Job summary
The Field Epidemiologist, as a key member of the multi-disciplinary rapid support team, will be responsible for contributing to the surveillance, epidemiology and outbreak control functions of the UK-PHRST and for supporting investigations and providing expert epidemiological advice during outbreak responses and emergencies, where required.
The post-holder will be available to be deployed within 48 hours as part of the response function of the UK-PHRST, for periods of up to six weeks. The post-holder will be employed by UKHSA with an honorary contract with LSHTM. The successful applicant will be expected to work closely with both institutions.
When not required for outbreaks, the post-holder will, among other things, contribute to research and capacity development activities in collaboration with well-established networks in the UK and overseas. The post-holder should anticipate spending up to half their time overseas. S/he will also spend some time in the UK training and teaching.
Main duties of the job
FIELD EPIDEMIOLOGIST
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Response
- In the country of deployment, in close collaboration with local partners:
- Lead and/or contribute to the technical and analytical aspects of epidemiological outbreak response, including (i) setting up or contribute to enhanced surveillance, (ii) analyse data, (iii) develop and/or implement data collection tools, (iv) produce reports, and any other epidemiological support duties, where required, such as contact tracing, monitoring and evaluation, or others
- Support quality assurance and training activities to strengthen critical capacities
- Support management of outbreak priorities and activities in line with outbreak response.
- Support response to reduce the impact of the outbreak, including scoping the need for further support and research.
Partnership Working
- Develop and nurture key relationships with a wide range of individuals and stakeholders as required for role.
- Contribute to building regional and in-country capacity and capability through training and coaching, in line with International Health Regulations and Global Health Security Agenda requirements.
About us
Launched in 2016, the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team (UK-PHRST) is an innovative government-academia partnership funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and co-led by UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), with a consortium of academic and implementing partners in the UK and internationally. It comprises a multidisciplinary team of public health professionals and researchers with a novel integrated triple-remit of outbreak response, research, and capacity strengthening to prevent and control epidemics of infectious diseases in countries eligible for UK Official Development Assistance (ODA). Both institutes contribute to and are responsible for delivery of the UK-PHRST triple mandate across outbreak response, research and capacity strengthening, with LSHTM leading the research programme and UKHSA who lead the outbreak response.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Main duties of the job continued:
Teaching and Training
- Contribute to teaching/training programmes and activities on surveillance and epidemiology.
- Contribute to the development and management of a capacity building programme overseas
- Teach colleagues and stakeholders on surveillance and epidemiology and support ongoing training activities within the UK-PHRST and partners.
- Develop teaching material and courses.
Research
- Conduct and contribute to UK-PHRST research projects.
- Contribute and/or develop grant proposals.
- Analyse datasets with appropriate methodology to answer research questions.
- Write research reports and peer-review manuscripts.
- Present at scientific conferences, meetings and other fora.
- Maintain active participation with the LSHTM and other academic partners and networks.
Management
- Actively engage in meetings with internal and external colleagues.
- Identify and seek to resolve potential problems.
- Be responsible for managing own workload, including developing objectives and reviewing progress against these.
- Comply with UKHSA Information Governance standards, including understanding the ethical, legal and technical obligations for protection of personal patient information
Other Duties
- The above is an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. The post-holder will carry out additional duties as may reasonably be required by the directorate, with appropriate training as required.
- The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organization and programme.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- Identify, discuss and action own professional performance and training / development needs with your line manager through appraisal / individual development plan.
- Undergo pre-deployment training and other appropriate training courses as required by members of the deployable UK-PHRST.
- To participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e. fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training.
- Participate in the organisations staff appraisal scheme and departmental audit.
- Agree individual supervision or mentorship arrangements with line manager.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Main duties of the job continued:
Teaching and Training
- Contribute to teaching/training programmes and activities on surveillance and epidemiology.
