Public Health Programme Lead

This permanent role has a starting salary of £53,713 per annum, based on a 36 hour working week.

We have a great opportunity to join our CVD & Cancer Prevention team as a Public Health Programme Lead (Smoking and Tobacco Control). You will join a team that is supportive and motivating and encourages personal and professional development.

We support hybrid working with the right balance. We come together in person for 2 days per week on average (40 % of the working week) and support working from home the rest of the time.

Our Offer to You

• 26 days’ holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years’ service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Up to 5 days of carer’s leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
• Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
• A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents.

About the Role

The Government’s ambitious proposal for a smokefree generation aims to significantly reduce smoking rates by providing additional funding to local authorities. We have a fantastic new opportunity for a Public Health Programme Lead to deliver Surrey’s smokefree ambitions.

We are looking for a dynamic and innovative individual with leadership communication and technical skills and a real commitment for improving population health and reducing inequalities. As a creative thinker and confident communicator with solid project and budget management skills, you’ll be able to work both independently and collaboratively within a fast‑paced, politically driven environment.

In this role, you will lead the design, delivery, monitoring, and evaluation of Surrey’s stop smoking services, ensuring they effectively reach communities with the highest need. Through meaningful engagement with stakeholders and local communities, you will shape targeted interventions that respond to the specific needs of Surrey’s smoking population. This includes applying evidence-based approaches to reduce smoking prevalence, tackle tobacco‑related health inequalities, and contribute to wider tobacco control efforts. Your work will play a vital part in supporting Surrey’s ambition to achieve a smoke‑free society by 2030, increasing the number of residents engaging with stop smoking services and improving outcomes for individuals and communities across the county.

You’ll be confident working with a wide range of partners and stakeholders, including residents, service providers, NHS partners, and colleagues across the voluntary and business sectors bringing extensive experience in commissioning and tobacco control. You will provide expert knowledge and expertise to the system including chairing subgroups and networks and support any policy changes that come with the passing of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.

Working closely with the Senior Public Health Lead and Public Health Principal, you will also oversee performance monitoring for the One You Surrey integrated lifestyle service, support the wider system to embed smoking cessation and tobacco control activity, and manage an annual budget of £1.8m.

You will also provide line management to two team members also working on the smokefree programme.

Your Application

In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours:

• Possession of a Masters degree in Public Health / Health Promotion / Health Protection or a relevant subject, or significant level of experience demonstrating application of health improvement knowledge
• Achieved or working towards Public Health Practitioner Registration
• Experience of working in smoking cessation/tobacco control
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, to communicate with people of all levels
• Competent in using core public health skills such as reviewing, analysing and interpreting data, conducting health impact assessments and population needs assessments and leading service level evaluation
• Proven track record of effective commissioning and contract management

To apply, we request that you submit a CV and you will be asked the following 5 questions (300 words per question):

1. What motivated you to apply for this role and what knowledge, skills and experience do you bring?
2. This role is to lead on the Tobacco Control and Stop Smoking Grant funded programme, what do you know about the programme in Surrey, what would you do in the first 6 months?
3. Describe a time when you provided leadership for a health improvement project focusing on reducing smoking prevalence. What was your approach and what impact did it have?
4. Tell us about a time when you successfully built partnerships across sectors to deliver a public health outcome. What challenges did you overcome?
5. Can you describe your experience with commissioning public health services, including how you have managed contracts to ensure quality, value for money, and compliance with service specifications?

Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description and our Life at Surrey handbook to get an insight into working at Surrey.

Contact Us

Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment. Please contact Emma Jones via email at emma.r.jones@surreycc.gov.uk.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 25/03/2025 with interviews planned to follow.

We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit.

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)

Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to two new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1st April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of the new organisations, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities.

Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents! Please see more information here: Information for applicants on Local Government Reorganisation - Surrey County Council

Our Commitment

We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum criteria, we guarantee you an interview.

Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we’re committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.