About the job

Job summary

The Acute Respiratory Infections team is located within UKHSA’s TARZET division at Colindale. The remit of the team includes providing specialist epidemiology and surveillance, coordinating the investigation of national outbreaks, advising government on the risks posed by various acute respiratory pathogens and responding to international health concerns.

The postholder will be a member of a team working on the surveillance, epidemiology and investigation of acute respiratory infections.  The postholder will develop, manage and maintain surveillance databases. 

The postholder will also provide specialist scientific support for a range of national and international surveillance programmes, research projects and outbreak investigations. This will include the design and development of new surveillance and data management systems in response to developments in microbiological typing methods in collaboration with other epidemiologists and relevant specialists, conducting complex statistical analyses to produce surveillance outputs.

Location

61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5HT/10, S Colonnade, London E14 4PH.

Remote options available (Flexible).

*Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available.*

Working Pattern – Full Time, Part-time, Flexible working

Job description

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

Surveillance

• Develop, manage and maintain the surveillance databases
• Manage existing national surveillance systems and co-ordinate the development of new surveillance systems for acute respiratory and to supervise and advise junior scientific and administrative staff in the maintenance and development of integrated or enhanced surveillance datasets
• Conduct complex statistical analyses of data on respiratory pathogens drawn from a variety of surveillance sources in response to ad hoc enquiries from Government agencies (DHSC, APHA, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs [Defra]), international agencies (ECDC, WHO) public health practitioners, academics and members of the public
• Advise scientific and administrative staff conducting routine analyses of surveillance datasets for standardised outputs and ad hoc enquiries
• Supervise junior scientific colleagues and the administrative team in the production of surveillance reports and publications
• Assist in the design and development of new surveillance and data management systems in response to developments in the application of microbiological typing methods including contributing to the drafting of Standard Operating Procedures
• Write or contribute to the drafting of scientific papers for publication in peer reviewed journals and detailed reports for UKHSA or Government departments

 Outbreak Investigation

• Manage the technical and analytical aspects of outbreak investigations

 Research

• Coordinate the collection and collation of data from collaborators based in specialist laboratories and other institutions throughout the UK
• Conduct statistical analyses of epidemiological and microbiological data for grant funded research projects and UKHSA programmes

The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role.  You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required.  The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation.

(Please see the job description for a full list of duties)

Person specification

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 1000 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the following criteria:

Essential

• First degree in a science subject
• Higher degree in Epidemiology, Public Health or an allied subject
• Postgraduate work/study in public health, epidemiology or an allied subject
• Interpreting and evaluating epidemiological data, using Access/ SQL databases, spreadsheets, statistical and graphics tools such as R to an advanced level
• Ability to work independently and take responsibility for own technical work and time and to work as an effective team member
• Ability to analyse, summarise and interpret complex epidemiological data
• Communicate ideas and methods clearly and succinctly to include excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to work on several separate tasks at the same time, whilst keeping to agreed deadlines
• Ability to analyse very complex issues where material is conflicting and drawn from multiple sources

 Desirable

• Having a thorough understanding of recent advances in the epidemiology and microbiology of respiratory infections and presenting scientific papers at national and international conferences
• Experience of creating and giving presentations to a varied group of internal and external stakeholders and an ability to liaise with a range of health professionals and scientific specialists

Please see the job description for the full list of essential and desirable criteria.

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

Things you need to know

Selection process details

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT: 

You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed in line with the advertised essential criteria – please do provide evidence of how you meet this. 

Your Statement of Suitability (max 1,000 words) should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria (outlined in the person specification section).

**Please do not submit your CV, we require you to complete the full application process including a Personal Statement/Statement of Suitability, as outlined below. Please ensure that your Statement of Suitability contains no personal identifiers e.g. name in either the file name or content of the document.**

You will also be asked to provide information within the ‘Employer/ Activity history’ section of the application form. This is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV, setting out your career history.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview.

STAGE 2 – INTERVIEW 

This competition will involve an interview by video.  

As part of the process, candidates will be invited to interview which will involve an in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification.  Candidates will also be asked to participate in an interview task. Full details will be provided prior to the interview.               

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 17th January 2024 – unfortunately, late applications will not be considered. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Shortlist: w/c 22nd January 2024

Interviews: TBC

Please note these dates could be subject to change.  

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

Security

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.