About the job

Job summary

We are looking to appoint two Senior Scientists (SEO) to work within the Field Services South East and London team, which is part of the Health Protection Operations Directorate of the UK Health Security Agency. Field Services aims to deliver a timely, effective and integrated field epidemiology and public health microbiology service and develop capacity for an effective all-hazards health protection service. It consists of geographically dispersed teams performing infectious disease surveillance and outbreak investigations.

The South East and London team provides epidemiology and public health microbiology advice and expertise to local, regional and national stakeholders. This includes effective surveillance of infectious diseases, and leading epidemiological field response to infectious disease incidents and outbreaks across a large and diverse part of the country.

These Senior Scientist post holders will require a sound understanding of infectious disease epidemiology and surveillance activities, including their application in outbreak situations. The post holders will also support the epidemiological investigation into outbreaks of infectious diseases, which may involve travel to affected sites across London and the South East of England, and contributing to response to national incidents. Further functions of the team include education and training, research, and evaluation, which these posts will be expected to contribute to.

They will be responsible for epidemiological and data management support across several topic areas, to be agreed on appointment, but one of the posts will have a strong focus on laboratory surveillance, monitoring data quality and maintaining close relationships with laboratory colleagues. Further topic areas may include specific infectious diseases such as respiratory viruses, tuberculosis or vaccine preventable disease, or cross cutting areas such as travel health or health equity.

These posts holders must be able to build strong relationships and work effectively with epidemiological, clinical and public health colleagues at local, regional and national levels.

Location:

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 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf. 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.

Job description

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

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

• Providing senior epidemiology scientific input to specific topic areas, to include identifying and evaluating surveillance needs, creating and maintaining surveillance systems, analysis and interpretation of statistical data to produce reports and in response to ad hoc requests. These will require knowledge of principles and practice of surveillance and data management, as well as technical skills in analytical epidemiology.
• Lead and manage the technical and analytical investigation of outbreaks, including protocol development and report writing.
• Taking an active role in research, identifying research questions and the planning and management of studies with appropriate methodology. Present at scientific conferences, programme area meetings, and publish and present scientific papers.
• For these, you will be expected to use statistical/database/mapping/web tools such as R, PowerBI, SQL, ArcGIS and network diagrams/analysis for statistical analysis, routine reports, and surveillance activities.
• Actively contribute to teaching/training in the team, as well as to quality programmes such as through audit. This involves providing leadership and support to more junior colleagues.
• Line management of staff within the team.
• At least one post holder will have responsibility for laboratory surveillance across London and the South East. This involves monitoring NHS and private sector laboratory reporting to UKHSA, and maintaining effective relationships with these laboratories to identify and resolve issues such as data quality or changes in reporting requirements.
• At least one post holder will also advise on quality and governance issues including information security as the Local Information Governance Officer.

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

**Please do not submit your CV. We require you to complete your application and Statement of Suitability of 1000 words (maximum) that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the following criteria below. Also, please ensure that your Statement of Suitability contains no personal identifiers e.g. name in either the file name or content of the document**

Essential Criteria:

• MSc in Epidemiology, public health or allied discipline or equivalent level of experience/education
• Completion of the Field Epidemiology Training Programme, or equivalent training and experience in epidemiology
• Knowledge of principles and practice of disease surveillance, including data management, security, quality, analysis, visualisation, and reporting
• Experience of interpreting and evaluating epidemiological data
• Knowledge and experience of analytical epidemiology, including using common statistical models and tests, and interpretation of results
• Understanding of the health and social care environment, and roles and responsibilities within it, including information flows in the NHS and allied services
• Experience of effective line management
• Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with co-workers and key stakeholders
• Understanding of information governance, including data protection and confidentiality requirements
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with proven presentation and scientific report writing skills
• Proficiency in common statistical/database/mapping tools such as R, SQL, GIS, network analysis, Stata, etc.
• Ability to work under own initiative, seek out new information and new ways to develop yourself
• Ability to work under time pressure and respond to sudden unexpected demands whilst maintaining a professional manner
• Understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships

Desirable Criteria:

1. Experience of research activities, with one or more first author publications in peer reviewed journals
2. Experience of teaching epidemiology and/or surveillance
3. Experience using git to collaborate on code
4. Experience investigating outbreaks of infectious diseases

Benefits

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.

For more information on the UKHSA please visit: UK Health Security Agency - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

• 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

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT: 

You will be required to complete an application form and Statement of Suitability (no more than 1000 words). This will be assessed in line with the advertised essential criteria – please do provide evidence of how you meet this. 

You will also be asked to provide information within the ‘Employer/ Activity history’ section of the application form. If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview.

 

STAGE 2 – INTERVIEW 

This competition will involve an interview via Video (Teams)

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.

This interview will be assessed using a competency-based framework.

Presentation:

Candidates will also be required to prepare and deliver a 5-10 minute presentation to the panel.  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. This will be followed by a question-and-answer segment. 

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs 27th March 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: TBC

Please note these dates could be subject to change. 

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.  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

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission. 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.