Senior Scientist

Job summary

AntiMicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections Division (AMR & HCAI)
The mission of the division is to protect people from healthcare-associated and antimicrobial resistant infections, through world-leading public health microbiology, outbreak response, surveillance, antimicrobial stewardship, modelling, research and interventions.

The AMR & HCAI Division is the national centre for surveillance of AMR & HCAI in England. The Division is multidisciplinary including epidemiologists/public
health specialists, analysts, microbiologists, data managers, statisticians, IT specialists and administrative staff. The Division is responsible for a range of national surveillance programmes that collect epidemiological data on a number of HCAIs and invasive bacterial infections, as well as monitoring antimicrobial usage and resistance.

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.

Job description

This post is based within the Surveillance and Epidemiology Section of the AMR & HCAI Division and provides epidemiological and data management support across several national surveillance programmes, including:
• Surgical Site Infection (SSI) Surveillance
• Streptococcal Infections Surveillance
• Antimicrobial Resistance and Prescribing (AMRP)
• Mandatory Surveillance of Bloodstream Infections, including Gram negative bloodstream infections and Clostridioides difficile infection
• Infections in Critical Care Units (ICCU) Surveillance

The post holder will lead and contribute to enhanced surveillance systems and research studies relating to HCAI and AMR, support data collection, validation and the production of routine surveillance outputs, and analyse and interpret surveillance data. They will develop automated analytical solutions, respond to complex or sensitive data requests, and contribute to public health scientific reports and peer reviewed publications.

The role also involves supporting the epidemiological investigation of incidents and outbreaks, working closely with colleagues across the Division, local Health Protection Teams, wider UKHSA and NHS partners. Contribution to team development, service improvement and cross organisational collaboration is expected.

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Surveillance and Data Analysis

• Identify surveillance requirements; develop surveillance system specifications; conduct complex statistical analyses; interpret data; make evidence‑based recommendations; develop automated analytical solutions; and assure the quality, accuracy and timely delivery of routine and ad hoc surveillance outputs
• Develop and use information and intelligence systems to support public health action, including outbreak and incident response, working across disciplines and organisations. Collate, link and interpret data from multiple sources to produce robust analyses that inform decision‑making.
• Respond to complex or sensitive data requests, including Parliamentary Questions and other high‑profile requests.

Enhanced Surveillance and Epidemiological Investigations

• Where appropriate, lead/manage the technical and analytical aspects of enhanced surveillance within the Division, including developing analytical study protocols and contributing to data collection.
• Analyse and evaluate quantitative and qualitative data from multiple sources, translating findings into clear recommendations with potential long‑term impacts on policy, practice or public health action.

Statistical and Software Skills

• Apply a broad range of statistical methods, translating analytical processes into automated, reproducible solutions where appropriate.
• Use statistical, database, mapping and web tools such as Stata, R, ArcGIS, SQL and SharePoint in routine surveillance and reporting, and undertake complex analytical, programming and data validation tasks to support data extraction and system development.

Audit, Quality and Governance

• Advise on quality, governance and information security across surveillance activities and contribute to improvements in standards and consistency across the team.
• Be responsible for the quality of data collected, stored, extracted and transferred.

Research

• Project manage research studies, analyse datasets using appropriate methodologies, undertake literature reviews, contribute to grant proposals and obtain ethical approval where required.
• Present findings at scientific conferences, programme meetings and other fora, and publish peer reviewed papers in collaboration with public health, academic and clinical partners

Management / Workforce / HR

• Manage others and self effectively, including supervision, appraisal, performance management, recruitment, workload planning and objective setting.

Teaching / Training

• Contribute to teaching and training activities and supporting skills development across the team/Division

Strategic Thinking

• Build and maintain effective relationships with key internal and external stakeholders; identify and resolve issues; and undertake lead roles as requested.

Project Management

• Coordinate and lead projects, including the implementation of new systems, processes and analytical approaches

Other Duties, Professional Development and Working Relationships

• Engage in ongoing professional development and mandatory training and undertake additional duties consistent with the role.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships across UKHSA.

The above is an outline of the duties and responsibilities of the role. The job description and person specification may be reviewed in line with organisational needs

Person specification

• MSc in Epidemiology, public health or allied scientific discipline (e.g. microbiology, data science) or equivalent level of experience working on analysis of public health data
• Knowledge of principles and practice of surveillance, including data management, data transmission, data security, data quality, data analysis including descriptive statistics and graphics and data reporting (technical test)
• Experience of interpreting and evaluating epidemiological data, sensitive health data analyses
• Demonstrable experience of public health, health protection or epidemiology including experience of complex and/or sensitive health data analyses
• Experience of using epidemiological and statistical software packages
• Knowledge of health and social care environment, and roles and responsibilities within it including information flows in the NHS and allied services
• Understand of information governance including data protection and confidentiality requirements
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with proven presentation and scientific report writing skills
• Proficient in common statistical/database/mapping tools such as STATA, R, GIS, network analysis, SQL, etc (technical test)
• Able to build and maintain effective relationships with co-workers and key stakeholders
• Able to work under own initiative, respond to sudden unexpected demands whilst maintaining a professional calm and efficient manner
• Completion of the Field Epidemiology Training Programme or equivalent training and experience

Desirable role criteria:

• Experience of teaching epidemiology and/or surveillance
• Experience of research activities with one or more first author publications in peer reviewed journals
• Training in research methods, infectious disease epidemiology, surveillance and/or public health

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,310, UK Health Security Agency contributes £13,416 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%

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 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 essential criteria and this will be in the form of a:

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

• 1,250 word Supporting statement

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1, 500 but your supporting statement must be no more than 1,250 words. We will not consider any words over 1,250 words

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 CV –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

If used, the pile(s) ‘Meets all essential criteria’ and ‘Meets some 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 :

• MSc in Epidemiology, public health or allied scientific discipline (e.g. microbiology, data science) or equivalent level of experience working on analysis of public health data

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 Technical Assessment and you will be asked to present the results. The test will be aimed to assess you against the bolded essential criteria listed above.

Interviews dates to be confirmed

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)

Location - Hybrid working

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our Scientific Campus in Colindale (London)

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 campus.

Based at our scientific campus, you will be required to have a minimum of a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum. For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years as the role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance. UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice

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 :

• Baseline Personnel Security Standard
• Counter-Terrorist Check

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).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 : Conny Agyei
• Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk

Further information

http://www.healthjobsuk.com/vacancy/7928657