Consultant Medical Virologist

Job overview

This is a full-time post for virology services at UKHSA Clinical Network Laboratory, Birmingham, providing Consultant level input into the laboratory, clinical virology and public health service. The post is based at the Lead Public Health Laboratory for the Midlands which is situated at the Birmingham Heartlands Hospital in the University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (Teaching). However, it is a requirement of employment that the post holder be prepared to work at any additional or different location owned or served by the trust, either on an on-going or temporary basis according to the demands of the service. The provision of clinical virology services at Good Hope, Solihull, Birmingham Heartlands Hospitals and Queen Elizabeth Hospital will be by rotation and in partnership with other infection service consultants. In addition to the clinical virology service, the post holder will be providing public health functions for the Midlands Region.

The University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust is one of 96 Foundation Trusts in England. The Trust was established in the first of April 2018 by the merger of Heart of England and Queen Elizabeth Hospital Foundation Trusts. The new organisation includes Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, Good Hope Hospital, Solihull District General Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Birmingham Chest Clinic. It is a dynamic organisation that represents one of the largest trusts in the UK.

See attached Job Description.

Main duties of the job

• Work with colleagues for the provision of a comprehensive clinical medical virology service including: advice regarding appropriate specimens, involvement in specimen analysis, validation and interpretation of results for transmission to service users. Appropriate involvement in policies guidelines and standard operating procedures preparation, relevant to consultant virologist duties. On-call duty will be shared equitably with the other consultants in virology and will involve supervision and support of the on-call Specialist Trainees on front-line duty and provision for cover for consultant colleagues’ periods of leave. The on-call support is generally through telephone consultation and only on rare occasions is attendance necessary.
• In conjunction with the other infection (microbiology, virology, infectious diseases, and immunology) consultants, provide ward-based and telephone advice on the prevention, diagnosis and management of infection in individual patients and outbreaks of infection. This will involve ad hoc clinical consults arising from referrals or significant laboratory results, attending multi-disciplinary clinical meetings and regular ward rounds.
• Collaborate with colleagues in UKHSABPHL and Infectious Disease Unit in delivering a joint infection service for the host Trust and other users of the service

For further details, please refer to the attached Job Description & Person Specification.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Develop specialist expertise for services in accordance with the needs of the clinical service
• Provision, with consultant and other colleagues, and when necessary, with the support of Microbiology Services Colindale, of microbiological and epidemiological support, including surveillance, for Consultants in Communicable Disease Control, Environmental Health Officers, DH and others, and for clinical staff in hospitals and the community, within the catchment area of the Laboratory.
• Collaboration with UKHSA central reference and epidemiological facilities in the reporting and investigation of infections, control of outbreaks, assessment of vaccines, development of laboratory methods, involvement in surveys, etc.
• Professional supervision, training and management of junior medical staff
• Responsibilities for carrying out teaching, examination and accreditation duties as required and for contributing to postgraduate and continuing professional development activities locally and nationally.
• Research activities consistent with the priorities of the UKHSA and subject to the availability of funding and resources.
• Participation in medical audit, quality control and clinical governance within the laboratory
• Participation in the RCPath or the RCP scheme of Continuing Professional Development. Study leave will be available in accordance with the terms and conditions of service for Hospital Medical and Dental Staff England and Wales. Funding will be available for agreed purposes. 12.Is responsible for the medical authorisation of reports and issuing clinical advice for Antenatal and New Born (ANNB) screening programme.
• Participation in arrangements within the UKHSA for appraisal, revalidation and career development.
• Such additional duties as may be required from time to time by the Clinical Service Director after appropriate consultation.
• Ensure that expert virological advice is available to HPTs and Local Authorities in the management of infections or infectious diseases in the community.
• 1.0 PA out of hours work
• 2.0 Supporting professional activities
• 10 PA a week.

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

Stage 1: Application & Sift

This vacancy is using Competency.

At sift stage you will be assessed against the essential qualifications listed in the job advert.

You will be required to complete an:

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• 1500 word supporting statement

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 1500 words.

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)

Please note feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview (Competency based)

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

Interviews are planned to be held 8th December 2026, please note these dates are subject to change.

This vacancy is being assessed using Competency framework. During the interview we will assess against the below:

Knowledge Experience Skills and Abilities

You will be asked to prepare and present a 5-10 minute presentation at the start of your interview. The subject of this will be sent to you prior to interview. Slides are permitted.

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

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Counter-terrorist Check.

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.

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our lab in Birmingham . 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). If based at one of our labs you will be required to have a minimum of 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.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.