Senior Healthcare Scientist – Genomics, NGS & Sanger Services
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is recruiting a Senior Healthcare Scientist to provide scientific leadership and supervision within its genomic laboratory services at the Scientific Campus in Colindale, London.
This is a senior laboratory-based opportunity for an experienced healthcare scientist with strong knowledge of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), Sanger sequencing, public health genetics and laboratory service delivery.
The successful candidate will supervise staff, support the day-to-day running of NGS and Sanger services, contribute to quality and safety standards, and help develop laboratory technologies and processes.
Skilled Worker sponsorship: Applications from candidates who require current Skilled Worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside other applications.
Job Details
- Job title: Senior Healthcare Scientist
- Employer: UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)
- Location: Scientific Campus, Colindale, London, NW9 5EQ
- Contract: Fixed term
- Duration: 24 months
- Working pattern: Full-time, part-time, job share or flexible working
- Salary: £46,310 – £52,113 per year, pro rata
- Date posted: 22 September 2026
- Closing date: 6 October 2026
- Reference: 919-TM-633004176-EXT
- Security: Counter-Terrorist Check (CTC) clearance required
- Hybrid working: Not available; this is a laboratory-based role
About the Role
The Senior Healthcare Scientist will play a supervisory and scientific leadership role within the genomic services provided by the laboratory.
The role involves overseeing NGS and Sanger workflows, providing line management and professional support to staff, participating in laboratory testing, supporting staff training and helping maintain high standards of safety, quality and service delivery.
You will also contribute to laboratory development, technological improvements, quality assurance, audits and compliance with relevant UKHSA, UKAS and other regulatory requirements.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide professional leadership and supervision to relevant laboratory staff.
- Line-manage Healthcare Scientists and Healthcare Scientist Support Workers where required.
- Supervise daily NGS and Sanger service workflows on a rotational basis.
- Perform manual and automated laboratory techniques in accordance with SOPs.
- Provide senior scientific support to genomic laboratory services.
- Quality-check and support the release of laboratory results.
- Develop, review and maintain SOPs and other laboratory documentation.
- Support induction, training, professional development and staff appraisal.
- Maintain effective laboratory workflow and troubleshoot NGS and Sanger-related issues.
- Support the introduction and evaluation of new technologies and improved laboratory procedures.
- Contribute to quality management systems and internal and external quality assurance programmes.
- Support compliance with UKAS and other accreditation and certification standards.
- Use laboratory information management systems (LIMS) for sample tracking.
- Support robotic laboratory equipment and workflow improvements.
- Contribute to analytical tools and reporting processes.
- Promote a strong laboratory health and safety culture.
- Identify and escalate risks, incidents and health and safety concerns appropriately.
- Work with colleagues, collaborators, suppliers and external stakeholders to support effective service delivery.
Essential Requirements
Applicants should be able to demonstrate:
- A relevant degree or equivalent qualification in a subject such as microbiology, biological science or molecular biology.
- A maintained CPD portfolio.
- Extensive knowledge and experience in at least one specialist area relevant to the unit.
- Substantive experience in public health genetic methods.
- Experience supporting WGS and Sanger services and relevant laboratory automation.
- Ability to communicate and present highly complex information to colleagues, customers and other stakeholders.
- Experience dealing with difficult or complex issues, including performance and organisational change.
- Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
- Ability to respond effectively to unexpected demands and changing priorities.
- Experience assessing technologies and processes and contributing to laboratory innovation.
- Ability to evaluate new WGS and Sanger services.
- Ability to plan over short, medium and long-term periods and adjust resources accordingly.
- Experience directing the activities of others.
- Experience managing, motivating and reviewing the performance of staff.
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office and intermediate keyboard skills.
Desirable Experience
The following would also be advantageous:
- Experience training and supervising a team.
- Comprehensive experience of relevant project techniques and tools.
Technical and Laboratory Experience
The role requires a strong understanding of genomic laboratory services, particularly NGS and Sanger-based methodologies.
The successful candidate will be expected to maintain professional competence, support new technical procedures, troubleshoot laboratory problems and contribute to the introduction of new tests and technologies.
Experience with LIMS, automation, laboratory workflow management, quality systems and data analysis will also be relevant to the position.
Leadership and Quality
The successful candidate will contribute to the leadership and development of the laboratory service by:
- Supporting effective daily service delivery.
- Developing staff and encouraging teamwork.
- Contributing to unit and directorate plans.
- Supporting quality management systems.
- Participating in quality assurance programmes.
- Supporting internal and external audits.
- Ensuring corrective actions are addressed.
- Promoting safe, effective and efficient laboratory practices.
- Supporting compliance with UKAS and other relevant standards.
Working Location
This is a laboratory-based position at the UKHSA Scientific Campus in Colindale, NW9 5EQ.
The advert specifically states that hybrid working is not available for this role.
Flexible working options include full-time, part-time, job share and flexible working arrangements.
Security Clearance
Successful applicants must meet the required security requirements before appointment.
The role requires Counter-Terrorist Check (CTC) security vetting.
The advert states that applicants would normally need to have been resident in the UK for the previous three years for meaningful national security vetting. However, shorter UK residency may not automatically prevent clearance in exceptional circumstances, and applicants are advised to contact the recruiting manager for further advice.
Visa Sponsorship
Skilled Worker sponsorship is available for eligible applicants.
The vacancy explicitly states that applications from job seekers who require current Skilled Worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside other applications.
Applicants requiring sponsorship should still check that they meet all relevant UK immigration, role and security requirements before applying.
Application and Selection Process
The recruitment process uses Success Profiles and will assess candidates against behaviours, experience and technical skills.
Applicants must complete the employer/activity history section of the application form and submit a supporting statement of no more than 1,200 words.
The supporting statement should demonstrate how your skills, experience and knowledge meet the essential criteria.
Important: Candidates cannot upload a CV for this vacancy. The application form should therefore contain detailed information about your employment and relevant experience.
If there are a large number of applications, UKHSA may use longlisting and/or an initial sift based on the essential criteria. The lead criterion for an initial sift may be the relevant degree or equivalent qualification.
Interview
Successful candidates will be invited to a face-to-face interview at Colindale, NW9 5EQ. A remote interview may be considered in exceptional circumstances.
The interview will assess:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Developing Self and Others
- Leadership
- Managing a Quality Service
- Technical skills
- Experience
Candidates will also be required to deliver a 5-minute presentation on:
“Illumina versus ONT sequencing, which is the future?”
What Applicants Should Prepare
Applicants should ensure their application clearly demonstrates their experience against the essential criteria, particularly:
- Public health genetics
- WGS/NGS
- Sanger sequencing
- Laboratory automation
- Scientific leadership
- Staff management and development
- Quality management
- Laboratory service delivery
- Technology evaluation and innovation
- Problem-solving and workflow management
For the supporting statement, use specific examples showing what you did, the technical or leadership challenge involved, and the outcome achieved.
Closing Date
6 October 2026
Applicants are advised to complete the application and supporting statement before the closing date, particularly because the supporting statement has a strict 1,200-word limit.
How to Apply
Applications should be submitted through the official NHS Jobs vacancy.
Employer: UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)
Employer Contact
For questions about the vacancy:
Resourcing Support – Timor Miakhel
Email: timor.miakhel@ukhsa.gov.uk