Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic Consultant Epidemiologist to join the Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (EIZ) section and lead the national zoonoses activities.
The EIZ section covers a range of activities including horizon scanning and risk assessment of global emerging infectious disease threats; development of specialist resources and expert advice for the public health management of high consequence infectious diseases (HCIDs); coordinating the providing scientific support to the Human Animal Infections Risk Surveillance group (HAIRS); coordinating activities related to non-foodborne zoonoses across UKHSA; undertaking surveillance of zoonoses; and working closely with human, animal and environmental health colleagues on the assessment, management and control of zoonotic infections.
Main duties of the job
This is a specialist Consultant Epidemiologist position in the Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (EIZ) section and will have lead responsibility for specific zoonoses, as well as providing senior level input into a wide range of activities carried out by section relating to emerging infections and zoonoses.
About us
At the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) our mission is to provide health security for the nation by protecting from infectious disease and external hazards. We are a trusted source of advice to government and to the public, focusing on reducing inequalities in the way different communities experience and are impacted by infectious disease, environmental hazards, and other threats to health.
Our mission is challenging, innovative and in the spotlight. We will work to ensure our people have the diverse skills, experiences and backgrounds we need to thrive, that our staff are representative of the communities we serve and feel valued and enabled to play their part in delivering our work.
Creating our working culture is an ongoing process which we are developing by listening and learning together, hearing and acting upon diverse voices and opinions to develop a common sense of identity and effective ways of working.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Consultant Epidemiologist will lead the national zoonoses activities within the EIZ section. This includes:
- the development and oversight of national zoonoses surveillance activities
- provision of clinical and public health advice on the management, prevention and control of zoonoses
- teaching and training
- the development of research
Please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification for main responsibilities of the post.
Applicants are strongly advised to use the criteria in the Person Specification of the Job Description as sub-headings in their application to make it clear how they meet each of the selection criteria.
Candidates must be included on the GMC Specialist Register in Public Health, Microbiology or Infectious Diseases, or the UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) for Public Health Specialists (or be eligible for registration within six months of interview).
The successful candidate will be appointed to the point of the Consultant salary scale appropriate to their years of seniority or if from a background other than medicine, to the NHS Agenda for Change Band 8d.
UK Health Security Agency promotes diversity in the workplace and is an Equal Opportunities employer.
For further information or an informal discussion about the post, please contact Dr Katherine Russell, Head of the Emerging Infections and Zoonoses section (Katherine.Russell@phe.gov.uk)
This role is open to both internal and external applicants.
Option 3 External
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Consultant Epidemiologist will lead the national zoonoses activities within the EIZ section. This includes:
- the development and oversight of national zoonoses surveillance activities
- provision of clinical and public health advice on the management, prevention and control of zoonoses
- teaching and training
- the development of research
Please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification for main responsibilities of the post.
Applicants are strongly advised to use the criteria in the Person Specification of the Job Description as sub-headings in their application to make it clear how they meet each of the selection criteria.
Candidates must be included on the GMC Specialist Register in Public Health, Microbiology or Infectious Diseases, or the UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) for Public Health Specialists (or be eligible for registration within six months of interview).
The successful candidate will be appointed to the point of the Consultant salary scale appropriate to their years of seniority or if from a background other than medicine, to the NHS Agenda for Change Band 8d.
UK Health Security Agency promotes diversity in the workplace and is an Equal Opportunities employer.
For further information or an informal discussion about the post, please contact Dr Katherine Russell, Head of the Emerging Infections and Zoonoses section (Katherine.Russell@phe.gov.uk)
This role is open to both internal and external applicants.
Option 3 External
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Inclusion in the GMC Full and Specialist Register with a license to practice/GDC Specialist List (or be eligible for registration within six months of interview) or Inclusion in the UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) for Public Health Specialists (or be eligible for registration within six months of interview)
- If included in the GMC Specialist Register/GDC Specialist List in a specialty other than public health medicine/dental public health, candidates must have equivalent training and/or appropriate experience of public health practice
- Public health specialty registrar applicants who are not yet on the GMC Specialist Register/GDC Specialist List in dental public health/UKPHR must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they are within 6 months of gaining entry at the date of interview; all other applicants must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they have applied for inclusion in the GMC/GDC/UKPHR specialist registers
- If an applicant is UK trained in Public Health, they must ALSO be a holder of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT), or be within six months of award of CCT by date of interview. If an applicant is non-UK trained, they will be required to show evidence of equivalence to the UK CCT.
