Microbiologist - NCTC6000 Project

Job Overview

The National Collection of Type Cultures (NCTC) is one of four Culture Collections operated by the UK Health Security Agency. As the longest-running bacterial collection in the world, NCTC has over 6,000 type and reference strains meticulously archived and maintained. This role will work with the collection and involve bacterial cultivation, inactivation and DNA extraction from 3,000 strains in the NCTC bacterial collection to allow for whole‑genome sequencing.

Key Responsibilities

• Enable and implement all NCTC laboratory operations including: the cultivation, manufacturing and freeze‑drying banking of all NCTC strains; the testing and qualification of manufactured batches; the maintenance of manufacturing and test records; the reception and banking of incoming, new strains.
• Support other NCTC operations as required from time to time including: DNA extraction, materials acquisition; product packaging and shipping and general product support.
• Partake in developmental work involving NCTC strains to enable the successful completion of a large‑scale sequencing project.
• Work under the supervision of the NCTC Supervisors and Operation Lead.
• Work as part of the NCTC laboratory team and UKHSA Culture Collections operations.
• Liaise with staff throughout Colindale and Porton as appropriate.
• Liaise with customers of, and suppliers to, the NCTC, as and when necessary.
• Support continuous professional development in accordance with any relevant professional registration or statutory requirements, whilst maintaining appropriate awareness of service provider requirements.
• Participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e. fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training.
• Ensure health, safety and welfare is an afforded priority over other issues and demonstrate a commitment to health and safety.
• Comply with safety policies, procedures, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) and risk assessments.
• Work in a safe manner; report/notify all accidents and incidents or near misses, dangerous situations or shortcomings in health and safety training instructions via the appropriate management structure.
• Co‑operate on matters of health and safety to enable UKHSA to comply with its health and safety responsibilities.
• Promote wellbeing.
• Work with other staff to improve working practices.
• Maintain a high standard of work and contribute to developing the service of the laboratory so that service delivery is safe, effective and economical and follows best practices.
• Participate in internal and external quality assurance programmes.
• Ensure compliance with accreditation to ISO17025 and certification to ISO9001 standards.
• Participate in internal and external audit programmes.
• Effectively transcribe and translate information succinctly.
• Take every effort to suggest quality improvements.
• Prepare NCTC freeze‑dried/reference material cultures for banking and stock replenishment.
• The testing and authentication of NCTC banks for release to inventory.
• The reception, cultivation and banking of incoming, new bacterial strains.
• Carry out duties in Containment Level 3 (once suitably trained) and support operations accordingly.
• The maintenance of manufacturing batch records.
• Uphold, originate and maintain written Standard Operating Procedures.
• Contribute to process development and process improvement.
• The preparation, acquisition and qualification of laboratory materials.
• Assist with technical investigations and enquiries prompted by customer queries and/or internal failure investigations.
• Assist with ordering of culture media and glassware from media production department.
• Prepare specialised, sterile culture media, as required from time to time.
• The reception, storage and maintenance of media and laboratory reagents.
• Assist with the tracking of laboratory expenditure against budget.
• Assist with essential laboratory and product support activities, as required from time to time, including: the safe disposal of laboratory waste; the maintenance and organisation of Personal Protective Equipment; the organisation and processing of laboratory glassware; preparation of products for shipment; stock‑takes and audits; office support.
• Assist with R&D support as required from time to time.
• Assist in the development of information technology systems and databases as required.
• Place orders on the Finance and Resource Management (FARM) system for consumables from Stores, also laboratory items and equipment servicing from outside suppliers.
• Liaise with the Porton FARM team and resolve any issues arising over such orders.
• Prepare orders for media and deliver same to Media Production Department once signed.
• Ensure junior staff members are competent to carry out the tasks and provide suitable and sufficient supervision.
• Support the induction, education, training and professional development of junior staff.
• Carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by your line manager.

Key Qualifications

• Bachelor\’s degree in Microbiology, Biomedical Science, Molecular Biology or equivalent experience in molecular microbiology.
• Relevant experience of working in a microbiology laboratory.
• Experience of working to written SOP within a formal quality management system.

Desirable Criteria

• Maintains professional competence in biomedical sciences.
• Able to deal with problems in a calm and efficient manner and cope under pressure.
• Able to concentrate for long periods of time.

Benefits

• Access to a generous Defined Benefit pension scheme with employer contributions.
• Access to a cycle‑to‑work salary sacrifice scheme, season ticket advances and payroll giving.
• Access to retail discounts and cashback site.
• We also promote flexible working patterns (part‑time, job‑share, condensed hours).
• We also offer a generous maternity / paternity and adoption leave package.

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.