About the job

Job summary

This is an exciting role to work as part of the HCAI, Fungal, AMR, AMU & Sepsis Division and based in Colindale, NW London.  As the Principal Scientist you will carry out data collation and validation, database management and system development duties associated with the HCAI & AMR Service.

The post-holder will also be required to work with colleagues to ensure the data feeds from external data providers; be involved in data cleaning, linkage and manipulation; support the timely production of reports and internal and external requests for information; carry out general information and data analysis tasks within the HCAI, Fungal, AMR, AMU & Sepsis Division; and carry out administrative tasks such as meeting planning and minute taking.

Location:

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) offers hybrid working – this means that whilst the role will be based in one of our offices, there will be opportunities for an element of working from home. UKHSA have office locations across the UK.

This role will be based at our Colindale location - 61 Colindale Ave, London NW9 5EQ.

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

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

Job description

• Lead and manage the design, development, introduction, audit and continuous improvement of HCAI & AMRP surveillance systems as required. Responsibility for specific systems will be assigned upon appointment and reflected within associated job advertisements noting that these may evolve in response to emerging public health priorities.
• Conduct complex statistical and epidemiological analyses of data on HCAI and AMRP drawn from a variety of surveillance sources. Providing expert technical advice and assistance to public health and clinical practitioners on the design, maintenance, analysis and interpretation of HCAI & AMRP databases.
• Provide expert advice in response to ad hoc enquiries from Government agencies, public health practitioners, academics, media, commercial organisations and members of the public.
• Ensure emerging threats are recognized in a timely manner by the analysis and interpretation of often complex data from a variety of sources to understand the public health significance of the potential risk. Provide epidemiological support to incidents or outbreaks both within UKHSA and externally to NHS and Independent Sector health providers. Ensure the scientific validity and evidence-base of risk assessments, and that findings are communicated to the relevant stakeholders nationally and internationally through situation reports and briefing notes.
• Provide specialist advice on the epidemiological aspects of the prevention and control of HCAI & AMR by contributing to the development of guidance, designing data collection systems, interpreting epidemiological data, conducting statistical analyses, and scientific publications.
• Manage scientific and administrative staff in the maintenance, development, statistical analysis, quality outputs and reporting from HCAI & AMRP datasets. Undertake periodic evaluation of surveillance systems including stakeholder engagement exercises.
• Design analytical strategies and supervise complex statistical analyses of research datasets for the production of project reports, papers for peer reviewed journals and conference presentations.
• Initiate collaborative projects within UKHSA and external collaborators to address public health research questions. This may also include taking a lead on research proposals for externally funded projects and provision of expert advice to academic units and other agencies involved in collaborative epidemiological and microbiological studies.

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 responsibilities.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 750 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):

Essential

• Educated to degree level in a relevant scientific subject or significant experience of working at a similar level in this field.
• Higher degree in epidemiology/ public health/ microbiology or related discipline
• PhD or equivalent research experience
• Substantial post-graduate experience
• Training in research methods, infectious disease epidemiology, surveillance, prevention and/or public health
• Knowledge and work experience of communicable disease epidemiology, surveillance and prevention including healthcare associated infection and/or antimicrobial resistance and/or antimicrobial prescribing.

 Desirable

• Experience of working within the NHS or other health-related sectors
• Managing and leading scientific and technical staff including working under pressure and to tight deadlines.
• Able to work effectively in a multi-disciplinary team and motivate and encourage team members.
• Ability to make decisions autonomously, when required, on difficult issues including problem solving, working to tight and often changing timescales.

 Please review the Job Description for the full criteria.

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. 

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

STAGE 2 – INTERVIEW 

This stage 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-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.

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 29th December 2023 – 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 3rd January 2024

Interviews: Jan 2024

Please note these dates could be subject to change.  

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.