About the job

Job summary

The post-holder will be a member of scientific staff working on a range of activities undertaken by the Emerging Infections, Zoonoses and Travel Health (EIZ&T) team. The principal responsibility of the post will be undertaking epidemic intelligence activities for potential emerging infectious threats and the assessment of threats from emerging or re-emerging infectious diseases and generating weekly and monthly reports to a defined schedule. The post also involves the development, implementation and maintenance of new and existing reporting and risk assessment systems and outputs for potential threats. The post-holder will also be required to provide both regular and ad hoc information outputs to a range of national and international stakeholders, in a timely manner often with limited notice. These duties will require close working relationships with colleagues working on emerging infections and emergency planning and response both within UKHSA and other UK agencies. The post-holder will also provide the scientific and administrative support to the Human and Animal Infections and Risk Surveillance (HAIRS) group – a multidisciplinary cross-government horizon scanning and risk assessment group for emerging and potential zoonoses as required.

The post-holder will undertake specific projects to support other work areas of the EIZ&T Section, including the response to incidents.

Location

This role is based in the UKHSA Colindale office, 61 Colindale Avenue, 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, Part Time, Job Share, Flexible Working.

Job description

Responsibilities section:

As a Senior Scientist your main responsibilities will include:

Horizon scanning and event surveillance and reporting

• Responsible for undertaking the epidemic intelligence activities of the section, including maintaining the horizon scanning log and alerting the Principal Scientist and Lead Epidemiologist to incidents needing immediate attention.
• Production of information outputs on emerging threats to a range of national and international stakeholders.
• Liaise with colleagues in UKHSA and other Government Departments to ensure robust reporting lines for emerging infectious events.
• Provide expert advice and assistance to other staff and agencies involved in emerging infections.

 Risk analysis

• Lead the risk assessment work for potential emerging infections, including zoonoses. Review the risk assessment processes and develop as appropriate.
• The post also involves the development, implementation and maintenance of data systems to support this work, analysis and interpretation of complex data, compilation of reports and dissemination of information. These duties will require close working relationships with colleagues working on emerging infections and emergency planning and response both within UKHSA and in other UK countries.

Other

• Contribute to the development of the Emerging Infections, and other relevant sections within the gov.uk website; responsible for version control, accuracy and consistency of content.
• Review current and historic literature and interpret this and other scientific data to prepare scientific reports, documents and guidelines for the gov.uk website and other stakeholders
• Providing scientific and administrative support to the HAIRS group and ensuring the HAIRS web pages on the gov.uk website are updated as required. Preparing scientific reviews required by the group or for the group. Preparing papers and risk assessments for and on behalf of the group.
• Undertake and support specific projects on emerging Infections, such as vector-borne diseases preparedness and response.
• Participate in teaching and training and give presentations both within UKHSA Colindale and externally.
• Develop effective working relationships and facilitate liaisons between agencies, organisations and individuals working in surveillance and risk assessment for emerging infections.
• Assist and participate with control of major incidents and emergency planning exercises as required.

 

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 750 words (max 1,000) 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

• Educated to degree level in relevant subject or equivalent level qualification or significant experience of working at a similar level in specialist area
• MSc or equivalent experience in public health, epidemiology, health-care research or similar
• Training in research methods, infectious disease epidemiology, surveillance and/or public health
• Relevant work experience in public health including communicable disease epidemiology, and surveillance
• Of using computers and database software packages (particularly Microsoft Excel)
• Of interpreting and evaluating epidemiological data
• Of data management, analysis and reporting
• Presentation skills
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems

Desirable

• PhD or equivalent experience in public health, epidemiology, health-care research or similar
• Experience of emerging infections and risk analysis
• Peer review publication record

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 post will involve an in-person interview, but remote options can be considered.

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.

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. 

At interview you will be asked to complete a task, full details will be provided at the shortlisting stage. Candidates may also be asked 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.

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 23rd April 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 29th April 2024

Interviews: TBC

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.