Public Health Principal

Job Introduction

About Us

This is a hugely exciting time to be working in Public Health in Oxfordshire.

The County Council is committed to tackling climate change; shaping the environment to encourage active, healthy & inclusive lives; shifting services to focus on more preventative approaches; and closing the health gap between different communities. Oxfordshire is also a Marmot Place committed to embedding the shift towards more preventative approaches and closing the health inequalities gap between different communities

We have strong systemwide partnerships including the Health & Wellbeing Board and the Oxfordshire Place Based Partnership, delivering the Joint Local Health & Wellbeing Strategy. This is made possible through established working relationships right across the Oxfordshire system, including the Integrated Care System. We are also developing growing research ambitions with local universities.

To deliver this vision, we are looking for a dynamic public health professional to join our team as a Public Health Principal. The role will lead on defined portfolios of work ensuring it delivers improved health outcomes for Oxfordshire residents.

About the Role

The Live Well (Improve and Enable) role will lead a high-profile portfolio focused on reducing harm and improving outcomes for residents across Oxfordshire. This currently includes three focus areas of public health work: Domestic Abuse, Gambling Harms, and Suicide Prevention, which all contribute to the delivery of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

The post holder will develop our public health approach to tackling gambling harms, alongside supporting delivery of the Oxfordshire Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention Strategy 2025-2030 through co-ordination of the suicide prevention multi-agency group to make suicide prevention everyone’s business. Additionally, they will play a key role in ensuring the Council meets its duties under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, working closely with the Oxfordshire Domestic Abuse Strategic Board and wider partnership groups to support effective commissioning and use of duty funding.

This role requires strong system leadership, programme management and partnership skills to deliver complex, evidence-informed public health programmes aligned with national policy, local need and Oxfordshire’s strategic priorities.

This role will be responsible for end-to-end commissioning and performance management of services, ensuring alignment with wider public health priorities and system pathways. The role includes line management responsibilities and matrix working across the wider Public Health team to deliver shared objectives. Financial responsibilities will include accountability for commissioned service budgets and grant funding allocated through the Public Health Grant and national programmes.

About You

As a public health professional, you will have skills and experience leading strategy development and delivery in a public health area. Applicants will have excellent organisational and communication skills plus an ability to work under pressure and to professionally deal with challenging situations.

The successful candidates will have:

• A Degree in a field related to Public Health or equivalent professional qualification/registration in a field related to Public Health (e.g. UKPHR registered Public Health Practitioner), alongside a postgraduate qualification (Masters Level) relevant to public health.
• Extensive experience of commissioning services in the public sector
• Ability to make clear management and financial decisions
• Ability to manage staff towards high performance, offering flexible and positive leadership which encourages excellent results
• Knowledge & experience of assessing, and evidencing areas of need and designing and commissioning provision to meet identified need
• Ability to manage several complex work programmes covering a wide range of targets
• Experience of working with partners from a range of agencies including NHS, social care, criminal justice, and the voluntary sector.

Rewards and benefits

Working for Oxfordshire County Council means working for a supportive organisation that values, wellbeing, and professional development. As an employee you will benefit from a competitive salary, generous annual leave, access to the Local Government Pension Scheme, and a range of employee benefits including flexible working options, professional learning opportunities, staff networks, and wellbeing resources. You will be part of a team that invests in your growth and empowers you to make a meaningful impact across the organisation.

Our approach to hybrid working aims to balance flexibility with the benefits of face-to-face working. Team members are normally expected to attend their designated office location 2–3 days per week, subject to operational requirements.

Your office base may be subject to change as we are currently transitioning between temporary and permanent office locations due to the closure of County Hall. If this is applicable to you, you will be notified, but no reimbursement will apply in respect of travel.

Our commitment to:
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.

Our commitment to:
Guaranteed Interview Schemes

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.

Our commitment to:
Safeguarding

Oxfordshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.

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If you want to find out more, please contact: serena.abel@oxfordshire.gov.uk