About the job

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity to work in emerging infections within UKHSA. You will be responsible for coordinating and undertaking horizon scanning of emerging infections, developing risk assessments to inform UK responses to outbreaks and incidents and assisting with other crucial elements of emerging infection response and preparedness. 

This is a role that requires you to use your advanced epidemiological skills to interpret, analyse and advise UKHSA and other governmental departments on emerging infections and associated issues.  

Job description

The successful candidate will be responsible for managing existing horizon scanning programmes as well as developing and introducing new systems. They will also be responsible for providing rapid assessments, situational updates and specialist papers on emerging situations for senior staff in UKHSA and other governmental departments. 

The postholder will also:

• provide specialist scientific and logistical support to national and international outbreaks requiring a cross-Government response
• present epidemic intelligence findings at a range of national and international meetings and conferences
• manage scientific staff and undertake their annual appraisals
• develop research proposals
• write scientific reports and papers for publication
• contribute to producing official guidance
• serve on UKHSA development/work groups.

They will be expected to work independently at a senior level and will have significant autonomy within their specialist area of expertise.

Co-ordination of Emerging Infections activities

• Ensure the maintenance and development of horizon scanning activities with daily and monthly outputs, and lead continued participation in innovations such as the all hazards International Forward Look and High Consequence Infectious Disease monthly reports
• Identify gaps in epidemic intelligence activities, prioritizing and developing new initiatives as appropriate
• Contribute to risk assessment work and to the public health response for cross Government activities and lead on potential emerging infectious threats. This will include ensuring the scientific validity of the risk assessments and that the findings are communicated to the relevant stakeholders. Provide robust alert and communication systems for potential threats
• Provide high quality advice and guidance for those dealing with emerging infectious disease threats including in OGDs and Agencies.
• Ensure continued development of UKHSA’s emerging infections and zoonoses web pages and ensuring that the advice and information is accurate and up to date

Incident support

Responsible for public health advice and assistance in zoonotic and emerging infectious incidents or outbreaks and advising their prevention and control, including contributing to the development of guidance in the management of such incidents. This may be within UKHSA or externally to partner agencies such as DEFRA, APHA, etc.

• Support cross-Government responses to emerging incidents of infectious diseases by providing technical and epidemiological information and papers for high levels groups, including COBR.
• Provide public health specialist in-put to cross-Government meetings and to OGDs e.g. FCDO. Rapidly produce high quality technical papers in non-technical language for UKHSA and cross-Government groups to inform responses to rapidly involving situations
• Write or contribute to the writing of outbreak control team reports and subsequent publications.

Section specific

• Manage scientific staff ensuring annual objectives are met and that performance is regularly appraised.
• Contribute to the management of the EIZ section and to be a positive and influential representative for colleagues.

Research

• Initiate research or health protection projects within the postholder’s area of specialist expertise.
• Write research proposals and present them to funding bodies.
• Carry out research projects and supervise the work of others.
• Write research reports and present at scientific meetings.

Reports and publications

• Write or contribute to scientific papers for publication in peer reviewed journals and EIZ produced reports
• Write or contribute to UKHSA reports, Annual and Update Reports
• Write or contribute to technical reports and advice documents for expert committees, cross-Government groups, and for the relevant national and local incidents

Teaching and Training

• Provide training and other presentations in the postholder’s area of specialist expertise and the work of EIZ for UKHSA internal training courses, university postgraduate courses, and professional development training programmes
• Provide training for new members of staff on epidemic intelligence and risk assessment
• Collaborate with other senior members of the department in developing and managing training courses or their equivalents, for internal and external use.

Other

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 by the Directorate.

The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organization.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Identify, discuss and action own professional performance and training / development needs with your line manager through appraisal / individual development plan. Attending internal / external training events
• To participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e. fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training.

 

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

 The post holder will develop working relationships and communicate regularly with a wide range of individuals, clinical and non-clinical, internal and external to UKHSA. This will include;

 Internal

• Medical, scientific, specialist, and administrative colleagues within the Clinical and Emerging Infections Division (particularly the Rare and Imported Pathogens laboratory) and in other UKHSA Directorates including colleagues in Health Protection, Port Health, Emergency Preparedness and Response Division, and the Communications Team

External

•  Medical, veterinary, scientific officers, and policy officials across a wide range of Government Agencies and Departments including: the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Cabinet Office; Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO); Government Office for Science etc. as well as other international organizations such as the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), World Health Organization, plus colleagues from the human and animal health Agencies in the Devolved Administrations; collaborating researchers in universities; and a wide range of other stakeholders.

Person specification

Essential

• Higher degree in Epidemiology or an allied subject (MSc or PhD)
• Extensive experience in epidemiology and infectious disease surveillance. Providing epidemiological information and advice to colleagues and external agencies.
• Presenting scientific papers at national and international meetings and conferences.
• Using databases, spreadsheets, statistical and graphics packages. Ability to analyse, summarise and interpret complex epidemiological and situational awareness data.
• Understanding of recent advances in epidemic intelligence and risk assessment of emerging infections
• Ability to work independently and to tight deadlines
• Ability to plan and conduct multidisciplinary scientific projects.
• Writing clear and concise scientific papers and/or project reports.

 Desirable

• Extensive experience of collating, understanding and reporting situational analysis outputs at national level.
• Managing collaborative, multidisciplinary projects.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £55,799, UK Health Security Agency contributes £15,065 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

Selection Process

This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your Qualifications, knowledge and experience and / or skills and capabilities outlined in the essential criteria.

Stage 1: Application & Sift
Competency-based assessments

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on essential criteria, and this will be in the form of 

This should outline how you consider your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.

The CV and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.

Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist.

Shortlisting: In the of a large number of applications we will shortlist on...(must be an essential criteria)

Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered 

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

Please do not exceed 1500 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number. Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview (competency based)

You will be invited to a face to face interview. Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview. There will be a presentation and assessment at interview. A presentation title and any relevant preparation materials will be provided in advance of interview date.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

 

Eligibility Criteria 

  Option 1 - External  

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

Security Clearance Level Requirement   

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard

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.