About the job

Job summary

We are recruiting a Senior Scientist to join the hepatitis section in the Blood Safety, Hepatitis, STI and HIV (BSHSH) Division. The post holder will be part of a dynamic team responsible for delivering the development, management, and coordination of surveillance systems for communicable diseases, focusing on hepatitis.

In general, the post holder will be expected to lead on research and analysis regarding stigma experienced by people living with hepatitis, as well as aid with hepatitis elimination monitoring and evaluation. The role involves evidence building through analysis of surveillance data, public health monitoring, evaluating the impact of interventions, and preparing surveillance outputs, scientific reports, and articles. The post will require project management and you will build relationships with a wide range of stakeholders. You will have strong data management and analysis skills, ideally with experience in surveillance data, excellent interpersonal skills, and an ability to work effectively both autonomously and within a team.

Job description

Main duties of the job

• Surveillance
• Outbreak Investigation
• Research
• Publications and presentations
• Teaching and Training
• Other

For more information on these headings please see below.

Surveillance

• Develop, manage and maintain the surveillance databases.
• Manage existing national surveillance systems and co-ordinate the development of new surveillance systems for hepatitis, HIV and/or STIs and to supervise and advise junior scientific and administrative staff in the maintenance and development of integrated or enhanced surveillance datasets.
• Conduct complex statistical analyses of data drawn from a variety of surveillance sources in response to ad hoc enquiries from Government agencies, international agencies (ECDC, WHO), public health practitioners, academics and members of the public.
• Advise scientific and administrative staff conducting routine analyses of surveillance datasets for standardised outputs and ad hoc enquiries.
• Supervise junior scientific colleagues and the administrative team in the production of surveillance reports and publications.
• Help coordinate the activities of scientists in partner institutes involved in collaborative surveillance programmes.
• Provide technical advice and assistance to public health practitioners on the design, maintenance, analysis and interpretation of surveillance databases.
• Assist in the design and development of new surveillance and data management systems in response to developments in the application of microbiological typing methods including contributing to the drafting of Standard Operating Procedures.
• Write or contribute to the drafting of scientific papers for publication in peer reviewed journals and detailed reports for UKHSA or Government departments.

Outbreak Investigation

• Manage the technical and analytical aspects of outbreak investigations, under the supervision of the Senior/Consultant lead, by:
  • designing outbreak databases;
  • liaising with relevant specialists to collect epidemiological data;
  • coordinating and advising incident teams;
  • interviewing clinicians and patients to collect clinical and risk factor data during incidents
  • overseeing data entry and ensuring quality control of databases;
  • collating and interpreting epidemiological and microbiological data drawn from a variety of sources;
  • conducting complex statistical analyses of datasets;
  • providing statistical analyses for government agencies, health protection units and others;
  • writing briefing notes and situation reports;
  • presenting epidemiological data to Incident Management Teams;
  • contributing to the production of outbreak reports and subsequent publications.

Research

• Contribute to the development of research proposals
• Coordinate the collection and collation of data from collaborators based in specialist laboratories and other institutions throughout the UK.
• Conduct statistical analyses of epidemiological and microbiological data for grant funded research projects and UKHSA programmes.
• Provide complex statistical analyses of surveillance/research datasets to academic units and other agencies involved in collaborative epidemiological and microbiological research studies under the guidance of the project leader.
• Contribute to the process of writing scientific papers for publication in peer reviewed journals and project reports to funding bodies.

Publications and presentations

• Supervise scientific and administrative staff in the production of departmental outputs and editorial material for the Health Protection Report.
• Produce surveillance newsletters and/or reports.
• Present epidemiological findings at national and international meetings and conferences.
• Regularly update the BSHSH web-pages with data and associated information.

Teaching and Training

• Develop and present lectures and teaching materials on the epidemiology and surveillance of hepatitis, HIV and/or STIs for UKHSA, university postgraduate and professional development training programmes.
• Contribute to the training for new members of staff on the epidemiology and surveillance of hepatitis, HIV and STIs.

Other

The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role.  You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required.  The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation.

Person specification

Essential criteria

• First degree in a science subject and a higher degree in Epidemiology, Public Health or an allied subject, or equivalent
• Higher degree in Epidemiology, Public Health or an allied subject, or equivalent
• Postgraduate work/study in public health, epidemiology or an allied subject
• Interpreting and evaluating epidemiological data, using Access/ SQL databases, spreadsheets, statistical and graphics packages to an advanced level
• Statistical analysis of large and complex epidemiological datasets
• Managing epidemiological studies and outbreak investigation
• Communicate ideas and methods clearly and succinctly to include excellent oral and experience of writing scientific papers and/or project reports
• Identify and solve day-to-day practical problems
• Ability to work on several separate tasks at the same time, whilst keeping to agreed deadlines
• Ability to analyse very complex issues where material is conflicting and drawn from multiple sources and to act upon incomplete information, using experience to make inferences and decision making
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of creating and giving presentations to a varied group of internal and external stakeholders and an ability to liaise with a range of health professionals and scientific specialists

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £42,716, UK Health Security Agency contributes £11,533 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

Selection process

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

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

• CV/ Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application) 
• 1000 words Statement of Suitability.   

This should outline how you consider your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.  

The CV and Statement of Suitability will be marked separately, and you must pass both to move forward to interview.

Stage 2: Interview

You will be invited to a (single) remote interview.  Behaviours, Strengths, Ability, Experience and Technical skills will be tested at interview.

As part of the interview you will be required to undertake a presentation, details of this will be provided to you.

 The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be 

• Delivering at Pace
• Managing a Quality Service
• Making effective decisions
• Changing and Improving

Interviews will be held week commencing the 13th May. Please note, this date is 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 your core location - Colindale.  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.  

Eligibility Criteria 

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

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  

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

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.