About the job

Job summary

We are looking for an experienced and dynamic senior epidemiologist to lead on surveillance, outbreak support and epidemiological investigation, and to lead and manage teams. This post is permanent and the post holder will be covering the South West Field Services team. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the development of the UKHSA Field Services at national, regional and local level and help strengthen the service offer.

Working for our organisation

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.

UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.

The Field Services (FS) were established to provide a national comprehensive service which is geographically dispersed and integrates epidemiological, microbiological, infectious diseases and data sciences capacity and skills delivering surveillance and outbreak investigations consistently of the highest quality. FS provides an effector arm for UKHSA, supporting the translation of evidence into practice as well as having a role in strengthening surveillance through closer links with the NHS and other partners. It also provides valuable links to academic centres. FS also provides effective leadership and coordination of the UKHSA applied epidemiology training function.

Location

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 Bristol office BS1 6EH.  

The balance between home and workplace working is to be agreed with the line manager, determined primarily by business need and in line with departmental policy.

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

Job description

The postholder will be responsible for delivering tasks in the following key workstream areas:

 See full list in the attached Job Description

• Outbreak Support and Epidemiological Investigations
• Surveillance
• Expert Advice and Evaluation
• Leadership and Management
• Research and Development
• Teaching and Training

Person specification

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 1,500 words (max) that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the following criteria:

Essential Criteria:

• First degree in science subject or related field
• Higher degree (MSc or equivalent) in related discipline
• PhD in epidemiology/public health/health promotion or equivalent from experience
• Training in research methods, infectious disease epidemiology, surveillance, prevention and/or public health
• Advanced knowledge of computers and database software packages (e.g. SQL, R, RStudio, STATA, GIS, network analysis tools)
• Significant experience of scientific report writing and scientific publication including presentation of papers at conference etc
• Practical experience of facilitating change, managing staff and budgets
• Proven experience of data management and analysis of large and complex datasets and reporting
• Working at a senior level in coordination of multi-centre projects, developing and managing projects, managing research programmes and/or sections, and obtaining external research funds through grant applications
• Extensive knowledge and experience of communicable disease epidemiology, surveillance and/ or prevention
• Experience of teaching and training
• Understand information governance, including data protection and the need to maintain required levels of confidentiality
• Liaise with a wide range of external collaborators including health service and academic professionals
• Lead and facilitate effective team working
• Plan strategically and work to a consistently high standard and to deadlines
• Communicate ideas and methods clearly and succinctly, both orally and in writing
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems

Desirable Criteria:

• Inclusion in the Health Care Professionals Council and/or UK Voluntary Register (UKVR) for Public Health Specialists
• Advanced knowledge and experience of epidemiological and statistical research methods (i.e. post-doctoral level)
• Experience of working within the NHS or other health-related sectors

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

As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide a Personal Statement / Statement of Suitability in no more than 1,500 words. Applicants are strongly advised to use the key responsibilities in the job description and person specification requirements as sub-headings in their application to make it clear how they meet each of the selection criteria.

Please only submit the documents requested and do not add any hyperlinks.

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.

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT: 

You will be required to complete an application form and a statement of suitability. Your Statement of Suitability must not exceed 1,500 words.

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

Feedback is not provided at this stage.

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.

There might be a presentation you need to complete as part of your interview, information will be shared with you before your interview.

Expected Timeline: 

Advert close: 23:55pm 25/03/2024 – 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: w/c 15th April

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.