About the job

Job summary

We are seeking an experienced Senior Evidence Reviewer to join CCHS's growing Climate and Health Assessment Team (CHAT).  In this role, you will be part of a team that produces robust scientific evidence to inform climate and health assessments. Your work will directly contribute to guidance and advice for national and local policymakers and public health professionals on how to address the health challenges of a changing climate.

 The role involves:

• developing and synthesising scientific evidence to inform climate and health assessments.
• translating complex scientific findings into clear and concise communication for diverse audiences.
• providing evidence to support the development of guidance and advice for national and local partners on adapting to the health effects of climate change.
• supporting those wishing to produce or commission climate and health reviews.
• collaborating with a multidisciplinary team of scientists, public health professionals, and evidence experts.

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.  

Job description

Your main responsibilities will include:

• As a Senior Evidence Reviewer your role will be to support the use of evidence in informing climate change and public health advice and guidance.
• You will work on rapid evidence reviews using systematic and rapid review methodologies, as well as new innovations in machine learning and automated text analysis and will conduct screening of studies, data extraction, critical appraisal and evidence synthesis.
•  You will work alongside a small scientific team, using a range of relevant packages and delivering across a range of different review topics and timeframes.
• You will also work on methodological developments and on translation of evidence, for example providing tailored evidence messages, producing evidence summaries, and / or developing critical appraisal tools.

For a full list of the main duties and responsibilities of the role, please refer to the attached Job Description. 

Your responsibilities include: 

• Work with colleagues to develop answerable review questions and review protocols
• Use appropriate tools, including new innovations in machine learning and automated text analysis to undertake rapid evidence reviews including development of the search strategy, literature screening, quality appraisal, evidence synthesis and write up
• Ensure that full and accurate documentation is kept and be responsible for the accuracy and security of all data related to projects which the post holder manages or is involved in
• Quality assure the work of other team members and colleagues and provide support for confidence assessment
• Contribute to the ongoing development of rapid evidence review work and other professional activity procedures and standards, including training activities and working groups
• Make decisions in relation to the work of the climate and health assessment team and actively contribute to collaborative decision-making in relation to methods and outputs
• Support the commissioning of evidence synthesis and assessment report contributions, through development of specifications and oversight of commissioned work
• Support the development and delivery of capacity building for evidence synthesis, climate and health assessment, and utilisation
• Prepare papers for presentation at local, regional or national meetings, workshops and/or conferences
• Line management and / or supervision of team members at HEO or EO level

Person specification

Essential criteria

You will be assessed on the below 8 essential criteria, which have been selected from the Job Description 

• Masters degree in relevant field (e.g. environmental health, public health, climate impacts and adaptation, evidence synthesis) or equivalent relevant experience
• Knowledge of evidence review methodologies, including systematic and rapid reviews, including the use of machine learning, coding, and data analytics methods
• Experience of conducting systematic or rapid evidence reviews in climate or environmental health
• Experience in critical appraisal, assessment of confidence in evidence, or risk of bias assessment
• Experience of presenting and interpreting public or environmental health evidence in a useable way
• Good oral and written communication and presentation skills as well as Comprehensive skills in the use of spreadsheets or databases and reference management software.
• Demonstrated capabilities to manage own workload and make informed decision in the absence of required information, working to tight and often changing timescales.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team and maintain relationships with colleagues as well as the ability to work to instruction and independently, and to use initiative

Desirable criteria

• Experience of working in a policy or practice environment

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £38,724, UK Health Security Agency contributes £10,455 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

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

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the above listed 8 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of

• a CV/ Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• a Statement of Suitability of no more than 750 words.

This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria. Please do not exceed 750 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.

The CV/ Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.

In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on: 

• Masters degree in relevant field (e.g. environmental health, public health, climate impacts and adaptation, evidence synthesis) or equivalent relevant experience
• Knowledge of evidence review methodologies, including systematic and rapid reviews, including the use of machine learning, coding, and data analytics methods.
• Experience of conducting systematic or rapid evidence reviews in climate or environmental health

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

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview

You will be invited to a (single) remote interview. 

Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview.

Interviews might be held week commencing 22nd July 2024. Please note, these dates are subject to change.

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

Location information  

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 any UKHSA's locations (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London, Chilton, Colindale, Porton Down).  

Eligibility Criteria 

This vacancy is open   to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).

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.

Disability Confident scheme 

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. 

Reserve List clause 

Candidates who pass the interview criteria but are not offered a post will be kept on a reserve list for 12 months and may be contacted if similar roles become available.   

If you are interviewed for the post and do not meet the required threshold for the specified grade, your application may be assessed against a similar, lower grade role and you may be offered the post should one be available.    

Starting salary  

New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.    

The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase.    

Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.   

For further details please refer to the Information Sheet- Starting Salaries & Benefits attachment

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.