Senior Scientist, Scientific Secretariat to the JCVI

Job summary

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is a scientific expert advisory committee which provides advice and recommendations to HM Government on immunisation matters. The JCVI is supported by the JCVI scientific secretariat, who work within UKHSA. We are recruiting for two Senior Scientists with the secretariat: one permanent and one fixed-term contract.

As a Senior Scientist, you will provide scientific secretariat support for the work of the JCVI and its sub-committees, as well as other expert groups. You will have strong communication and organisational skills, a keen interest in immunisation and healthcare policy, and will be able to work with a variety of stakeholders across UKHSA and other government departments, as well as external stakeholders. Most importantly, you will be enthusiastic about immunisation and motivated to gain a deeper understanding of how vaccination programmes move from scientific evidence to policy, and then to implementation.

Job description

As a Senior Scientist, you will provide scientific secretariat support to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and UKHSA expert groups. This will include supporting JCVI sub-committees, sub-groups, technical committees and professional networks as required. You will be given a portfolio of work, supporting and organising specific sub-committees and/or UKHSA groups, as well as contributing to the overall smooth running of JCVI meetings.

The key responsibilities and tasks of this role will be:

• Working closely with the chair and members of the JCVI to effectively plan the discussions of JCVI sub-committees, and with UKHSA consultants to ensure the smooth running of UKHSA expert groups.
• Producing papers of a scientific and/or technical nature in collaboration with UKHSA experts and JCVI members to support JCVI decision-making.
• Preparing agendas and meeting papers within agreed timetables.
• Organising and attending meetings, recording discussions, preparing minutes and following up actions arising from meetings
• Supporting the chair and members to achieve the aims and objectives of the JCVI.
• contributing to updates to the UKHSA publication “Immunisation Against Infectious Diseases”
• Supervising administrative staff to ensure effective arrangements are made for meeting rooms, equipment, refreshments, travel and other requirements for JCVI meetings.

As a Senior Scientist, you will provide scientific secretariat support to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and UKHSA expert groups.

You will work closely with the Chair and members of the JCVI to effectively plan the discussions of JCVI sub-committees and UKHSA expert groups. This might include producing supporting papers of a scientific and/or technical nature in collaboration with UKHSA experts and JCVI members to support JCVI decision-making. You will have a portfolio which may include specific disease areas, sub-committees or expert working groups, for which you will be responsible, with oversight provided by either the Routine Immunisation Lead or Seasonal Respiratory Virus Lead in the secretariat.

You will ensure the smooth organisation and running of meetings, including preparing agendas and meeting papers within agreed timetables, recording discussions, writing minutes and following up actions arising from meetings. You may be required to draft JCVI advice to HM Government for publication on the JCVI gov.uk page. Your tasks will be varied and include coordinating with other UKHSA divisions and some government departments on JCVI advice and providing scientific support to meetings.

This role requires developing and maintaining familiarity with the scientific issues and areas relevant to the JCVI and UKHSA expert groups. You will be responsible for bringing relevant issues/evidence to the attention of the Chair and members. This will include scanning for relevant scientific papers, surveillance bulletins and media coverage and attendance at relevant conferences and seminars. You will also contribute to updates to the UKHSA publication for healthcare professionals “Immunisation Against Infectious Diseases” (also known as the “Green Book”) and coordinate updates from clinical and operational colleagues into this publication.

You will also help manage and draft replies to correspondence received by the JCVI from a wide range of stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, members of the public, charities, and members of parliament. This means using discretion over replies, and tailoring the response to the appropriate level, dealing with sensitive issues in a sympathetic way. You may also be required to deal efficiently with Freedom of Information (Fol) requests and liaise with the Press Office over media statements.

This list is not exhaustive.

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Science degree (or equivalent qualification) in a relevant subject (e.g. biological sciences, immunology, microbiology)
• Experience of scientific administration and/or scientific committee management
• Experience of writing scientific reports
• Understanding of the epidemiology of vaccine preventable diseases, and the immune response to immunisation
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with attention to detail and ability to tailor communications to the audience (expert and non-expert)
• Strong organisational and administrative skills, including ability to prioritise own work effectively and manage workstreams with contributions from a wide variety of stakeholders
• Ability to analyse complex issues where material may be conflicting and drawn from multiple sources
• Ability to produce descriptive epidemiology reports independently
• Must be able to use initiative to decide relevant actions, and to make recommendations to manager, with the aim of improving deliverables and compliance to policies
• Strategic thinking, including ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise, make decisions autonomously, when required, on difficult issues, working to tight and challenging deadlines

Desirable criteria:

• Proven and relevant research on vaccines/infectious diseases
• Knowledge of communicable disease surveillance

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.

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce. UKHSA's 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.

• 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 - Competency Based

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 10essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

• Application form (Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• 1500 word supporting statement.

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 C.V –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.

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500.

Longlisting:

In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:

• Meets all essential criteria
• Meets some essential criteria
• Meets no essential criteria

If used, the pile(s) that Meets ALL and 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:

• Experience of scientific administration and/or scientific committee management
• Science degree (or equivalent qualification) in a relevant subject (e.g. biological sciences, immunology, microbiology)
• Strong organisational and administrative skills, including ability to prioritise own work effectively and manage workstreams with contributions from a wide variety of stakeholders

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

Competency Based

You will be invited to a single face to faceinterview. When face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview

There will be an Assessment which will be:

• A drafting exercise that is designed to test understanding of a meeting discussion and written communications skills, particularly in the context of advising and seeking the views of Ministers.

Please note, more information about the assessment will be shared with candidates invited to interview.

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

This role is an office-based role at Canary Wharf, London. Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport links and benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) Please note hybrid working is not available for this role.

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.

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. Please be aware that the salary is based on the office location.

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.

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 : John Inglis
• Email : john.inglis@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 the UKHSA Complaints team via email at: 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 for further information: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk