UK Health Security Agency

About the Company

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is responsible for planning, preventing and responding to external health threats, and providing intellectual, scientific and operational leadership at national and local level, as well as on the global stage.

Listed Jobs

Company Name

UK Health Security Agency

Job Title

Healthcare Scientist/Software Engineer

Job Description

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.

Main duties of the job

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.

About Us

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

Date posted

10 February 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£40,661 to £50,472 a year Per annum, Pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working

Reference number

919-ROG-303185-EXT

Job locations

Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool and London

10 South Colonnade

London

E14 5EA

Job Description

Job responsibilities

Communication and key working relationshipsInternal

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

Essential Criteria:

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, Physic...

London, United Kingdom

On site

25-02-2025

Company Name

UK Health Security Agency

Job Title

Data Entry Administrator

Job Description

London, London (region), NW9 5EQ

Job Summary

At the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) our mission is to provide health security for the nation by protecting from infectious disease and external hazards. We are a trusted source of advice to government and to the public, focusing on reducing inequalities in the way different communities experience and are impacted by infectious disease, environmental hazards, and other threats to health.

Our mission is challenging, innovative and in the spotlight. We will work to ensure our people have the diverse skills, experiences and backgrounds we need to thrive, that our employees are representative of the communities we serve and feel valued and enabled to play their part in delivering our work.

Creating our working culture is an ongoing process which we are developing by listening and learning together, hearing and acting upon diverse voices and opinions to develop a common sense of identity and effective ways of working.

The job purpose is to work collaboratively with scientists and information officers managing several surveillance programmes to provide an accurate and effective administrative support service. The post holder will work with minimal supervision and be expected to work flexibly as part of a multi- disciplinary team providing a wide range of specific administrative duties. The post holder may work with colleagues who are based across the country at different sites and/or who work remotely.

Job Description

Your key responsibilities will include:

Administrative Support

Provide comprehensive administrative support to teams across the Directorate, including data entry of clinical questionnaires.
To be responsible for dealing with telephone enquiries and other communications that may require a high degree of tact, diplomacy, and confidentiality.
Action routine correspondence, prepare acknowledgements and response letters as requested.
Collate information and data to help produce reports and documents as required; some may be confidential and/or complex.
Assist with the dissemination and/or collation of information/returns for business operations in a timely manner.
Provide Incident Co-ordination administrative cover on rotation as required (if applicable)
Improve the quality of services and contribute to the improvement of the administration service.
To be responsible for organising and controlling own workload ensuring deadlines are observed and duties performed efficiently.
Provide cover as directed by line manager for other members of the team in their absence and assist with their workloads as necessary.

Information Governance and Information Management

Operate and update a range of databases and computerised case management / surveillance systems. Input data and information accurately and completely, using the correct formats consistently with legislation, policies, and procedures.
Adhere to clinical governance and security of information arrangements at all times.
Assist in the effective use and maintenance of the office environment and systems and support the introduction of, and working with, systems to manage these effectively; this will include organising and maintaining comprehensive electronic filing systems and using digital tools, for example JIRA.

Meetings and Events

Arrange, attend, and provide secretariat support to teams and other internal and external meetings and/or networks as required. This will include booking venues; organising hospitality; preparing and producing paperwork, i.e., agendas, action logs, collating and distributing all necessary information and documentation electronically and taking minutes or action notes as required. Ensuring all minutes or action notes are issued in a timely manner and agreed actions are appropriately recorded.
Assist with organising external and/or internal conferences, away days and training days, including registration, and preparing resources.

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.

Your Key Responsibilities Will Include

Administrative Support

Provide comprehensive administrative support to teams across the Directorate, including data entry of clinical questionnaires.
To be responsible for dealing with telephone enquiries and other communications that may require a high degree of tact, diplomacy, and confidentiality.
Action routine correspondence, prepare acknowledgements and response letters as requested.
Collate information and data to help produce reports and documents as required; some may be confidential and/or complex.
Assist with the dissemination and/or collation of information/returns for business operations in a timely manner.
Provide Incident Co-ordination administrative cover on rotation as required (if applicable)
Improve the quality of services and contribute to the improvement of the administration service.
To be responsible for organising and controlling own workload ensuring deadlines are observed and duties performed efficiently.
Provide cover as directed by line manager for other members of the team in their absence and assist with their workloads as necessary.

Information Governance and Information Management

Operate and update a range of databases and computerised case management / surveillance systems. Input data and information accurately and completely, using the correct formats consistently with legislation, policies, and procedures.
Adhere to clinical governance and security of information arrangements at all times.
Assist in the effective use and maintenance of the office environment and systems and support the introduction of, and working with, systems to manage these effectively; this will include organising and maintaining comprehensive electronic filing systems and using digital tools, for example JIRA.

Meetings and Events

Arrange, attend, and provide secretariat support to teams and other internal and external meetings and/or networks as required. This will include booking venues; organising hospitality; preparing and producing paperwork, i.e., agendas, action logs, collating and distributing all necessary information and documentation electronically and taking minutes or action notes as required. Ensuring all minutes or action notes are issued in a timely manner and agreed actions are appropriately recorded.
Assist with organising external and/or internal conferences, away days and training days, including registration, and preparing resources.

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

Significant office experience with telephone and Microsoft Office expe...

London, United Kingdom

On site

28-02-2025