Director of Public Health Microbiology

Job title: Director of Public Health Microbiology

Salary: Senior Civil Servant (SCS) 2 - £100,000 - £162,500 Per annum, pro rata

Location: Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool or London HQ on a hybrid basis

Job Overview

The Director of Public Health Microbiology provides strategic national leadership for UKHSA's microbiology and laboratory-based infectious disease services, ensuring the delivery of world-class diagnostics, surveillance, scientific expertise and innovation that underpin the Agency's mission to protect public health and strengthen the UK's health security.

Reporting at a senior level within UKHSA, the role has overall accountability for the National Reference Laboratories and four Clinical Network Laboratories, delivering specialist microbiology services across bacteriology, virology, mycology, parasitology and associated laboratory technologies.

As a visible scientific leader, the postholder will shape the future of public health microbiology, leading transformation across the laboratory network while ensuring operational excellence, resilience and readiness to respond to emerging public health threats.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

The Director of Public Health Microbiology is responsible for ensuring the safe, effective and sustainable delivery of UKHSA's microbiology services, maintaining high-quality routine operations while creating the capacity and capability needed to respond rapidly to public health incidents and emergencies.

The role leads the modernisation of laboratory systems and services, driving scientific innovation, operational efficiency and organisational resilience. The Director provides oversight of national reference services, clinical laboratory networks, diagnostic pathogen characterisation, quality assurance and regulatory compliance, ensuring UKHSA continues to meet both national priorities and international obligations.

Working in close partnership with the Director of Health Security Scientific Research, the postholder will align laboratory services with wider scientific strategy, foster collaborative research and innovation, and ensure the highest standards of microbiological testing, surveillance and evidence generation.

The role requires strong engagement across government, the NHS, academia, industry and international health organisations to advance public health outcomes, strengthen scientific capability and support UKHSA's leadership role in infectious disease prevention and control.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Provide vision, leadership and accountability for the Public Health Microbiology Directorate, setting strategic priorities aligned to UKHSA's objectives.
• Lead organisational change, workforce planning and succession management to ensure long-term capability and resilience.
• Develop and deliver a clear strategy for microbiology services that supports UKHSA's public health and health security ambitions.

Laboratory Transformation

• Lead the modernisation of UKHSA's laboratory infrastructure, services and operating models.
• Champion the adoption of advanced technologies, digital solutions and innovative approaches to service delivery.
• Work with NHS, academic and other partners to strengthen national laboratory resilience and scalable surge capacity.

Scientific and Technical Excellence

• Ensure the delivery of high-quality, validated diagnostic services supported by robust clinical governance and international accreditation standards.
• Maintain compliance with all statutory, regulatory and quality requirements.
• Promote scientific excellence through research, innovation, knowledge sharing and collaboration across national and international networks.

Scientific Innovation

• Oversee the development and implementation of novel diagnostic approaches and laboratory technologies.
• Build strategic partnerships with public sector, academic and commercial organisations to accelerate innovation and improve public health impact.
• Support the translation of scientific discoveries into operational services and national capability.

Workforce Leadership

• Build, develop and retain a highly skilled, diverse and motivated workforce.
• Foster a culture of safety, inclusion, learning and continuous professional development.
• Ensure robust health and safety standards are embedded across all laboratory environments.

Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement

• Strengthen relationships with the NHS, government departments, academic institutions, industry partners and international health organisations.
• Support commissioned services and fulfil UKHSA's national and international commitments.
• Act as a senior ambassador for UKHSA and Public Health Microbiology across the wider health and scientific community.

Governance and Performance

• Provide leadership for quality management systems, performance reporting and business continuity planning.
• Ensure services are delivered efficiently, effectively and in line with agreed performance standards.
• Drive continuous improvement through the use of data, evidence and best practice.

Financial and Operational Management

• Hold accountability for significant budgets and resources, ensuring effective financial stewardship and value for money.
• Optimise operational performance through strong governance, planning and resource allocation.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, sustainability and service effectiveness.

Culture and Capability

• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Develop multidisciplinary capability and future leadership talent across the organisation.
• Create an inclusive environment that enables individuals and teams to perform at their best while contributing to UKHSA's mission and values.

Security clearance:

This role requires Developed Vetting (DV) clearance. If not already held, the successful candidate can start the role once Security Check (SC) clearance has been obtained, but continued employment is dependent on obtaining and maintaining DV level clearance which must be initiated within the first 3 months of an agreed start date.

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 10 years as the role requires Developed Vetting (DV) clearance.) 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.

About UKHSA

At UKHSA, everyone matters. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where diversity is valued, barriers are removed, and everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, particularly those currently underrepresented within our workforce. We believe that diverse perspectives drive innovation and help us deliver better outcomes for the communities we serve.

To learn more about working at UKHSA, visit: https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers.

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