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Senior Bioinformatician

Porton, England, United Kingdom Full-time Posted 58 minutes ago
Scientific Campus Porton

Job Summary

The Diagnostics and Pathogen Characterisation (DPC) Division, at Porton Down, comprises approximately 150 staff focusing on critical early steps in infection control. Including pathogen identification, characterisation, and diagnostic development. Within DPC, the Virology and Pathogenesis and Pathogen Characterisation (VPPC) group undertakes research on arboviruses, viral haemorrhagic fevers, and other emerging zoonotic viruses that present significant risks to human health. Its work aligns with the institute’s role as a World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Centre for virus research and reference. Spanning diagnostics, surveillance, and evaluation of therapeutics and vaccines, supported by strong international collaborations. We are recruiting a bioinformatician to the Pathogen Characterisation group to support genomics programmes targeting rare and emerging pathogens.

The post-holder will work across multidisciplinary teams to enhance molecular workflows and expand genomic capabilities for priority pathogens. Responsibilities include integrating sequencing outputs into analytical pipelines to support surveillance, outbreak response, and research.

A grounding in molecular biology is essential. Experience with Next-generation sequencing (NGS) data is desirable, particularly with Illumina and Oxford Nanopore platforms, alongside familiarity with viral or bacterial genome analysis, including assembly, variant calling, and quality control.

Job Description

  • Develop, maintain, and deploy whole genome sequencing (WGS) bioinformatics pipelines, including refactoring and improving existing software components.
  • Implement, test, validate, and version new analytical tools and integrate them into production-ready WGS workflows.
  • Analyse genomic datasets and deliver high-quality reports within agreed timelines to support surveillance, research, and outbreak responses.
  • Provide training, guidance, and best-practice advice on the use and interpretation of bioinformatics tools and analyses.
  • Lead and contribute to the preparation of reports, presentations, posters, and peer-reviewed publications.
  • Represent the organisation at internal, national, and international meetings and contribute to collaborative networks.
  • Identify, evaluate, and adopt new technologies and analytical approaches to enhance scientific capability and maintain high technical standards.
  • Supervise and mentor junior staff, and provide line or project management support where required.
  • Ensure all work complies with organisational safety, quality, and regulatory standards, including maintaining personal health and safety competence.
  • Adhere to organisational policies, values, confidentiality requirements, and contribute flexibly to additional duties as required.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

This role supports the delivery of high-quality genomic analysis within a public health and research environment, with a primary focus on the development, optimisation, and application of whole genome sequencing (WGS) bioinformatics pipelines. The post-holder will contribute to advancing pathogen genomics capability through robust software development, data analysis, and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.

Core Technical Responsibilities

  • Lead and contribute to the design, development, deployment, and continuous improvement of WGS bioinformatics pipelines for microbial genomics applications.
  • Refactor, optimise, and maintain existing WGS software components to improve performance, reproducibility, and scalability.
  • Develop new bioinformatics tools and analytical modules, ensuring they are fully tested, validated, documented, and version-controlled prior to integration into production pipelines.
  • Apply best practices in software engineering, including the use of version control systems (e.g. Git), code review, and reproducible workflows.
  • Support the identification, development, and dissemination of best practice in bioinformatics methods, ensuring alignment with organisational and sector standards.

Data Analysis and Scientific Delivery

  • Undertake comprehensive analysis of next-generation sequencing (NGS) datasets (e.g. Illumina, Oxford Nanopore), including quality control, genome assembly, variant identification, and downstream interpretation.
  • Generate accurate, timely, and high-quality reports from data analyses to support research, surveillance, and outbreak investigations.
  • Lead and contribute to the preparation of scientific outputs, including technical reports, peer-reviewed publications, posters, and presentations.
  • Maintain a high level of scientific rigour, ensuring analyses are reproducible, well-documented, and meet required quality standards.

Collaboration, Training, and Representation

  • Work closely with clinical, laboratory, and research colleagues to integrate genomic data into wider public health and research activities.
  • Provide training, mentorship, and expert advice on bioinformatics tools, pipelines, and interpretation of genomic data to a range of stakeholders.
  • Build and maintain effective working relationships across internal teams and external collaborators, including national and international partners.
  • Represent the organisation at internal, national, and international meetings, contributing to scientific discussions and collaborations.

Innovation and Continuous Improvement

  • Identify, evaluate, and implement new bioinformatics approaches, sequencing technologies, and analytical methodologies to enhance capability.
  • Contribute to strategic development within the team by anticipating future scientific and technical needs and proposing innovative solutions.

Leadership and Management

  • Provide project management and, where required, line management responsibilities, ensuring delivery of agreed objectives within timelines and resource constraints.
  • Supervise, support, and develop junior staff, fostering a collaborative and high-performing team environment.
  • Allocate and prioritise workloads effectively across projects, ensuring flexibility in response to changing demands.

Governance, Quality, and Compliance

  • Ensure all work is conducted in accordance with UKHSA safety, quality, and governance frameworks.
  • Maintain personal and team compliance with health and safety requirements and promote best practice in laboratory and computational environments.

Additional Responsibilities

  • Demonstrate adaptability and flexibility in undertaking additional duties as required by line management, commensurate with the grade of the post.
  • Maintain continuous professional development, keeping up to date with advances in bioinformatics, pathogen genomics, and relevant technologies.

