Clinical Genomics Consultant

UK Health Security Agency

Job summary

There are currently 2 part time vacancies – Both part time 5 Programmed Activities per week 20 hours per week (NHS Medical and Dental pay scale) or 18.75 hours per week (NHS Agenda for Change)

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has been set up to provide health security and health protection for the nation by protecting from infectious disease and external hazards. We will act like no other organisation previously to mitigate threats to health before they materialise.

UKHSA will build the nation’s health resilience and security, strengthening our ability to detect and monitor infectious diseases and external threats to health. Using robust evidence and world-leading expertise, we will go deeper to analyse threats to health, and how best to prevent and control them. UKHSA will ensure a system-wide response in partnership with local authorities, NHS, academia, global professional institutes, and industry.

UKHSA is delivering a 5-year pathogen genomics strategy. We are looking for a consultant to work on clinical aspects of pathogen genomics transformation, within the Chief Medical Advisor Group. The individual will work across the breadth of the programme, but with a particular focus on metagenomics and clinical services development.

Main duties of the job

The post will sit within the Epidemic and Emerging Infections Directorate and work closely with the Metagenomics Programme Team. The appointed individual will provide clinical leadership to pathogen genomics projects including metagenomics Surveillance Collaboration and Analysis Programme (mSCAPE) and further surveillance and research studies using metagenomics. They will work closely both within UKHSA with the Public Health Programmes Directorate and the Chief Scientific Officer’s group, and with the NHS and public health stakeholders to ensure maximum impact from genomics transformation. They will also be responsible for elements of clinical and information governance. They will work in an integrated way with the NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Public Health Genomics.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered medical practitioner, with full registration with the GMC, and inclusion on the Specialist Register for Infectious Diseases, Microbiology or Virology (or be eligible for entry onto that register within six months of the AAC date) or commensurate qualifications and experience
  • Or registered clinical scientist in Microbiology or Virology, with full registration on the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Register, with certificate of completion of HSST and a Doctoral award or FRCPath (or be eligible for entry onto that register within six months of the AAC date) or commensurate qualifications and experience
  • Registered medical practitioners that are UK trained must also be a holder of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) or be within six months of award of CCT by date of interview. Applicants that are non-UK trained will be required to show evidence of equivalence to the UK CCT

Desirable

  • Further qualification such as Postgraduate thesis (MD, PhD or equivalent), MSc, DipHIC etc in a relevant field to infectious diseases, microbiology, virology, genomics
  • MRCP, FRCPath or equivalent (e.g. RCPCH)

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Experience working with pathogen genomics during previous roles in a clinical, laboratory or analysis setting
  • Demonstrated leadership and management skills
  • Commitment to clinical governance and patient safety
  • Interest and experience in specialty training of clinical and scientific trainees

Desirable

  • Demonstrated aptitude and interest in public health

Skills, Capabilities and Behaviours

Essential

  • Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team
  • Good interpersonal, written and communication skills and able to communicate effectively in clinical, government and international settings
  • An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also relation to management systems

Desirable

  • Ability to supervise postgraduate clinical & laboratory research
  • National or international scientific standing

Equality and Diversity

Essential

  • 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

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Closing Date: 2 August 2026

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.