About the job

Job summary

The Blood Safety, Hepatitis, STI and HIV (BSHSH) Division is the national centre for surveillance of hepatitis, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in England. It is based in Colindale, north London. The Division consists of around 100 permanent and project-funded medical, scientific, technical and administrative staff including epidemiologists, public health specialists, microbiologists, virologists, data managers, statisticians and IT specialists. The Division is also closely involved with the work of the NIHR-funded Health Protection Research Units, which are collaborative ventures involving UKHSA and academia.

The BSHSH Division aims to:

• Describe trends in the incidence and prevalence of hepatitis, STIs and HIV, especially in important behavioural population sub-groups;
• Describe trends in the incidence and prevalence of all infections transmissible through blood, tissue and organ donations;
• Provide national reference and specialist microbiology and virology services, for public health, clinical and diagnostic purposes;
• Monitor the outputs and effectiveness of hepatitis, STI and HIV prevention activities and programmes and support development of national policy;
• Provide information for local needs assessment, service commissioning and evaluation, and to guide prevention activities aimed at reducing risk behaviours and interrupting infection transmission, including through blood, organ and tissue donation;
• Investigate national and uncommon outbreaks, respond to international health alerts, and provide advice on the risks posed;
• Train those working in blood safety and in hepatitis, STI and HIV surveillance, monitoring and prevention;
• Lead and contribute to research in hepatitis, STI and HIV epidemiology, diagnostics, and infection prevention and control

Location

This role is based at the UKHSA Colindale office, 61 Colindale Ave, 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 one of UKHSA's locations (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London).  Specialist or regional roles will be based at the appropriate UKHSA site. 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*

Working Pattern – Full Time, Flexible Working

Job description

Responsibilities section:

As a Principal HIV/STI Surveillance and Prevention Scientist your main responsibilities will include:

• Surveillance and Prevention Monitoring
• Develop and utilise information and intelligence systems across disciplines and organisations, and lead collation and interpretation of relevant data to develop the most appropriate analyses from a range of sources
• 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;
• Analyse and evaluate quantitative and qualitative data and research evidence from a range of sources to make recommendations and inform decision making which may have long term impacts;
• Receive, interpret, provide and advise on highly complex epidemiological and statistical information about the health of populations to the NHS, Department of Health and Social Care and others, and challenge or respond to differing opinions;

 Expert advice and Evaluation

• Communicate effectively and diplomatically with a wide audience, in sometimes highly challenging circumstances, where good levels of persuasive, motivational, negotiating and/or training skills are required;
• Act in an expert advisory capacity on public health knowledge, standards and practice, to national advisory committees and similar expert panels;
• Write and/or contribute to national and local policy setting reports on the health of the population;

Management

• Compare, analyse and interpret highly complex options for running projects identified as key public health priorities, and communicate this information across organisations and the local community;
• Manage a team of staff including their day to day management;

 Research and Development

• Lead on public health research, undertake research or audit and commission research audits/projects and pursue (and manage) external funding for research and development;

Professional arrangements

• Perform all work in cognisance of data protection requirements and the need to maintain confidentiality and security of surveillance information.

 

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. Please review the job description for a full list of roles and responsibilities.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 800 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the essential criteria (for full details of all essential criteria please refer to the attached job description, you must review this to produce your statement of suitability):

Essential

• PhD or equivalent experience in public health, epidemiology, health promotion, health-care research or similar
• Knowledge of HIV/STI/BBV surveillance and epidemiology
• Experience of using computers and database software packages (particularly Stata, Microsoft Office)
• Experience of working at a senior level with responsibility for multiple projects
• Experience of project management – planning, monitoring and controlling single or multi-disciplinary project groups
• Experience of preparing scientific reports and presentations
• Experience of staff management
• Ability to make decisions autonomously, when required, on difficult issues, working to tight and often changing timescales
• Able to liaise with a wide range of external collaborators including international partners, health service and academic professionals
• Ability to analyse complex facts and situations and develop a range of options
• Demonstrated capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly

 

Desirable

• Experience of obtaining external research funds through grant applications

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 full list of essential criteria as detailed in the attached job description – please do provide evidence of how you meet this. 

Please note: At the beginning of your statement of suitability, please demonstrate your depth of experience of surveillance and epidemiology of HIV, STIs or BBVs?

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

STAGE 2 – INTERVIEW 

This post 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 a session where they will be required to prepare and deliver a 5-10 minute presentation to the panel.  This will be followed by a question-and-answer segment.  The presentation will be designed to assess each candidate’s experience in line with the requirements of the role.  Full details will be provided prior to the interview.

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.

You will be asked to take part in a task at interview, full details will be provided at the interview stage.

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 24th March 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 25th March 2024

Interviews: w/c 15th April

Please note these dates could be subject to change. 

For further information about this role, please contact Katy.Sinka@ukhsa.gov.uk.

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.