Senior Evidence Reviewer in Climate and Health

Job summary

Centre for Climate and Health Security (CCHS)
UKHSA has established the Centre for Climate and Health Security (the ‘CCHS’) to provide scientific advice and support to local, national and international partners to ensure that the impacts of climate change on public health are considered and embedded in system design. Possessing multi-disciplinary teams, scientific infrastructure, and a broad network of partners, UKHSA will speak with an authoritative voice that will aid the design of local, national and international policies, as well as the organisations responsible for delivering them.

Centre for Net Positive Solutions for Health and Climate (Net+)
This post will contribute to a key CCHS research programme, ‘Centre for Net Positive Solutions for Health and Climate (Net+ or ‘Net Positive’)’ which is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The Net+ Centre is a national focus for research, networking and capacity building, identifying ‘net-positive’ interventions for health solutions, reducing the negative impacts of climate change while maximising the co-benefits of interventions and providing the basis for furthering scientific advances, policy advice and innovation. Net+ is a collaboration between the University of Exeter (UoE), the UKHSA, Forest Research (FR), the National Trust (NT), and the Met Office (MO).

As a Senior Evidence Reviewer your role will be to support the use of evidence in informing climate change and public health advice and guidance as part of an externally-funded project (the Net+ centre) in partnership with the University of Exeter. You will work on rapid evidence reviews using systematic and rapid review methodologies, as well as systems thinking approaches, horizon scanning of emerging risks, data extraction, critical appraisal and evidence synthesis. You will work alongside a small scientific team, using a range of relevant packages and delivering across a range of different review topics and timeframes. You will also work on methodological developments and on translation of evidence, for example providing tailored evidence messages, producing evidence summaries, and/or developing critical appraisal tools.

You will be based in CCHS’s Climate and Health Assessment Team (CHAT) and work with project partners to develop the provision of advice and guidance both nationally and locally. You will also support others wishing to produce or commission evidence reviews across UKHSA and may support the delivery of training and capacity building.

Job description

• Work with colleagues to develop answerable review questions and review protocols including ‘systems thinking’ research and horizon scanning into climate and health and climate and health policy solutions
• Use appropriate tools, including new innovations such as machine learning to undertake rapid evidence reviews including development of the search strategy, literature screening, quality appraisal, evidence synthesis and write up
• Ensure that full and accurate documentation is kept and be responsible for the accuracy and security of all data related to projects which the post holder manages or is involved in
• Quality assure the work of other project team members and colleagues and provide support for confidence assessment
• Contribute to the ongoing development of rapid evidence review work and other professional activity procedures and standards, including training activities and working groups
• Make decisions in relation to the work of the Net+ project and actively contribute to collaborative decision-making in relation to methods and outputs
• Support the development and delivery of capacity building for evidence synthesis, climate and health assessment, and utilisation
• Prepare papers for presentation at local, regional or national meetings, workshops and/or conferences
• Line management and / or supervision of team members at HEO or EO level as required
• Collaborate with external academic and scientific partners to support delivery of key Net+ project activities such as designing and delivering workshops concerning climate and health
• Plan, prioritise and organise own work and resources to meet agreed objective and deadlines.
• Be committed to UKHSA values and policies, including the Equal Opportunities Policy.
• Any other duties as specified by the Principal Climate Change Scientist

General responsibilities

• Plan, prioritise and organise own work and resources to meet agreed objective and deadlines.
• Be committed to UKHSA values and policies, including the Equal Opportunities Policy.
• Any other duties as specified by the Principal Climate Change Scientist

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.
• Undergo a programme of on-going development and education, including the annual appraisal process, to build on existing knowledge and develop skills to meet the behaviours and competencies required to undertake the role.

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Masters degree in relevant field (e.g. environmental health, public health, climate impacts and adaptation, evidence synthesis) or equivalent relevant experience
• Knowledge of evidence review methodologies, for example, systematic and rapid reviews, including the use of machine learning, coding, and data analytics methods
• Experience of conducting systematic or rapid evidence reviews in climate or environmental health
• Knowledge of complexity and systems thinking and horizon scanning concerning climate change risks to health
• Experience writing reports
• Experience of presenting and interpreting public or environmental health evidence in a useable way
• Good oral and written communication and presentation skills
  Comprehensive skills in the use of spreadsheets or databases and reference management software
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team and maintain relationships with colleagues
• Ability to work to instruction and independently, and to use initiative
• Demonstrated capabilities to manage own workload and make informed decision in the absence of required information, working to tight and often changing timescales.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems

Desirable criteria:

• Experience of working in a policy or practice environment

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £41,983, UK Health Security Agency contributes £12,162 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%

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.

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 and Experience.

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)
• up to 1000 word supporting statement.

This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.

The Application form and supporting statement will be marked together.

Please note you will not be able to upload your CV. You must 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:

1. Meets all essential criteria
2. Meets some essential criteria
3. Meets no essential criteria

The following will be taken through to the next stage:

1. Meets all essential criteria
2. Meets some essential criteria

Shortlisting:

In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on the following behaviour:

• Working together

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

Please do not exceed 1000 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview (success profiles)

You will be invited to a (single) remote interview.

Behaviours and experience will be tested at interview.

There will be a presentation, on the following topic: "How evidence reviews can be used to inform climate and health research and shape policy decisions.”

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

• Working together - Lead behaviour
• Communicating and influencing
• Seeing the big picture
• Managing a quality service
• Making effective decisions

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 is a homeworking role.

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

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

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.

Senior Executive Officer (SEO)

• £41,983- £48,128 (National)
• £44,148- £50,121 (Outer London)
• £46,310- £52,113 (Inner London)

For Fixed term posts

If you are not currently a civil servant, you will take up the post on a Fixed Term appointment. You may be able to take this role up as a Secondment. If you are an existing Civil Servant, based outside of the UKHSA, you will take up the post as a loan which you will need your department to agree. You cannot take the post up as a fixed term. If you are an existing UKHSA member of staff, you will take up the post as either a level transfer or a temporary promotion as per the UKHSA’s Pay policy.

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.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Link below:

Artificial intelligence and recruitment , Civil Service Careers

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 : Gurkamal Bhambra
• Email : gurkamal.bhambra@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: Visit the Civil Service Commission website: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk