About the job

Job summary

Reporting to the Director of Clinical and Emerging Infections, this is a public health leadership role responsible for supporting the development of protocols and operational plans for diagnostic evaluations and surveillance for pandemic and emerging infection preparedness. Working with the Director, they will provide leadership across the Clinical and Public Health group working closely with laboratory and scientific colleagues to co-ordinate the development of umbrella study protocols for future preparedness, continue the work on evaluation of diagnostic testing and provide leadership for the COVID-19 inquiry related to testing.

The post holder will establish strategic links with relevant stakeholders across UKHSA, academia and industry to develop the programme of work to prepare for emerging infections and pandemics national level to identify future public health challenges to inform PDU work programmes. They will work across UKHSA Directorates, teams (including local Health Protection Teams) and disciplines to support the development of umbrella and sleeper protocols, develop operational plans and business cases for delivery.

They will also be the primary contact point for the CPH group on COVID-19 testing as it relates to the pandemic – including ensuring that evaluations, studies and reports are available to the inquiry.

Job description

The post holder Main Duties and Responsibilities are:

• The post holder will be a public health / health protection expert and will demonstrate credibility and expertise across a broad range of skills.
• They will lead multifaceted projects and initiatives and work collaboratively across UKHSA.
• The postholder will thrive in a transformational environment and will seek out opportunities and challenges and will find innovative best in class solutions.
• Provide leadership for the UKHSA Clinical and Public Health group to support pandemic studies
• Take responsibility for the development of research and scientific services to stakeholders, internal and external, including the public.
• Set the strategic direction for the CPH pandemic preparedness within the UKHSA’s strategic framework.
• Strengthen evaluation of interventions and policies related to pandemic preparedness by providing support and capacity in evaluation, diagnostic and epidemiological science.
• Ensure a robust programme of research and development activities that are aligned with the research and public health priorities of UKHSA, including securing externally funded research contracts and grants. 

Person specification

This role will provide the right candidate with significant experience and opportunity to learn, develop and make a real difference to regional health protection.

We are looking for a self-motivated individual who can manage themselves and others, work under pressure and be comfortable with complexity and change.

As a multi-disciplinary team, consisting of public health consultants and managers, and project support staff, the PDU provides strategic and operational support to services in the Regions. Staff are based across the country and work remotely to support PDUs portfolio of work.

The successful candidate will be appointed to the point of the Consultant salary scale appropriate to their years of seniority or, if from a background other than medicine, to NHS Agenda for Change Band 9.

The post requires inclusion in the UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) for Public Health Specialists or be eligible for registration within 6 months of interview.

If included in the GMC Specialist Register/ in a specialty other than public health medicine, candidates must have equivalent training and/or appropriate experience of public health practice.

Public Health Specialty Registrar applicants who are not yet on the GMC Specialist Register must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they are within 6 months of gaining entry at the date of interview; all other applicants must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they have applied for inclusion in the GMC.

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity

Things you need to know

Selection process details

The post is subject to the core competencies as set out by the Faculty of Public Health for Consultant appointments and the post holder will be expected to demonstrate expertise in all of them.

Applicants are strongly advised to use the criteria in the Person Specification of the Job Description as sub-headings in their application to make it clear how they meet each of the selection criteria.

Please see full advert on Healthjobs UK for full essential criteria. 

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

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.