About the job

Job summary

We are recruiting a Principal Scientist to join the hepatitis section in the Blood Safety, Hepatitis, STI and HIV (BSHSH) Division.

The post holder will provide critical scientific advice and leadership to ensure the highest standards in blood borne virus (BBV) and other hepatitides surveillance and related research; design and implement highly specialised multidisciplinary surveillance systems; design and lead epidemiological analyses on trends and risk factors; provide expert scientific advice on infectious disease outbreaks and exposures; manage large programmes of work across BBVs and other hepatitides; deliver national surveillance and policy reports, and lead on engagement with external stakeholders across the BBV commissioning landscape.

The postholder will manage and direct the work of teams within the hepatitis section and liaise effectively with clinical and public health colleagues to influence decision-making. They will develop existing research partnerships with external research institutions as well as develop and implement new research proposals and projects. The postholder will be expected to provide support to and work closely with the Immunisation & Vaccine Preventable Disease Division to provide expert public health advice and leadership on vaccine preventable diseases and outbreaks, including those related to hepatitis.

Job description

Location

This role will be based in Colindale, London NW9 5EQ.

UKHSA offers hybrid working for its employees – This role will be based at UKHSA offices in Colindale with opportunities for an element of working from home.

Currently this requires working from an allocated UKHSA base location for 60%, from the beginning of 2024.

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.

INTRODUCTION

At the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) our mission is to provide health security for the nation by protecting from infectious disease and external hazards.  We are a trusted source of advice to government and to the public, focusing on reducing inequalities in the way different communities experience and are impacted by infectious disease, environmental hazards, and other threats to health.

Our mission is challenging, innovative and in the spotlight. We will work to ensure our people have the diverse skills, experiences and backgrounds we need to thrive, that our employees are representative of the communities we serve and feel valued and enabled to play their part in delivering our work.

Creating our working culture is an ongoing process which we are developing by listening and learning together, hearing and acting upon diverse voices and opinions to develop a common sense of identity and effective ways of working.

Blood Safety, Hepatitis, STI & HIV Division

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.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

See details in attached Job Description

Surveillance, Epidemiology & Public Health

1. Lead and manage the design, development, introduction, audit and continuous improvement of STI and BBV outcomes using surveillance systems as required. Responsibility for specific areas of service improvement will be assigned upon appointment and reflected within associated job advertisements noting that these may evolve in response to emerging public health priorities.
2. Interpret complex statistical and epidemiological analyses of data on STIs and BBVs 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 these databases.
3. Provide expert advice in response to ad hoc enquiries from Government agencies, public health practitioners, academics, media, commercial organisations and members of the public.
4. 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, particularly in relation to reducing inequalities in outcomes. 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.
5. Provide specialist advice on the epidemiological aspects of the prevention and control of STIs and BBVs by contributing to the development of guidance, designing data collection systems, interpreting epidemiological data, conducting statistical analyses, and scientific publications.
6. Manage scientific and administrative staff in the maintenance, development, statistical analysis, quality outputs and reporting from BSHSH datasets. Undertake periodic evaluation of system processes and interventions including stakeholder engagement exercises.

Research

1. Design research questions and oversee the analyses of research datasets for the production of project reports, papers for peer reviewed journals and conference presentations.
2. 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.

Management and Planning

1. To work alongside other members of the BSHSH Division on:

• the business planning process and the development of surveillance/research, communication, training strategies etc;
• Compare, analyse and interpret highly complex options for running projects identified as key public health priorities, and communicate this information across organisations and key stakeholders;
• Budget responsibility for Section led grants
• Selection and recruitment of staff, including, shortlisting applicants and interviewing candidates selected for interview;
• Staff management responsibilities to be agreed with line manager.
• Responsible for developing quality control processes, participating in audits and ensuring resilience through maintaining Standard Operating Procedures and business continuity planning.
• Be responsible for ensuring their team’s work complies to UKHSA standards and governance requirements including maintaining confidentiality and security of surveillance information.
• Development of business cases to support system developments, this may include undertaking relevant procurement requirements and management of supplier relationships.

     2. To deputise for the Section Lead/Medical Advisor as required.

Publications and presentations

1. To plan and oversee the development of BSHSH epidemiological and applied outputs including outward facing publications including annual reports, web pages, writing of scientific papers for publication in peer reviewed journals and to manage junior scientific and administrative colleagues in the development of manuscripts.
2. To represent the Division on expert committees, national and local incident control teams, national/international meetings and conferences.

Teaching and Training

1. To develop public health capacity by contributing to teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate level and by supervising those training and working in public health and epidemiology.
2. To contribute to the training for new members and existing members of staff on the epidemiology and surveillance of communicable disease, and provide training and resources to external stakeholders
3. To participate in wider scientific activities to maintain professional standards including peer review of manuscripts.

Person specification

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of no more than 1,500 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the following criteria:

Essential criteria

• 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 STIs and BBVs
• Broad understanding of and experience of health care systems, public health and the communicable disease function in the UK
• Creating, validating and managing large databases and datasets
• Advanced statistical analysis of large and complex datasets, including knowledge and experience with STATA and/or R
• Writing research protocols, grant applications and scientific reports
• Preparing and reviewing standard operating procedures, and project plans
• Presenting scientific papers at national and international meetings and conferences and proven peer review publication record
• 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.
• Communicate ideas and methods clearly and succinctly
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships .

Desirable criteria

• 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
• Liaise with a wide range of external collaborators including health service and academic professionals
• Maintain required levels of confidentiality

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 also be asked to provide a Statement of Suitability in no more than 1,500 words outlining why you will be suitable for the role.

Your Statement of Suitability should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria (outlined in the person specification section).

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: 

To apply for this role, you will be asked to complete an application and a personal statement (maximum 1,500 words)

Please use your personal statement (maximum 1,500 words) to demonstrate how your skills and experience demonstrate your suitability for this role, in reference to the essential criteria detailed in the person specification section.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

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

STAGE 2 – INTERVIEW 

This competition will involve an interview via Teams

All applicants that progress to interview will be assessed on the criteria for the role outlined in the person specification.

Candidates might also be required to prepare and deliver a 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 05/02/2024 – 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 date: w/c 19th Feb 2024

Please note these dates could be subject to change.  

Eligibility Criteria

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

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.

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.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.

Security clearance level requirement

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Security Clearance. If the candidate does not hold this level of clearance it can be applied for on appointment.

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.