Senior Public Health Specialist Practitioner

Job Description

Job Title: Senior Public Health Specialist Practitioner
Salary: £63,393 – £73,167 per annum (pro rata if part-time)
Grade: H
Contract Type: Permanent
Working Hours: 37 hours per week

About the department

Thurrock Council’s Public Health Team works to protect and improve residents’ health and reduce health inequalities. Guided by the Health & Wellbeing Strategy, its priorities include tackling smoking, obesity, mental health, and cardiovascular risks, with a focus on vulnerable communities. The team collaborates with the Health & Wellbeing Board, NHS partners, and local organisations to embed public health priorities across a range of mechanisms.

About the Role

As a Senior Public Health Specialist Practitioner, you will be responsible for:

• Working closely with other teams across the council and elected Members and with partner agencies including the NHS, local authorities, education, police, fire, community and voluntary sector, private and independent sector and communities to deliver public health programmes to improve health and reduce health inequalities in the local population.

• Providing specialised advice and expertise on children’s public health to the development of public health strategy, policy and practice.

• The commissioning of public health services related to children and young people, e.g. the 0-19 Healthy Child Programme, Child Weight Management etc.

• Provide professional leadership and management of staff and resources

• Co-ordination of the Healthy Babies (infant feeding and perinatal mental health) elements of the Best Start Family Hubs programme

This role offers the chance to make a real difference to the lives of Thurrock’s children and young people

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for someone who has:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills

• Ability to manage delegated budgets and forecast risk

• Highly developed skills in partnership working and maintaining relationships across all sectors to improve public health outcomes, reduce health inequalities and improve services.

• Proven ability to design, develop, interpret and implement policies and strategy.

• Ability to multi-task in a fluid and changing environment with competing priorities.

• Experience of commissioning public health services and performance management of contracts.

• Substantial knowledge of local and national strategies, policies and legislation relevant to children’s public health

Essential qualifications:

• Masters Degree in Public Health or higher degree in a related subject plus evidence of CPD in public health and documented experience at masters level practice

DBS Check: Not required

Benefits of Working with Us

At Thurrock Council, we value our employees and offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Generous annual leave entitlement

• Local Government Pension Scheme

• Flexible and hybrid working opportunities (where applicable)

• Ongoing training and professional development

• Employee assistance programme and wellbeing support

• Staff discounts and local offers

• A supportive and inclusive working environment

Important Dates

Closing Date (Redeployment Only): 15th January 2026

Closing Date (Internal & External): 8th February /2026

Interview Date: Week commencing 23rd February 2026

Additional Information

If you have any questions about the role or interview process, please contact:

Maria Payne – Public Health Principal

mpayne@thurrock.gov.uk

To view the Job Profile and Person Specification, please follow the link below:

Download Job Profile (PDF Document)

About us

Why Thurrock?

Working at Thurrock Council gives you the opportunity to join an organisation that is changing at pace, one where you can make a real difference to the lives of the people we serve.

Thurrock Council is moving towards a new community leadership approach which involves linking with local partners and communities as we shape our improvement for the years ahead.

This is an exciting time to join us, to shape the future success of our changing organisation and to have a positive influence on our borough.

Our location

Thurrock is located on the north bank of the river Thames. Our urban centres are a vibrant mix of established towns and new young communities, with a diverse and growing population of around 160,000 residents.

We are an emerging cultural and arts centre, home to the production centre for the Royal Opera House and the National Skills Academy for Creative and Cultural Skills. We have excellent retail and leisure opportunities, including Lakeside Shopping Centre, country parks, forests, and marshes.

Thurrock is just half an hour journey away from the centre of London by train and well connected by road.

Staff benefits

We offer lots of staff benefits, including a generous annual leave entitlement and hybrid working. We champion flexible working and job share applications are welcome.

Further information can be found here Employment benefits | Working for the council | Thurrock Council

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Thurrock Council is committed to equal opportunities. As a Disability Confident Employer, disabled people will be offered an interview where they meet all essential criteria on the person specification.

We serve a diverse community where people are different yet equal. Diversity underpins everything we do.

For further information about Thurrock Council please visit our website: Thurrock Council