Epidemiologist

Job summary

The postholder will work on the surveillance, epidemiology and investigation of gastrointestinal infections by providing specialist scientific support for a range of national surveillance programmes, outbreak investigations and research projects. This will include the design and development of new surveillance and data management systems in response to developments in microbiological typing methods in collaboration with other epidemiologists and IT/bioinformatics specialists and will be required to conduct complex statistical analyses to produce GI pathogen surveillance, outbreak investigation and risk assessment outputs.

Working for your organisation

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.

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

Job description

The postholder will develop, manage and maintain gastrointestinal pathogen surveillance systems (including surveillance databases) and produce comprehensive surveillance data outputs for external stakeholders, incorporating both whole genome sequencing and epidemiological data. They will develop automated analytical solutions, respond to complex or sensitive data requests, and contribute to public health scientific reports and peer reviewed publications.

• Manage existing national surveillance systems and co-ordinate the development of new surveillance systems for gastrointestinal pathogens 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 on gastrointestinal pathogens drawn from a variety of surveillance sources in response to enquiries from external stakeholders (e.g. other Government departments and agencies such as Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC), Food Standards Agency (FSA), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) etc), international agencies, public health practitioners, academics and members of the public as well as internal UKHSA stakeholders.
• Apply a broad range of statistical methods, translating analytical processes into automated, reproducible solutions where appropriate, alongside use of statistical, database, mapping and web tools such as STATA, R, ArcGIS, SQL and SharePoint in routine surveillance and reporting, and undertake complex analytical, programming and data validation tasks to support data extraction and system development
• Advise and support scientific and administrative staff in 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 standard GI pathogen surveillance and outbreak reports and publications.
• Coordinate the activities of scientists in partner institutes involved in collaborative surveillance and/or research programmes.
• Provide technical advice and assistance on the design, maintenance, analysis and interpretation of surveillance database outputs.
• 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.
• Conduct complex statistical analyses of data on gastrointestinal pathogens drawn from a variety of surveillance sources to inform decision-making and in response to enquiries from other Government agencies (DHSC, FSA, DEFRA), international agencies, public health practitioners, academics and internal UKHSA stakeholders.
• Collating and interpreting epidemiological and microbiological data drawn from a variety of sources.
• Writing Briefing Notes (BN’s) and Situation Reports (SitReps).
• Present epidemiological findings at national and international meetings and conferences.
• Update the gastrointestinal infections webpages with data and associated information
• Manage the technical and analytical aspects of outbreak investigations, under the supervision of the Lead Epidemiologist/Consultant Epidemiologist by:
• Designing outbreak databases.
• Liaising with governments departments which lead on all aspects of food safety and public health protection related to GI pathogens.
• Coordinating and advising interviewing teams.
• Interviewing clinicians and patients to collect clinical and risk factor data
• Overseeing data entry and ensuring quality control of outbreak databases.
• Presenting epidemiological data to Incident Management Teams.
• Contributing to the production of outbreak reports and subsequent publications

The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You shall carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by your line manager.

Person specification

Qualifications and Registrations

For roles where specific qualifications or registrations are required, successful applicants will be asked to provide appropriate evidence. Employment cannot commence until satisfactory documentation has been received and verified.

• MSc or equivalent experience in Public Health, Epidemiology, or an allied subject (e.g. environmental health, infectious disease, global health).
• Experience of postgraduate work/study in public health, epidemiology or an allied subject(e.g. environmental health, infectious disease, global health).
• Knowledge of principles and practice of surveillance, including data management, data validation, data transmission, data security, data quality, data analysis including descriptive statistics and graphics and data reporting
• Significant experience of analysing, interpreting and evaluating epidemiological data, using databases, statistical and graphics packages to an advanced level (e.g. R skills).
• Demonstrable experience of outbreak investigation
• Demonstrable experience of writing scientific papers and/or reports.
• Ability to create and give presentations to a varied group of internal and external stakeholders and an ability to liaise with a range of health professionals and scientific industry specialists.

Desirable criteria

• Thorough understanding of recent advances in the epidemiology and microbiology of infectious intestinal disease and presenting scientific papers at national and international conferences.
• Experience of research activities with one or more first author publications in peer reviewed journal

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,310, UK Health Security Agency contributes £13,416 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• 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 employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

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 abilities outlined in the essential criteria.

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

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)

• 1,000 word Supporting Statement

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.

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1, 500 but your supporting statement must be no more than 1,000 words. We will not consider any words over 1,000 words.

You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. The application form is the kind of information you would put into your CV. Please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible. Please do not email us your CV.

Longlisting

In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:

• Meets all essential criteria
• Meets some essential criteria
• Meets no essential criteria

If used, the pile(s) ‘Meets all essential criteria’ and will proceed to shortlisting.

Shortlisting

In the event of a large number of applications we may conduct an initial sift, on the lead criteria of:

• MSc or equivalent experience in Public Health, Epidemiology, or an allied subject (e.g. environmental health, infectious disease, global health).
• Knowledge of principles and practice of surveillance, including data management, data validation, data transmission, data security, data quality, data analysis including descriptive statistics and graphics and data reporting.
• Demonstrable experience of outbreak investigation.

Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications/successful candidates.

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

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview

You will be invited to a (single ) face to face interview at UKHSA London (Colindale).

If face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

Knowledge , Experience Skills & abilities will be tested at interview .

There will be a test where you will be given a scenario and asked to interpret the epidemiological data and will be asked sometechnical questions about the methodology. You will have 10 min to read the scenario and prepare the answer and then 5 minutes to summarise your findings orally.

Eligibility Criteria - External

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

Location - London ( Canary Wharf 10 SC )

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our Core HQ in London. We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using 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 core HQs (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London). Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport links and benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Future location

UKHSA is investing in a new state-of-the-art National Biosecurity Centre in Harlow, Essex, which will eventually bring together teams currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale and Porton Down. For more details, please see: Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection - GOV.UK.

The new facilities will start becoming operational in the mid-2030s, with full completion by 2038. Staff will move in phases as facilities become available. If you're appointed to a role currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale or Porton Down, please note that we'll continue investing in these sites for the next decade. As we get closer to the transition, we'll provide full information about relocation support available to staff.

Reasonable Adjustments

The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone. To help you during the recruitment process, we will consider any reasonable adjustments that could help you. An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work. This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme. If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs.

You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/

International Police check

If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and it could be time accrued over that period.

Internal Fraud check

If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant’s personal details – name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional circumstances. Currently this is only for External candidates to the Civil Service.

Careers website

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

Security Clearance Level Requirement - Basic DBS & BPSS

Successful candidates must pass a basic disclosure and barring security check before they can be appointed.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is:

• Baseline Personnel Security Standard

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) 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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Magali Collonnaz
• Email : magali.collonnaz@ukhsa.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk

Further information

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 the UKHSA Complaints team via email at: Complaints@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 for further information: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk

http://www.healthjobsuk.com/vacancy/8198661