited to ISO 15189 by UKAS:
- Antiviral Unit (AVU)
- Blood Borne Virus Unit (BBVU)
- Clinical Services Unit (CSU)
- Enteric Virus Unit (EVU)
- Immunisation & Diagnosis Unit (IDU)
- Human Papillomavirus Unit (HPVU)
- Respiratory Virus Unit (RVU)
- Polio Reference Service (PRS)
Working together with other parts of UKHSA, VRD has a key role in provision of expert scientific, clinical and topic specific advice to government departments and other national and international agencies, risk assessment and response to new and emerging viral threats and plays an important role in teaching and training and providing subject matter expertise to all grades of professional, nursing, scientific and technical staff.
Details
Date posted: 24 June 2026
Pay scheme: Hospital medical and dental staff
Grade: Consultant
Salary: £109,725 to £145,478 a year per annum, pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time, Job share
Reference number: 919-HM-301316-EXT
Job locations: Colindale, London, NW9 5EQ, United Kingdom
Job responsibilities
The Clinical Lead for VRD will be expected to fulfil duties and responsibilities in the following broad areas:
- Provide oversight and leadership on clinical aspects, clinical risk management and clinical governance for services provided by VRD, and contribute to scientific, strategic and operational aspects of service delivery and development in VRD.
- Lead and manage the delivery of a national programme of work related to development and improvement of surveillance, investigation, prevention and control of viral infections across a range of specific areas in VRD.
- Lead and contribute general clinical support, for example by providing expert clinical virology interpretation and medical advice and responding to medical queries relevant to VRD's services.
- Provide leadership, support and expertise to the Deputy Director and to work with the Clinical Lead of BRD, especially with various aspects of strategic planning, research and development, including clinical review and validation of new assays.
- Support teaching and training initiatives related to the Division, including for medical, STP and HSST trainees.
- Provide clinical and scientific leadership and subject matter expertise as part of UKHSA's response to national standard and enhanced incidents, which may include membership of Incident Management Teams, setting up and running a Laboratory Cell response or serving as an Incident Director as part of a rota.
- Act as a key member of UKHSA's multidisciplinary team delivering outbreak detection, prevention, and control nationally.
In addition, VRD, with the Immunisation division, provides a national clinical Rabies and Immunoglobulin advisory service to which the post-holder will be expected to contribute. UKHSA Colindale provides an out-of-hours clinical on-call service for provision of advice on Rabies, VZIG, other immunoglobulins and anti-toxins and a range of public health and microbiological issues to which the postholder will be expected to contribute. This is a shared service with Consultant Epidemiologists and Microbiologists. The post holder will be expected to contribute to an integrated daily clinical virology advice service provided by the medical staff at Colindale, including those that are based in other divisions.
External
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
Stage 1: Application & Sift
This vacancy is using Competency. At sift stage you will be assessed against the essential criteria listed in the Job Description & Person Specification attached to this vacancy advert. You will be required to complete an application form and a 1000 word Statement of Suitability/behaviour statements/technical statements.
Stage 2: Interview stage (competency based)
You will be invited to a remote interview. Interviews dates to be confirmed. A 10 minute Presentation will be required on the following: What is your vision for National Public Health Virology Reference Services?
Security Clearance
All successful candidates must meet the basic security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is: Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Counter-terrorist Check.
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.
Person Specification
Qualifications
- Medical practitioners must have Full and Specialist registration (and with a licence to practise) with the General Medical Council (GMC) for Medical Microbiology/Virology and/or Infectious Diseases.
- Clinical Scientists must have Registration with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) in an appropriate discipline.
- Medical practitioners must have MBBS or equivalent medical qualification.
- Clinical Scientists must have a PhD in virology/molecular biology.
Knowledge and Experience
- Proven track record of clinical virology experience with broad experience of laboratory methods, suitable for diagnostic and reference and/or research purposes.
- Experience of public health microbiology, and understands the role of the UKHSA and the importance of a good relationship with staff and stakeholders.
Skills, Capabilities and Behaviours
- Leadership: able to motivate others, encourage teamwork, delegate and get the best out of people.
- Ability to prioritise work in a timely manner and to work across organizational boundaries.
Equality and Diversity
An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems.
Head of Virus Reference Department in London employer: National health service
The London Ambulance Service NHS Trust is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that prioritises patient safety and service improvement. With a strong commitment to employee development, including leadership training and apprenticeship programmes, staff are empowered to grow their skills while contributing to the health of London. The Trust's inclusive culture and focus on quality management ensure that employees feel valued and supported in their vital roles.
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