Senior Scientist (Epidemiology)

Job summary

We are looking for a Senior Scientist (Epidemiology) who will take a crucial role in epidemiological surveillance of respiratory viruses. The post is based in the Public Health Programmes Directorate of UKHSA, working in the Immunisation & Vaccine Preventable Diseases Division.

Vaccines have been identified as a key strategic priority for UKHSA. The Immunisation and Vaccine-preventable Diseases Division (in the Public Health Programmes Directorate of the Clinical and Public Health Group) is responsible for the national surveillance of most vaccine preventable infections and in providing technical support and clinical expertise to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and to the NHS in planning and delivering the national immunisation programmes. These programmes provide millions of vaccines per year, across the whole life course, and are delivered in a range of NHS settings. The division also provides secretariat to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation who recommend any changes to the national immunisation programme and publish “Immunisation Against Infectious Disease” – the single authoritative source of immunisation advice for health professionals.

The postholder will contribute to enhanced surveillance systems and research studies of respiratory diseases. They will lead and support on data collection and validation, and production of routine surveillance intelligence in these areas.

Job description

The postholder will analyse and interpret surveillance data and develop automated routines and solutions and overseeing and responding to more complex/sensitive data requests. This will be through application of, and expertise in, analytical, statistical, database, mapping and web tools, supported by knowledge of information and data science approaches.

They will also carry out the epidemiological investigation of incidents/outbreaks of infectious diseases, supporting others across directorate, local Health Protection Teams and in collaboration with other partners. This will include the design, implementation, analysis and interpretation of analytical studies in a variety of settings and supporting team members in carrying out these tasks.

They will contribute to public health scientific analyses and writing reports on specific projects, regular/ad hoc publications and peer reviewed publications.

Contributions to the work and professional development of the team are also expected, and this may extend to Health Protection colleagues to improve services and information quality. Liaison with colleagues across the Chief Medical Advisor Group, wider UKHSA and NHS colleagues at regional/local level will also be required.

Duties will include:

• Surveillance and Data Analysis
• Enhanced surveillance and Epidemiological Investigations
• Statistical and software skills
• Audit, Quality and Governance
• Research
• Management / workforce / HR
• Teaching / Training
• Project management
  

This is not an exhaustive list, and a full Job Description will be sent to all successful candidates at interview.

The above is also only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other specialist duties as may reasonably be required.

The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the division. It should be noted that the work of the division is of a confidential nature and must not be communicated to other persons except where required for authorised purposes.

Person specification

Essential Role Criteria

• Educated to degree level in biological/biomedical sciences and population health or equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level in specialist area (in maintenance/analysis of data)
• MSc in Epidemiology, public health or allied discipline or equivalent level of experience/education
• A Completion of the Field Epidemiology Training Programme or equivalent training and experience
• 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
• 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
• Knowledge and experience of common statistical tests, modelling and analyses and interpret results, including for research purposes
• Experience of using epidemiological/statistical software packages
• Knowledge of health/social care environment, and roles and responsibilities within it including information flows in the NHS and allied services
• Understanding of information governance including data protection and confidentiality requirements
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with proven presentation and scientific reporting
• Proficient in common statistical/database/mapping tools such as STATA, R, GIS, network analysis, SQL, etc.
• 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
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships

Desirable Role Criteria

• Experience of research activities with one or more first author publications in peer reviewed journals
• Experience of teaching epidemiology and/or surveillance
• Experience of effective line management

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%

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.

Please visit our careers site for more information: UKHSA Hub , Civil Service Careers

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

Application & Sift

This role is using Competency.

At sift stage you will be assessed against Essential Criteria.

You will be required to complete an:

• 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.

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500 - your supporting statement must be no more than 1000 word count.

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)

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

Only those meeting all essential criteria will be taken through.

Shortlisting: If we receive a large number of applications an initial sift against the lead essential criteria will be conducted:

• A Completion of the Field Epidemiology Training Programme or equivalent training and experience

Please note feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Interview stage (Competency based):

You will be invited to a face-to-face interview.

This vacancy is being assessed using a competency-based framework. During the interview we will assess against the below:

• Knowledge
• Experience
• Skills & Abilities

You will be asked to prepare and present a 5-10 minute presentation at the start of your interview. The subject will be:

• Knowledge of principles and practice of surveillance

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Additional Information

Eligibility Criteria

External: Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including internal applicants).

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our site: Colindale Scientific Campus, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ.

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). If based at one of our scientific sites, you will be required to have a minimum of a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum.

Security Clearance Level Requirement

All successful candidates must meet the basic security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is:

• Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS)

For these roles you will also need to meet:

• Counter Terrorism Check (CTC)

DBS Requirement:

• Basic DBS

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) 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.

Salary Information

SEO Inner £46,310 - £52,113

Per annum, pro rata

This contract is until 31st March 2026 but there is a possibility of extension, however, this is not guaranteed.

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.

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.

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.

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

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 : Sarah Handy
• Email : sarah.handy@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

http://www.healthjobsuk.com/vacancy/7742003