- Applicants must meet minimum CPD requirements (i.e. be up to date) in accordance with Faculty of Public Health requirements or other recognised body
- MFPH by examination, by exemption or by assessment; or alternatively MRCPath or MRCP
Desirable
- Masters in Public Health or equivalent
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Strong commitment to public health principles
- Able to influence senior colleagues within the same organisation and externally
- Commitment to team-working, and respect and consideration for the skills of others
- High standards of professional probity
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Minimum of 6 months experience in health protection
- Extensive experience of communicable disease control including outbreak management in a wide variety of settings
- Understanding and experience of epidemiology and statistics and public health practice
- Understanding of key agencies involved in health protection
- Understanding of social and political environment of work
- Understanding of laboratory microbiology and clinical infectious diseases services
- Experience of working with other agencies
- Experience of providing information and advice to those at a senior level, e.g. for parliamentary questions, or to NHS or PHE senior teams
- Experience of staff management and training
- Experience of working in a change environment
- Peer-reviewed scientific publications, or presentation of papers at national or international conferences
Desirable
- Experience of emergency planning
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Strategic thinker with proven leadership skills
- Excellent oral and written communication skills (including dealing with the public and the media)
- Substantially numerate, with highly developed analytical skills using qualitative and quantitative data
- Effective interpersonal, motivational, and influencing skills
- Ability to respond appropriately in unplanned and unforeseen circumstances
- Ability to design, develop, interpret, and implement policies
- Resource management skills
Equality and Diversity
Essential
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Inclusion in the GMC Full and Specialist Register with a license to practice/GDC Specialist List (or be eligible for registration within six months of interview) or Inclusion in the UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) for Public Health Specialists (or be eligible for registration within six months of interview)
- If included in the GMC Specialist Register/GDC Specialist List in a specialty other than public health medicine/dental public health, candidates must have equivalent training and/or appropriate experience of public health practice
- Public health specialty registrar applicants who are not yet on the GMC Specialist Register/GDC Specialist List in dental public health/UKPHR must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they are within 6 months of gaining entry at the date of interview; all other applicants must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they have applied for inclusion in the GMC/GDC/UKPHR specialist registers
- If an applicant is UK trained in Public Health, they must ALSO be a holder of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT), or be within six months of award of CCT by date of interview. If an applicant is non-UK trained, they will be required to show evidence of equivalence to the UK CCT.
- Applicants must meet minimum CPD requirements (i.e. be up to date) in accordance with Faculty of Public Health requirements or other recognised body
- MFPH by examination, by exemption or by assessment; or alternatively MRCPath or MRCP
Desirable
- Masters in Public Health or equivalent
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Strong commitment to public health principles
- Able to influence senior colleagues within the same organisation and externally
- Commitment to team-working, and respect and consideration for the skills of others
- High standards of professional probity
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Minimum of 6 months experience in health protection
- Extensive experience of communicable disease control including outbreak management in a wide variety of settings
- Understanding and experience of epidemiology and statistics and public health practice
- Understanding of key agencies involved in health protection
- Understanding of social and political environment of work
- Understanding of laboratory microbiology and clinical infectious diseases services
- Experience of working with other agencies
- Experience of providing information and advice to those at a senior level, e.g. for parliamentary questions, or to NHS or PHE senior teams
- Experience of staff management and training
- Experience of working in a change environment
- Peer-reviewed scientific publications, or presentation of papers at national or international conferences
Desirable
- Experience of emergency planning
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Strategic thinker with proven leadership skills
- Excellent oral and written communication skills (including dealing with the public and the media)
- Substantially numerate, with highly developed analytical skills using qualitative and quantitative data
- Effective interpersonal, motivational, and influencing skills
- Ability to respond appropriately in unplanned and unforeseen circumstances
- Ability to design, develop, interpret, and implement policies
- Resource management skills
Equality and Diversity
Essential
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
