About the job

Job summary

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.

The Senior Scientist works closely with senior epidemiologist colleagues to provide epidemiological and data management support across a number of topic areas; and to the epidemiological investigation of incidents and outbreaks of infectious diseases and routine, supporting local Health Protection Teams and in collaboration with other partners.  This will include supporting and managing the technical and analytical aspects of epidemiological outbreak investigations and supporting a team in carrying out these tasks.

The interface with local, regional and national colleagues, as well as with external stakeholders, will be an important feature of this role.

Location

Civic centre, Barras Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8QH / Blenheim House, West One, Duncombe Street

Leeds, LS1 4PL with Hybrid working

You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process.

*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, Hybrid Working

Job description

Responsibilities section:

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

Surveillance and Data Analysis

• Identify surveillance needs within given lead areas, create surveillance system specifications, conduct complex statistical analyses and interpret surveillance data, making appropriate recommendations, develop automated routines and solutions and supervise / assure on the preparation, quality and delivery of routine and ad hoc surveillance reports.
• Respond to complex or sensitive data requests.

 Outbreak Support and Epidemiological Investigations

• Where appropriate, lead and manage the technical and analytical (including data management) aspects of epidemiological outbreak investigations, including the supervision of the investigation of exceedances, e.g. write protocol of analytical studies, contribute to the production of outbreak control team reports and train interviewers.

 Statistical and Software Skills

• Use common statistical/database/mapping/web tools such as Stata, R, ArcGIS, network analysis, SQL and SharePoint in routine reports, surveillance activities and the development of solutions and undertake complex analytical and programming tasks using common and specialist software packages to support data extractions, analysis and validation.

 Audit, Quality and Governance

• Advise on quality and governance issues including information security for all aspects of Field Service work, evaluating existing systems and acute response to incidents and outbreak, and use to improve standards and consistency across the team.

 Research and project management

• Support/lead and facilitate the delivery of projects using a framework to ensure they are well planned, efficiently implemented, predetermined benefits are realised and associated risks mitigated
• Project manage research studies, analysing datasets with appropriate methodology to answer research questions, supported by the systematic review of literature and with knowledge of how to develop a grant proposal, and apply for ethical approval.

Management and Leadership

• Actively engage in meetings with internal and external colleagues, identify potential problems and seek to resolve and undertake a lead role for a specific topic or function area, on behalf of the service as a whole
• Undertake line management responsibilities as agreed, contribute to the supervision and training of junior staff allocated to the team and act as a role model adhering to UKHSA Values and Behaviours
• Deal with at times, challenging and/or conflicting subject matter problems in day to day workload referring/escalating to line management as appropriate.

 

Please see the job description for a full list of duties

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.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

We are looking for an exceptional Senior Scientist.

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 1000 words (max 1250) that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the following criteria:

Essential

• Educated to degree level in relevant subject or equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level in specialist area (in the maintenance, analysis of data)
• MSc in Epidemiology, public health or allied discipline or equivalent level of experience/education
• Knowledge of principles and practice of surveillance, including data management, data transmission, data security, data quality, data analysis including descriptive statistics and graphics and data reporting
• Experience of interpreting and evaluating epidemiological data, sensitive health data analyses and performing analytical epidemiology
• Demonstrable experience of public health, health protection or epidemiology
• Knowledge and experience of common statistical tests, modelling and analyses and interpret results appropriately, including for research purposes
• Understanding of information governance including data protection and confidentiality requirements
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with proven presentation and scientific report writing skills
• Understand of information governance including data protection and confidentiality requirements
• Proficient in common statistical/database/mapping tools such as STATA, R, GIS, network analysis, SQL, etc.

Desirable

• Experience of research activities with one or more first author publications in peer reviewed journals
• Experience of teaching epidemiology and/or surveillance

Please see the job description for a full list of essential/desirable 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 advertised essential criteria – 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 competition will involve a face to face interview.

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.

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 complete a test and 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.

For further information on the selection process, please refer to the attached Candidate Pack.

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 31st January 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 8th January 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.