Principal Environmental Public Health Scientist (Air Quality Monitoring)

Job summary

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.

Are you looking for a rewarding and challenging career in public health? Do you want to be part to making a difference in protecting people from environmental hazards? Yes? Well, this could be the opportunity that you have been looking for!

RCCE’s Environmental Hazards and Emergencies (EHE) Department provides authoritative scientific advice to government, the NHS and other bodies about the public health effects of acute and chronic chemicals exposures and the impact of other environmental hazards.

The EHE Department comprises:

• An Air Quality & Public Health Group which provides highly specialist advice on the public health impacts of indoor and outdoor air pollution, nationally and internationally.
• A Noise and Health Group which provides evidence-based advice on the health effects of sound and noise for use within UKHSA.
• Four geographically dispersed teams (North, Midlands, South and Wales) operating from ten locations providing specialist advice at local and national level on the public health impact of acute and chronic non-infectious environmental exposures.

Job description

The Post Holder will:

• Be responsible for managing RCCE national ambient airborne pollutant monitoring and sampling capability along with giving advice with respect to atmospheric processes setting up equipment and analysing complex data.
• Design monitoring campaigns, establishing and organising sampling locations and deployment of sophisticated analytical equipment to monitor for a range of requirements which may include acute or protracted incident response and academic research.
• Make day to day decisions on all air quality monitoring logistics stemming from the study conception through to operationalising the instrument location, connection of services, setting up of analysers, calibration, governance and QA/QC.
• Provide assessments of ambient air monitoring. The assessments will focus on the scientific methods used, the key assumptions made and the risks, to the environment, associated with any uncertainties.
• Provide oversight of operational, maintenance, calibration, servicing of analytical equipment and procurement of consumables.
• Lead on linking into research and health protection projects where UKHSA monitoring capability will provide key ambient air quality data in support of building the evidence base.
• Line management of one or more scientists and act as project manager for a number of projects involving coordinating the work of small teams of scientists.
• Ensure the Health and Safety of Staff in the air monitoring team.
• Be responsible for the purchase of supplies and services for the team including delegated financial responsibility for the purchase of supplies and services.

Please note this list is not exhaustive.

This role will include responding to chemical & environmental hazard incidents and enquiries which threaten people's health and supporting public health risk assessments. Such threats might involve chemical fires, chemical contamination of the environment, or the deliberate release of chemicals and poisons. The postholder will contribute to the development of evidence and provision of expert environmental public health advice to government, multi-agency stakeholders and members of the public.

The purpose of this role is multifaceted: to develop a comprehensive ambient air mobile monitoring capability which will deliver ‘state of the art’ field sampling resource for deployment in most situations where the best quality data is required in support of RCCE response and/or research and public health risk assessments as well as being able to enhance our capability around response and health security.

It will require hands-on team leadership combined with field operations to deal with and develop monitoring strategies and solutions to complex scenarios. The postholder will be responsible for overseeing the strategic direction, operation, management and maintenance of the trailers (including all the monitoring equipment) and will effectively plan and execute deployment to support RCCE to undertake robust public health risk assessments during an acute or protracted public health response to environmental hazards.

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Relevant bachelor’s or master’s degree level qualification in analytical chemistry, environmental chemistry, or other relevant qualification or significant experience of working in a relevant specialist area.
• Knowledge of computer operating systems and their communication, particularly with instrumentation. Basic programming knowledge and knowledge of scientific packages (or their equivalents) such as: MS Office, ArcGIS, MATLAB, Openair R, Airviro, Surfer, EnvistARM monitoring and data acquisition software.
• Demonstrated experience of coordinating and managing the operational analytical equipment / air quality related projects in complex and challenging environments
• Experience of designing, writing and manipulating scientific computer software and databases
• Experience of managing a team, approachable, open and able to form good working relationships with internal and external customers and staff
• Ability to observe and question to gather information and sift it to disregard the irrelevant and identify key issues and ability to analyse very complex issues where material is conflicting and drawn from multiple sources.
• Ability to communicate and influence effectively at all levels, formally, informally, orally and in writing to UKHSA staff, senior representatives from cross-Government Departments and networks and other key stakeholder organisations. This may require presenting technically complicated information across a diverse audience.
• Capable of working independently in accurately and consistently setting up projects and monitoring campaigns and appropriate equipment for the desired outcomes, and in analysing complex scientific analytical data.
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of operating in a politically sensitive environment and in depth understanding of appropriate legislation
• Experience of research and development in a relevant scientific discipline (to Masters level or equivalent)
• Experience of monitoring budgets and business planning processes

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £56,185, UK Health Security Agency contributes £16,276 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• 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 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 the listed 9 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• 1250 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.

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 C.V –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.

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 1250 words. We will not consider any words over 1250 words.

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 ‘Meets all essential criteria’ 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:

• Capable of working independently in accurately and consistently setting up projects and monitoring campaigns and appropriate equipment for the desired outcomes, and in analysing complex scientific analytical data

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

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

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview

You will be invited to a single face to face interview.

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

Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills will be tested at interview.

There will be a Presentation. The Presentation question will be: ‘What key criteria makes a successful air quality monitoring campaign?’

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

• Leadership (Lead Behaviour)
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Developing Self and Others
• Managing a Quality Service

Interviews dates to be confirmed.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at any of our Core HQs or our Scientific Campus in Chilton. 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) or our Scientific Campus in Chilton.

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).

Security Clearance Level Requirement

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

Note: If based at one of the core HQs you are able to start employment with BPSS and work towards SC. Successful candidates will require Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) as a minimum, with a willingness and capability to work towards Security Check (SC). You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 5 years to obtain Security Check (SC) clearance. UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting at this higher level and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder / Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

If based at our Chilton Scientific Campus you will be required to have a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum. For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years as the role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance. In exceptional circumstances UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice. You will then work towards Security Clearance (as outlined above).

Eligibility Criteria

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

Salary Information

If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.

Please be aware that the salary is based on the office location.

Grade 7:

• £56,185- £66,581 (National)
• £58,340- £68,574 (Outer London)
• £60,494- £70,566 (Inner London)

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: Reasonable Adjustments , Civil Service Careers

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 UKHSA Hub , Civil Service Careers

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).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

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 : Timor Miakhel
• Email : timor.miakhel@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 UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: Complaints@ukhsa.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/

http://www.healthjobsuk.com/vacancy/7720275