Principal Scientist (Epidemiology) in Acute Respiratory Infections

Job summary

You will be joining the Clinical & Emerging Infections Directorate working in the Acute Respiratory Infections unit of the Tuberculosis (TB) Acute Respiratory, Zoonoses, Emerging infection, and Travel health division (TARZET). The mission of TARZET is to protect the public from respiratory, imported, emerging, and novel infections through world-leading public health microbiology and virology, outbreak response, surveillance, research and interventions.

We are a multidisciplinary team delivering surveillance, epidemiology, public health and clinical advice, microbiology and virology, incident and outbreak response, and advice to government. We work closely with NHS England and NHS Trusts, with international agencies and colleagues, and in a fully integrated way with multiple academic partners, with associated research opportunities.

The post holder, based at the UKHSA Colindale site, will take a senior role in providing and developing national surveillance of acute respiratory infections, developing guidance and leading research studies. There are a number of areas of focus within the Unit including but not limited to:

Avian and other zoonotic influenzas, Coronaviruses (other than SARS-CoV2), Legionella and Mycoplasma.

Job description

The role will involve working in a small team to provide scientific support to the analysis, operation, and development of surveillance systems including development of methodology and directing changes to data capture systems in liaison with system architects and software developers. The role may involve day-to-day management of scientific, technical and information staff within their Section.

Surveillance, Epidemiology & Public Health

Lead the design and continuous improvement of acute respiratory surveillance systems, conducting complex statistical and epidemiological analyses across multiple data sources. Provide expert advice to government agencies, public health practitioners, media, and the public, ensuring emerging threats are identified promptly and communicated effectively through risk assessments and situation reports. Contribute to guidance development, data collection systems, and scientific publications, while managing staff across all surveillance activities.

Research

Design analytical strategies and supervise complex statistical analyses for peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations. Initiate and lead collaborative research projects within UKHSA and with external partners, including securing external funding and providing expert advice to academic and agency collaborators.

Management and Planning

Contribute to business planning, project prioritisation, budget management, staff recruitment, and quality control. Ensure team compliance with UKHSA governance and confidentiality standards, maintain standard operating procedures, and deputise for the Section Lead as required.

Publications and Presentations

Oversee epidemiological outputs including annual reports, web content, and peer-reviewed journal articles, managing junior colleagues in manuscript development. Represent the unit at expert committees, incident control teams, and national/international conferences.

Teaching and Training

Build public health capacity through undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, supervising trainees, and inducting new staff into communicable disease epidemiology and surveillance. Maintain professional standards through peer review and wider scientific engagement.

Professional Development

• Identify, discuss, and action own professional performance and training / development needs with your line manager through appraisal / individual development plan. Attending internal / external training events
• To participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e., fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training.

Key Working Relationships

The post holder will develop working relationships and communicate regularly with a wide range of individuals, clinical and non-clinical, internal and external to UKHSA. This will include:

• Medical, scientific and administrative colleagues working within the Acute Respiratory unit and TARZET Division
• Staff in other departments of UKHSA, especially colleagues in particular Field Services, Regional and reference Laboratories and Data and Analytics Service (DAS)
• Government Departments including Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England
• Other clinical, public, infection control, scientific and academic staff in national, regional and local institutions in and outside the UK
• Voluntary and statutory sector agencies

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Degree or equivalent experience in a relevant scientific subject (e.g. Biological sciences, Epidemiology, Public Health, Biology, Chemistry) or significant equivalent experience of working at a similar level in this field
• Higher degree in epidemiology, public health, microbiology or related discipline
• Training in research methods, infectious disease epidemiology, surveillance, prevention and/or public health
• Knowledge and work experience of communicable disease epidemiology, surveillance and prevention including healthcare associated infection and/or antimicrobial resistance and/or antimicrobial prescribing
• Broad understanding of and experience of health care systems, public health and the communicable disease function in the UK
• Strong statistical analysis of large and complex datasets, including knowledge and experience with STATA and/or R
• Writing research protocols, grant applications and scientific reports
• Preparing and reviewing standard operating procedures
• Able to work effectively in a multi-disciplinary team and motivate and encourage team members
• Ability to make decisions autonomously, when required, on difficult issues including problem solving, working to tight and often changing timescales
• Communicate ideas and methods clearly and succinctly
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships
• Maintain required levels of confidentiality

Desirable criteria:

• Substantial post-graduate experience
• Creating, validating and managing large databases and datasets
• Presenting scientific papers at national and international meetings and conferences and proven peer review publication record
• Experience of working within the NHS or other health-related sectors
• Managing and leading scientific and technical staff including working under pressure and to tight deadlines
• Liaise with a wide range of external collaborators including health service and academic professionals

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £60,494, UK Health Security Agency contributes £17,525 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce. UKHSA's 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.

• 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

Competency based

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.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 12 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• 1500 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.

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

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

Only those who meet 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:

• Strong statistical analysis of large and complex datasets, including knowledge and experience with STATA and/or R
• Broad understanding of and experience of health care systems, public health and the communicable disease function in the UK
• Knowledge and work experience of communicable disease epidemiology, surveillance and prevention including healthcare associated infection and/or antimicrobial resistance and/or antimicrobial prescribing

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 remote interview.

Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview

There will be a presentation. You will be asked to prepare and present a 5–10-minute presentation at the start of your interview.

The subject of this will be centred around Legionella, and you will be provided with more information if invited to interview.

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

Eligibility Criteria

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

Security Clearance Level Requirement

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 Basic Personnel Security Standard.

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our core HQ in London (Canary Wharf) 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 our office. 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).

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.

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 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/huge-biosecurity-centre-investment-to-boost-pandemic-protection 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

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.

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 : John Inglis
• Email : john.inglis@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