- Contribute to the development and management of a capacity building programme overseas
- Teach colleagues and stakeholders on surveillance and epidemiology and support ongoing training activities within the UK-PHRST and partners.
- Develop teaching material and courses.
Research
- Conduct and contribute to UK-PHRST research projects.
- Contribute and/or develop grant proposals.
- Analyse datasets with appropriate methodology to answer research questions.
- Write research reports and peer-review manuscripts.
- Present at scientific conferences, meetings and other fora.
- Maintain active participation with the LSHTM and other academic partners and networks.
Management
- Actively engage in meetings with internal and external colleagues.
- Identify and seek to resolve potential problems.
- Be responsible for managing own workload, including developing objectives and reviewing progress against these.
- Comply with UKHSA Information Governance standards, including understanding the ethical, legal and technical obligations for protection of personal patient information
Other Duties
- The above is an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. The post-holder will carry out additional duties as may reasonably be required by the directorate, with appropriate training as required.
- The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organization and programme.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- Identify, discuss and action own professional performance and training / development needs with your line manager through appraisal / individual development plan.
- Undergo pre-deployment training and other appropriate training courses as required by members of the deployable UK-PHRST.
- To participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e. fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training.
- Participate in the organisations staff appraisal scheme and departmental audit.
- Agree individual supervision or mentorship arrangements with line manager.
Person Specification
Education and Qualification
Essential
- MSc or PhD in Epidemiology, Public health or allied discipline and/or Completion of the Field Epidemiology Training Programme or equivalent training and experience training and education
- Knowledge of and experience on health protection in acute emergencies, including knowledge of surveillance and response mechanisms and tools
- Demonstrable familiarity with public health information in emergency settings, including surveillance, data management, data capture, data management, data analysis and epidemiological outputs.
- Experience leading research projects in a relevant field, with several peer reviewed publications as first author
- Experience conducting and leading statistical analyses and advanced analytical epidemiology
- Understanding of information governance, health protection issues and data confidentially requirements
- Experience of providing effective project and people management
- Able to apply epidemiological techniques and concepts in acute emergency settings
- Current proficiency with statistical analyses using common statistical packages, such as R or STATA
- Highly effective verbal, written and presentation communications skills; capable of constructing and delivering clear ideas and concepts concisely and accurately for diverse audiences.
- Able to build and maintain effective relationships with co-workers and key stakeholders both in the UK and overseas.
- Able and prepared to travel at short notice for periods of up to 6 weeks to austere environments and often remote areas.
Desirable
- Experience of teaching and training
- Ability to communicate (speak/read) at a working level in other languages, such as French, Portuguese, and/or Arabic
Person Specification
Education and Qualification
Essential
- MSc or PhD in Epidemiology, Public health or allied discipline and/or Completion of the Field Epidemiology Training Programme or equivalent training and experience training and education
- Knowledge of and experience on health protection in acute emergencies, including knowledge of surveillance and response mechanisms and tools
- Demonstrable familiarity with public health information in emergency settings, including surveillance, data management, data capture, data management, data analysis and epidemiological outputs.
- Experience leading research projects in a relevant field, with several peer reviewed publications as first author
- Experience conducting and leading statistical analyses and advanced analytical epidemiology
- Understanding of information governance, health protection issues and data confidentially requirements
- Experience of providing effective project and people management
- Able to apply epidemiological techniques and concepts in acute emergency settings
- Current proficiency with statistical analyses using common statistical packages, such as R or STATA
- Highly effective verbal, written and presentation communications skills; capable of constructing and delivering clear ideas and concepts concisely and accurately for diverse audiences.
- Able to build and maintain effective relationships with co-workers and key stakeholders both in the UK and overseas.
- Able and prepared to travel at short notice for periods of up to 6 weeks to austere environments and often remote areas.
Desirable
- Experience of teaching and training
- Ability to communicate (speak/read) at a working level in other languages, such as French, Portuguese, and/or Arabic
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
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).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
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).
