UK Health Security Agency

Senior Public Health Data Scientist

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

The role of Senior Public Health Data Scientist will undertake analyses, interpretation and presentation of public health data to provide surveillance and outbreak intelligence to meet the needs of local and national stakeholders. You will lead the delivery of analytical work on a wide range of public health priorities in Gastrointestinal Infections and related topics driven by the needs of internal UKHSA colleagues and external stakeholders and you will support the GIFSOH Division. The role will include data analysis, production of risk indicators, quality assurance of data systems as well as supporting the provision of training and translational support to enable stakeholders to understand and act on clinical, epidemiological and microbiological information. You may also be required to manage staff at EO or HEO level.

The role of gastrointestinal pathogens surveillance is to enable specialists teams locally, nationally and in other agencies, including Food Standards Agency (FSA), Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA) to access and use appropriate public health related datasets and analyses to support and empower their own functions; provide analyses which improve our understanding of GI infections and the factors which influence outbreak and spread of infection; and work in partnership with other organisations to ensure we influence the way information is used in policy and strategy development.

Main duties of the job

  • Plan, manage and deliver on a range of projects requiring potentially complex analytic input, including negotiating and agreeing the most appropriate data output, initiating and planning workloads and setting delivery timescales.
  • Provide complex statistical analyses of surveillance/research datasets to academic units and other agencies involved in collaborative epidemiological, microbiological and veterinary research studies under the guidance of the project
  • Check for data anomalies prior to and during analyses, considering corrective action or bringing to the attention of principle analysts as required.
  • Manage the technical and analytical aspects of outbreak investigations, under the supervision of the Lead Epidemiologist,
  • Manage existing national surveillance systems and lead the development of new surveillance systems for gastrointestinal pathogens and to supervise and advise junior scientific and administrative staff in the maintenance and development of integrated or enhanced surveillance
  • Conduct complex statistical analyses of data on gastrointestinal pathogens drawn from a variety of surveillance sources in response to ad hoc enquiries from Government agencies (DHSC, FSA,DEFRA, international agencies (ECDC, EFSA) public health practitioners, academics and members of the

Please see the attached job description for the full list of roles and responsibilities to be carried out by the post holder.

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 employees are representative of the communities we serve and feel valued and enabled to play their part in delivering our work.

For more information on the UKHSA please visit: UK Health Security Agency - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Benefits

  • 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 average employer contribution of 27%
  • Range of health and wellbeing support

Any move to UKHSA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at Childcare Choices | 30 Hours Free Childcare, Tax-Free Childcare and More | Help with Costs | GOV.UK

Details

Date posted

24 August 2023

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£40,876 to £45,998 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

CBA-UKHSA00330

Job locations

UKHSA Colindale

61 Colindale Ave

London

NW9 5EQ


Job description

Job responsibilities

Location: UKHSA Colindale - 61 Colindale Ave, London NW9 5EQ with remote working available, subject to line manager approval and business needs.

*Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available.*

Working Pattern Full Time, 37.5 hours a week

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT:

You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed in line with the advertised essential criteria please do provide evidence of how you meet this.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview.

STAGE 2 INTERVIEW

Interviews will be held in person at the Colindale site (61 Colindale Ave, London NW9 5EQ).

As part of the process, candidates will be invited to interview which will involve an in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification.

A test will also be given to assess your technical skills, details will be provided on the day.

Your Statement of Suitability should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria (outlined in the person specification section).

You will also be asked to provide information within the Employer/ Activity history section of the application form. This is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV, setting out your career history.

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on the 7th of September 2023 unfortunately, late applications will not be considered. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Shortlist: TBC

Interviews: TBC

Please note these dates could be subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants)

Nationality requirements

Appointments to roles within UKHSA will be made in accordance with the Civil Service nationality rules. These can be found athttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rulesThis job is broadly open to the following groups:

  • UK nationals
  • Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
  • Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
  • Nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of theEuropean Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
  • Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
  • Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
  • Certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.

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.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.

Security clearance level requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard. People working with government assets must complete Basic Personnel Security Standard checks.

For posts on UKHSA Civil Service terms and conditions, new entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. For existing Civil Servants and roles advertised across government, the rules of transfer apply, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive a 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

Please Note

This role is to be appointed under Civil Service Terms & Conditions. Full details on the T&Cs are found https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

Are you already a civil servant, or employed by a Civil Service Commission accredited public body? Please state home department on your application form.

Do you meet the nationality requirements for this post? https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

Job description

Job responsibilities

Location: UKHSA Colindale - 61 Colindale Ave, London NW9 5EQ with remote working available, subject to line manager approval and business needs.

*Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available.*

Working Pattern Full Time, 37.5 hours a week

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT:

You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed in line with the advertised essential criteria please do provide evidence of how you meet this.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview.

STAGE 2 INTERVIEW

Interviews will be held in person at the Colindale site (61 Colindale Ave, London NW9 5EQ).

As part of the process, candidates will be invited to interview which will involve an in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification.

A test will also be given to assess your technical skills, details will be provided on the day.

Your Statement of Suitability should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria (outlined in the person specification section).

You will also be asked to provide information within the Employer/ Activity history section of the application form. This is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV, setting out your career history.

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on the 7th of September 2023 unfortunately, late applications will not be considered. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Shortlist: TBC

Interviews: TBC

Please note these dates could be subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants)

Nationality requirements

Appointments to roles within UKHSA will be made in accordance with the Civil Service nationality rules. These can be found athttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rulesThis job is broadly open to the following groups:

  • UK nationals
  • Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
  • Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
  • Nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of theEuropean Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
  • Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
  • Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
  • Certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.

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.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.

Security clearance level requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard. People working with government assets must complete Basic Personnel Security Standard checks.

For posts on UKHSA Civil Service terms and conditions, new entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. For existing Civil Servants and roles advertised across government, the rules of transfer apply, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive a 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

Please Note

This role is to be appointed under Civil Service Terms & Conditions. Full details on the T&Cs are found https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

Are you already a civil servant, or employed by a Civil Service Commission accredited public body? Please state home department on your application form.

Do you meet the nationality requirements for this post? https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to first degree level or equivalent relevant experience, preferably in a numerate discipline such as epidemiology, statistics, mathematics, sciences, social sciences, economics, or similar.
  • Post-graduate degree or equivalent experience in public health, health economics or related field including health intelligence, statistics, knowledge transfer, health economics or data science.

Knowledge and experience

Essential

  • Demonstrable experience in the use of complex statistical and epidemiological methods for analysing
  • Significant demonstrable experience of working with multiple sets of data and information systems.
  • Extensive experience of collating, analysing and presenting surveillance outputs at national level.
  • Knowledge of databases, spreadsheets, statistical and graphics packages (e.g. R/Stata/Python/Panda).
  • Knowledge of data security and confidentiality issues.

Desirable

  • Demonstrable experience of cross-team working and team management/line management.

Skills, capabilities, and behaviours

Essential

  • Ability to create and present complex data analysis to a varied group of internal and external stakeholders.
  • Ability to undertake clear and concise scientific writing.
  • Demonstrated capabilities to manage own workload and make informed decisions in the absence of required information, working to tight and often changing timescales.

Desirable

  • Ability to work within project teams, to plan and conduct multidisciplinary scientific projects UKHSA wide.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to first degree level or equivalent relevant experience, preferably in a numerate discipline such as epidemiology, statistics, mathematics, sciences, social sciences, economics, or similar.
  • Post-graduate degree or equivalent experience in public health, health economics or related field including health intelligence, statistics, knowledge transfer, health economics or data science.

Knowledge and experience

Essential

  • Demonstrable experience in the use of complex statistical and epidemiological methods for analysing
  • Significant demonstrable experience of working with multiple sets of data and information systems.
  • Extensive experience of collating, analysing and presenting surveillance outputs at national level.
  • Knowledge of databases, spreadsheets, statistical and graphics packages (e.g. R/Stata/Python/Panda).
  • Knowledge of data security and confidentiality issues.

Desirable

  • Demonstrable experience of cross-team working and team management/line management.

Skills, capabilities, and behaviours

Essential

  • Ability to create and present complex data analysis to a varied group of internal and external stakeholders.
  • Ability to undertake clear and concise scientific writing.
  • Demonstrated capabilities to manage own workload and make informed decisions in the absence of required information, working to tight and often changing timescales.

Desirable

  • Ability to work within project teams, to plan and conduct multidisciplinary scientific projects UKHSA wide.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

UK Health Security Agency

Address

UKHSA Colindale

61 Colindale Ave

London

NW9 5EQ


Employer's website

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

UK Health Security Agency

Address

UKHSA Colindale

61 Colindale Ave

London

NW9 5EQ


Employer's website

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Senior RPO Talent Specialist

Chloe Britten-Austin

UKHSA.recruitment@reed.com

Details

Date posted

24 August 2023

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£40,876 to £45,998 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

CBA-UKHSA00330

Job locations

UKHSA Colindale

61 Colindale Ave

London

NW9 5EQ


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

UK Health Security Agency's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)