This role is being offered as office based at our site at Porton.

If based at one of our labs, 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.

Job Summary The job is based at the Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory (RIPL), UKHSA Porton Down, and is an opportunity to learn about the recognition, diagnosis and management of a wide range of imported and zoonotic diseases. The job is suitable for a trainee ideally towards the end of their training programme, but as a minimum at ST3 or above in microbiology, virology, infectious diseases in single or combined specialty training. Candidates will be expected to have a basic knowledge of laboratory practice in microbiology and virology, and a good understanding of the pathological basis of disease and case management.

Under the supervision of the RIPL consultants, the post-holder will form an active member of the clinical team.

Responsibilities Will Include

Provision of specialist clinical services and advice within the scope of RIPL’s activities relating to the care and treatment of patients, infection control and environmental sampling, acting as a primary point of contact for clinicians.
Interpretation and reporting of laboratory results.
Taking an active part in the scientific research activities supporting the work of RIPL and the evidence base for the test strategies we employ.
Participation in the quality and governance programmes of RIP to develop an understanding of laboratory management

The candidate will be strongly encouraged to identify a project of their own in a topic relevant to the RIPL service. Examples include analysis of cases referred to the service, the risk factors and demographics associated with a particular disease in returning travelers, or ways of improving the output of the service to make them as relevant and informative as possible to the clinicians and patients involved.

Job Description In accordance with UKHSA policies and procedures, and seeking advice from other clinical colleagues when necessary, the Clinical Fellow will be expected to undertake the following:

Clinical Services

To offer clinical and scientific advice to clinicians on the appropriateness and choice of testing and the interpretation of results.
Interpretation and reporting of results from RIPL.
To liaise with clinicians and other healthcare professionals on all aspects of patient management (including treatment) and to act as a link between the laboratory and front-line medical professionals.
To support the development and provision of specialist services.
To support the introduction of new diagnostic methodologies into the unit to ensure that a comprehensive service is provided for imported diseases.
To contribute to incident or outbreak investigations.
Through example, discussion and daily working practice, educate and encourage junior members of staff in the interpretation and significance of laboratory work for patient management.

Research and Development

To participate in scientific research activities within the RIPL service
Facilitate joint working on novel and dangerous diseases across UKHSA and in collaboration with other relevant UKHSA infection specialists

Quality

In Collaboration With The Laboratory Quality Team To

Support and enhance compliance with ISO15189 and other accreditation and certification standards.
Support the continual development and compliance of internal and external audit programmes and corrective actions.
Contribute to internal and external quality assurance programmes.
Maintain a high standard of work, appraising and developing the service of the laboratory so that service delivery is safe, effective and economical, and follows best practice.
Make every effort to suggest quality improvement.

Please refer to the attached Job Description & Person Specification of the role for full details of duties and essential criteria. In Collaboration With The Laboratory Quality Team To:

Support and enhance compliance with ISO15189 and other accreditation and certification standards.
Support the continual development and compliance of internal and external audit programmes and corrective actions.
Contribute to internal and external quality assurance programmes.
Maintain a high standard of work, appraising and developing the service of the laboratory so that service delivery is safe, effective and economical, and follows best practice.
Make every effort to suggest quality improvement.

Please refer to the attached Job Description & Person Specification of the role for full details of duties and essential criteria. Person specification

Essential Role Criteria (including Qualifications, Licenses And Registrations):

Recognised medical degree meeting UK requirements for registration
Registered for a UK or equivalent international medical specialist trainee programme in microbiology, virology, infectious diseases or a relevant combined programme
GMC registration or eligibility for registration
Experience in clinical interpretation of complex laboratory tests for infectious diseases, including molecular & serological methods.
Experience in the clinical presentation and management of infectious conditions
Bacteriology and virology experience
Good communicator and team worker.
Familiarity with Excel and PowerPoint
Ability to assimilate varied information and solve complex problems.
Highly motivated and able to self-determine.
Decisive, with excellent analytical skills.
Able to work to tight deadlines.
Reliable and conscientious.
Good organiser.
Attention to detail.
Ambitious
Able to set priorities and manage time effectively
Ability to work under pressure from other staff and customers
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.

Please refer to the attached Job Description & Person Specification of the role for full details of duties and essential criteria.

Learning and development tailored to your role
An environment with flexible working options
A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity

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: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/

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 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

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

Applicants are strongly advised to use the criteria in the Person Specification of the Job Description as sub-headings in their application to make it clear how they meet each of the selection criteria.

The successful candidate will be appointed to the point of the StR scale depending upon experience appropriate to their years of training.

Stage 1: Application & Sift This vacancy is assessed using Competencies.

At sift stage you will be assessed against the essential criteria listed in the attached Job Description & Person Specification and listed below.

You Will Be Required To Complete An

Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
An up to 1000 word Statement of Suitability.

This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role.

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)

Your statement of suitability must be no more than 1000 word count.

Please note feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview You will be invited to a face to face interview. In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

Interviews will be held from 10th February 2026, please note these dates are subject to change.

During The Interview We Will Assess Against The Below: Knowledge

Experience Skills and Abilities

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

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

Successful candidates for this role must pass a disclosure and barring security check before they can be appointed.

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.

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.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a 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 criminal record check.

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).

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

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 : Claire Gordon, Head of Rare and Imported Pathogen Clinical Services
Email : claire.gordon@ukhsa.gov.uk

Recruitment team

Email : scs.mdrecruitment@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

Vagas

Clinical Fellow (RIPL)