This list is not exhaustive.

  • Develop, maintain, and deploy whole genome sequencing (WGS) bioinformatics pipelines, including refactoring and improving existing software components.
  • Implement, test, validate, and version new analytical tools and integrate them into production-ready WGS workflows.
  • Analyse genomic datasets and deliver high-quality reports within agreed timelines to support surveillance, research, and outbreak responses.
  • Provide training, guidance, and best-practice advice on the use and interpretation of bioinformatics tools and analyses.
  • Lead and contribute to the preparation of reports, presentations, posters, and peer-reviewed publications.
  • Represent the organisation at internal, national, and international meetings and contribute to collaborative networks.
  • Identify, evaluate, and adopt new technologies and analytical approaches to enhance scientific capability and maintain high technical standards.
  • Supervise and mentor junior staff, and provide line or project management support where required.
  • Ensure all work complies with organisational safety, quality, and regulatory standards, including maintaining personal health and safety competence.
  • Adhere to organisational policies, values, confidentiality requirements, and contribute flexibly to additional duties as required.

Additional Responsibilities

  • Demonstrate adaptability and flexibility in undertaking additional duties as required by line management, commensurate with the grade of the post.
  • Maintain continuous professional development, keeping up to date with advances in bioinformatics, pathogen genomics, and relevant technologies.

This list is not exhaustive.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

  • PhD or equivalent experience in bioinformatics or related discipline.
  • Proficiency in Linux/Unix environments and command-line tools.
  • Strong understanding of next-generation sequencing technologies and associated analytical approaches.
  • Experience in developing, modifying and debugging analytical code (preferably Python).
  • Familiarity with version control systems (e.g. Git).
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex data clearly to varied audiences.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex datasets and recommend solutions.

Desirable Criteria:

  • Experience working with public health, or clinical microbiology datasets, particularly within surveillance or outbreak response contexts.
  • Familiarity with both Illumina and ONT sequencing data, including hybrid assembly approaches.
  • Knowledge of cloud or high-performance computing environments for large-scale genomic data processing.Proficiency in additional programming or scripting languages.

Alongside your salary of £41,983, UK Health Security Agency contributes £12,162 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

  • 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%

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.  

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours/Experience & Technical skills.

Stage 1: Application & Sift  

Success Profiles - GOV.UK 

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed  7  essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:  

  • Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application) 
  • 750 word supporting statement.  

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

You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. (The application form is the kind of information you would put into your C.V –please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible). Please do not email us your CV.

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 750  words. We will not consider any words over 750  words. 

Longlisting:

In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:

  • Meets all essential criteria
  • Meets some essential criteria
  • Meets no essential criteria

If longlisting is used, the pile meeting all essential criteria will be proceed to shortlisting.

Shortlisting:

In the event of a large number of applications we will conduct an initial sift, on the lead criteria of:

  • PhD or equivalent experience in bioinformatics or related discipline.

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

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Stage 2: Interview 

Success profiles 

Success Profiles - GOV.UK 

You will be invited to a face to face  interview at Porton.

If face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.  

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours/Experience & Technical skills through questioning. 

The Behaviours Tested During The Interview Stage Will Be:

  • Making Effective Decisions (Lead Behaviour)
  • Delivering at Pace
  • Leadership
  • Managing a Quality Service

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 hybrid working based at our Scientific Campus in Porton. We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month) working at our office). Our Health Protection Operation Centres are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport links and benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a basic 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 Counter-Terrorist Check.

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.

Eligibility Criteria

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

Qualifications And Registrations

For roles where specific qualifications or registrations are required, successful applicants will be asked to provide appropriate evidence. Employment cannot commence until satisfactory documentation has been received and verified.

Future location

UKHSA Is Investing In a New State-of-the-art National Biosecurity Centre In Harlow, Essex, Which Will Eventually Bring Together Teams Currently Based At Canary Wharf, Colindale And Porton Down. For More Details, Please See:

Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection - GOV.UK

The new facilities will start becoming operational in the mid-2030s, with full completion by 2038. Staff will move in phases as facilities become available. If you're appointed to a role currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale or Porton Down, please note that we'll continue investing in these sites for the next decade. As we get closer to the transition, we'll provide full information about relocation support available to staff.

Reasonable Adjustments

The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone. To help you during the recruitment process, we will consider any reasonable adjustments that could help you. An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work. This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme. If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs.

You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: Reasonable Adjustments , Civil Service Careers

International Police check

If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and it could be time accrued over that period.

Internal Fraud Check

If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant’s personal details – name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub, and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional circumstances. Currently this is only for external candidates to the Civil Service.

Careers website

Please visit our careers site for more information: UKHSA Hub , Civil Service Careers

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. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.

Civil Service - Senior Executive Officer.

£41,983 - £48,128 (National)

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups:

  • UK nationals
  • nationals of the Republic of Ireland
  • nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
  • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
  • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
  • individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
  • Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

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 : Nigel Poole
  • Email : Nigel.Poole@ukhsa.gov.uk

Recruitment team

  • Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk

Further information

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 the UKHSA Complaints team via email at: 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 for

further information: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/

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