About the job

Job summary

Please note there are 2 vacancies available: 1 permanent, 1 FTC until 31st March 2025

This post is within the Interventions: Evidence & Evaluation section of the Blood Safety, Hepatitis, STI & HIV Division of the Clinical and Public Health Group at UKHSA. The primary function of this post is to coordinate and develop the collation and epidemiological analysis of HIV and STI surveillance data-sets. Under the supervision of senior scientific staff, the postholder will regularly extract, collate and validate surveillance data-sets and carry out epidemiological analyses to monitor trends, geographic distribution and risk factors.

The postholder will regularly undertake key components of data management and surveillance analyses for the IEE section. The postholder will apply a range of data collection, management and analysis approaches to support this programme of work, including surveillance activities to describe and monitor the epidemiology of STIs and related disease and evaluate the impact of prevention activities. The postholder will contribute to a number of studies, providing scientific and data-management skills to this area of work. Successful applicants will contribute to the delivery of programme outputs, including policy reports and to peer-reviewed publications.                                                        

Location

This role will be based in 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) operates 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) working at Colindale office, For certain roles, some additional flexibility may be possible, which will be agreed upon with the hiring manager based on individual requirements and business needs. 

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

Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas.

Job description

The postholder will:

Surveillance and Prevention Monitoring

1. Develop and utilise information and intelligence systems related to the projects to underpin public health action across the department and surveillance systems therein;
2. Have responsibility for the development and productivity of the information and intelligence system(s) related to the projects;
3. Undertake specialist and complex analyses of quantitative and/or qualitative datasets which will require selection of the best option from a range of possible solutions;
4. Analyse and evaluate quantitative and qualitative data and research evidence from a range of sources to inform decision making;
5. Receive, interpret, provide and advise on complex epidemiological and statistical information about the health of populations to the NHS, Department of Health and Social Care and others;

Specialist Advice and Evaluation

1. Communicate effectively and diplomatically research and other specialist information with colleagues from own or other disciplines and present findings at local, national and international meetings and conferences;
2. Write and/or contribute to national and local policy setting reports, as well as peer-reviewed publications in scientific journals, on the health of the population;

Research and Development

1. Undertake literature reviews, evaluative research surveys, audits and other research as required;

Teaching and Training

1. Assist in teaching and training courses run at the Clinical and Public Health Group, Colindale and outside, by producing presentation materials and assist in Blood Safety, Hepatitis, STI & HIV Division

Management Arrangements

The postholders will:

• Be responsible to the Consultant Leads in the Blood Safety, Hepatitis, STI & HIV Division through the Principal or Senior Scientist coordinating the projects
• Manage staff working on work-areas within the Blood Safety, Hepatitis, STI & HIV Division, if required.

Person specification

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 1,000 words (max) that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the following essential criteria:

See full list in the attached Job Description

Essential criteria

• Primary Degree in a suitable science subject
• Scientific research work experience, particularly in public health
• Data management, analysis and reporting
• Interpreting and evaluating epidemiological data
• Preparing scientific reports and presentations
• Of using computers and database software packages (Microsoft ACCESS and Excel)
• Using software packages for statistical analysis of data e.g. STATA
• Able to work as a team member
• Able to work independently and to deadlines
• Maintain required levels of confidentiality
• Able to communicate and document methods clearly and succinctly
• Able to liaise with a wide range of external collaborators including health service and academic professionals
• Have a clear and organised approach to work
• Able to identify and solve problems
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.

Desirable Criteria

• MSc in Epidemiology or allied discipline or equivalent work experience
• Experience of communicable disease epidemiology, surveillance and prevention
• Experience of working in the NHS or Public Health England

Benefits

Working for the UKHSA

For more information on the UKHSA please visit: UK Health Security Agency - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

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%
• Range of health and wellbeing support

Any move to UKHSA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at Childcare Choices , 30 Hours Free Childcare, Tax-Free Childcare and More , Help with Costs , GOV.UK

Things you need to know

Selection process details

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT: 

You will be required to complete an application form and a statement of suitability. Your Statement of Suitability should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, against the essential criteria (outlined in the person specification section). Your Statement of Suitability must not exceed 750 words.

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. The sift selection panel will only consider relevant career history information from the last 5 years.

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

STAGE 2 – INTERVIEW:

This competition will involve an interview via Teams.

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.

Please note that there might be a task the candidates need to complete as part of the process, details will be shared prior to the interview.

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 18/02/2024 – 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.

Interviews: TBC

Please note these dates could be subject to change.  

Security clearance level requirement

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 Basic Personnel Security Standard.  People working with government assets must complete Basic Personnel Security Standard checks.

For posts on UKHSA Civil Service terms and conditions, new entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. For existing Civil Servants and roles advertised across government, the rules of transfer apply, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive a 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest. 

Please Note

This role is to be appointed under Civil Service Terms & Conditions. Full details on the T&Cs are found https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

Are you already a civil servant, or employed by a Civil Service Commission accredited public body? Please state home department on your application form.

Do you meet the nationality requirements for this post? https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

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: Complaints1@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. 

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.