Job summary
The PHE COVID-19 Advice and Guidance Team welcomes applications for 2 Public Health Scientists to join their busy team on a permanent basis. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in the national COVID-19 response, with the aim of moving into a wider guidance development team in the UKHSA.
Working closely with knowledge and evidence specialists, behavioural scientists, modellers, virologists, epidemiologists and across the UKHSA COVID-19 response, the team develops and publishes evidence-based guidance for the public and for a range of stakeholders.
The multidisciplinary team of scientists and Consultants in Public Health manages core UKHSA COVID-19 guidance and ensures that it is up to date and reflects emerging evidence and changes in policy We work closely with Other Government Departments and NHSE.
This is a busy and challenging role with frequent tight deadlines. If you have a good understanding of evidence and public health science and how to distil complex information into actionable guidance, then this may be the role for you.
Main duties of the job
The ideal candidate will enjoy working in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment with strong links to policy makers. They will have good public health, health protection and scientific knowledge with an ability to find and distil information into clear language depending on the audience. They will lead on developing and updating evidence-informed COVID-19 guidance for a range of audiences including the general public and the health and adult social care system.
Postholders will work in a team providing evidence-informed public health advice to internal and external stakeholders including UKHSA, DHSC and NHSE/I, Other Government Departments and the NHS.
About us
The way we behave as UK HSA members of staff will have the greatest impact in achieving our ambitions as an organisation. What we say matters but what we do matters more.
Our effectiveness depends on how we behave so we have developed the UK HSA People Charter which outlines the values and behaviours expected.
Our behaviours that underpin our values are to COMMUNICATE openly, honestly and clearly, ACHIEVE TOGETHER, working towards UK HSA's objectives, RESPECT each other and treat colleagues and customers how we would wish to be treated and EXCEL by providing an excellent service, leading by example and driving personal development.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Working with a team of Consultants and Scientists in UK HSAs Public Health Advice, Guidance and Expertise function that reports directly to the Senior Medical Advisor and Head of Advice and Guidance, UKHSA. The postholder will support the COVID-19 response through the provision of public health advice and guidance. This will include taking a role on specific cross-cutting areas to ensure a timely, consistent and evidence-informed response.
The postholder will:
- Provide evidence-informed public health advice to both internal and external stakeholders including DHSC and NHSE/I, Other Government Departments, the NHS, and other professional public health organisations and networks on public health aspects of COVID-19
- Support the development of COVID-19 guidance for a range of audiences including the general public, the health and adult social care system, and high-risk settings
- Work closely with knowledge and evidence specialists to update COVID-19 guidance in line with emerging evidence and policy
- Work across the UK HSA response and with Cabinet Office to improve the quality and consistency of guidance
The postholder will report to a Public Health Consultant and will be expected to work closely with the Senior Programme Leads and others in the team. The postholder will be an experienced public health or health protection scientist.
Please see attached job description for full details of the post.
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
Job description
Job responsibilities
Working with a team of Consultants and Scientists in UK HSAs Public Health Advice, Guidance and Expertise function that reports directly to the Senior Medical Advisor and Head of Advice and Guidance, UKHSA. The postholder will support the COVID-19 response through the provision of public health advice and guidance. This will include taking a role on specific cross-cutting areas to ensure a timely, consistent and evidence-informed response.
The postholder will:
- Provide evidence-informed public health advice to both internal and external stakeholders including DHSC and NHSE/I, Other Government Departments, the NHS, and other professional public health organisations and networks on public health aspects of COVID-19
- Support the development of COVID-19 guidance for a range of audiences including the general public, the health and adult social care system, and high-risk settings
- Work closely with knowledge and evidence specialists to update COVID-19 guidance in line with emerging evidence and policy
- Work across the UK HSA response and with Cabinet Office to improve the quality and consistency of guidance
The postholder will report to a Public Health Consultant and will be expected to work closely with the Senior Programme Leads and others in the team. The postholder will be an experienced public health or health protection scientist.
Please see attached job description for full details of the post.
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
Person Specification
Education / Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level or equivalent experience in a similar area of work
- Masters in Public Health or equivalent
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- High level of understanding of public health practice
- Experience of working with key stakeholders to influence public health outcomes
- Experience of working on own initiative and as part of a team
Desirable
- Experience of guidance development
- Experience of the control of communicable disease outbreaks
Skills and Capabilities
Essential
- Clear communicator with excellent oral and written communication skills
- Resilient and able to cope with multiple competing demands and tight deadlines
- Strong planning and organisational skills and ability to work at pace
- Significant public health and scientific knowledge and ability to understand and communicate complex technical issues
- Politically astute and understand implications for advice and guidance, taking action where necessary or appropriate
- Ability to assimilate and distil information to support consensus development
- Ability to prioritise and flex own workload to respond to urgent demands
Equality and Diversity
Essential
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships
Person Specification
Education / Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level or equivalent experience in a similar area of work
- Masters in Public Health or equivalent
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- High level of understanding of public health practice
- Experience of working with key stakeholders to influence public health outcomes
- Experience of working on own initiative and as part of a team
Desirable
- Experience of guidance development
- Experience of the control of communicable disease outbreaks
Skills and Capabilities
Essential
- Clear communicator with excellent oral and written communication skills
- Resilient and able to cope with multiple competing demands and tight deadlines
- Strong planning and organisational skills and ability to work at pace
- Significant public health and scientific knowledge and ability to understand and communicate complex technical issues
- Politically astute and understand implications for advice and guidance, taking action where necessary or appropriate
- Ability to assimilate and distil information to support consensus development
- Ability to prioritise and flex own workload to respond to urgent demands
Equality and Diversity
Essential
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships
Additional information
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
