Contents
- Location
- About the job
- Benefits
- Things you need to know
- Apply and further information
Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool and London
About the job
Job summary
COVID-19 has highlighted the profound impact health threats can have on society and the economy, making health security a vital part of national security. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) plays a leading role in health security, working internationally to strengthen global health safety, offering trusted advice to the government and public, and addressing health inequalities across communities.
UKHSA’s mission is to protect the nation from infectious diseases and other health threats, with a focus on global and local levels. As the nation’s expert health security agency, UKHSA is focused on five key areas:
- Prevent: Anticipating health threats and strengthening the nation’s readiness and defences.
- Detect: Using advanced surveillance to monitor and detect infectious diseases and health risks.
- Analyse: Leveraging science and data analytics to assess and mitigate health risks.
- Respond: Taking swift, collaborative actions to address health threats.
- Lead: Fostering partnerships to protect public health and reduce inequalities.
UKHSA’s top priority remains to safeguard UK against future threats.
The Digital and Data Directorate within UKHSA provides strategic leadership for managing data and analytical tools. Its Bioinformatics Division designs and maintains surveillance systems, ensuring accessibility and interoperability to improve health security outcomes, supporting lab services and whole genome sequencing.
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.
Job description
Software development is key to ensuring our systems are robust and scalable. We are looking for a highly capable, versatile software developer to support the establishment and deployment of robust and often novel analytical pipelines. Most of our systems to date are written in Python, but we recognize potential advantages in migrating to C#, C++, Java and F#. We also require interfaces using modern web technologies & frameworks, so we have a broad range of software development challenges for the right person.
This is an ideal role for someone who is self-motivated and enjoys working in interdisciplinary teams. This is also an opportunity to work in a broad, collaborative project at the cutting edge of infectious disease genomics.
Communication and key working relationships
Internal
- Responsible to the Head of WGS Software Development
- Bioinformatics Unit, contribute to NGS activities ongoing within the unit as required
- Genomic Services and Development Unit, interactions with laboratory staff to liaise over NGS sequencing activity in general and robotics/LMS interoperability specifically
- Bioinformaticians embedded in other units, provide advice on best practice in software engineering
- Scientists engaged in development of NGS sequencing projects
- Bioinformaticians working in the Medical and Genomics Directorate and on the COVID-19 response
External
- Scientists at the Oxford Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, ongoing support and development of the TB whole genome sequencing pipeline
- Mycobacteriology Reference Laboratory- Birmingham, support for TB pipelines
- Collaborators on projects at other institutes and academic centres
- Scientist at CLIMB and the COG-UK consortium
Academics and Bioinformaticians in the Devolved Administrations
Key Responsibilities
- To support the migration of current analytical pipelines processing NGS data to robust, scalable software architecture, meeting recognised acceptable software standards
- To write new programmatic algorithms for more efficient and novel ways of processing data and its interpretation.
- To contribute to the scoping of tools and methodologies for analysis of molecular data in conjunction with other metadata such as epidemiological and clinical information.
- To develop and distribute best practice software development and testing for bioinformatics activities across the organisation.
- To devise best practices and establish standards for analysis and dissemination of new technological developments that may have an impact on public health.
- To contribute to the development of the means to disseminate the results from bioinformatics analyses including web-based delivery
- To be involved with the scoping of bioinformatics tools and methodologies for analysis of molecular data in conjunction with other metadata such as epidemiological and clinical information
- Write and distribute regular project update reports and to provide training and deliver presentations as required.
- To take part in quality procedures and audits for accreditation
Health & Safety
- To comply with safety policies, ensure that health, safety and welfare is an afforded priority over other issues and to work in a safe manner.
- Work in a safe manner
Quality
- Ensure that the data within UKHSA databases meet the highest standards of quality to meet clinical and public health needs.
- Contribute to internal and external quality assurance programmes
Risk Management
- To assist line management in ensuring that appropriate risk management controls are implemented and maintained within area of responsibility, and that new risks are identified and raised as appropriate
Other
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 the directorate.
The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation.
Professional Development
You should pursue a programme of continuous professional development in accordance with any relevant professional registration or statutory requirements, while maintaining appropriate awareness of service provider requirements
Person specification
You will be assessed on the below 10 essential criteria, which have been selected from the Job Description
- Higher degree (i.e., MSc or above) in preferred in scientific fields like Applied Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Biochemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Bioinformatics, Electrical Engineering or Computer Science
- Experience of contributing to large and complex software solutions
- Experience of developing software for distributed computer resources
- Experience in industry or academia of delivering multi-disciplinary projects within deadlines
- Proficient in Python
- Proven ability to write software documentation
- Confident in a Linux environment
- Proficient in using git (including continuous integration)
- Experience in working with Postgres or other relational databases
- Experience with Python web frameworks like Django or Flask
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £40,661, UK Health Security Agency contributes £11,779 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Vijender Singh
- Email : vijender.singh@ukhsa.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk
Further information
The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: Complaints@ukhsa.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/
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