Job summary
We are looking for a Behavioural Science Team Leader to work in the UK Health Security Agency's Behavioural Science and Insights Unit (BSIU), part of the Science Group.
The Behavioural Science and Insights Unit (BSIU) is at the forefront of understanding public and professional attitudes and behaviours and their impact on health. The remit covers both the general public and stakeholders (e.g., local authorities, voluntary and community groups, high risk settings such as prisons). The evidence generated is used to inform strategic decision and policy making, service design and operational improvements.
Please note that this is a FTC contract for 12 months. Your end date will be calculated from the start date of your contract.
Location
Multiple UKHSA offices across the UK. Hybrid working options available (Flexible).
UKHSA Addresses:
- 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf, London. E14 5EA
- 61 Colindale Avenue, London. NW9 5EQ
- Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JG
- Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxford. OX11 0RQ
- Cunard Building, Water Street, Liverpool. L3 1DS
- Oak Park Lane, Cookridge, Leeds, West Yorkshire. LS16 6RW
- 3 Piccadilly Place, London Road, Manchester. M1 3BN
- 2 Rivergate, Redcliffe, Bristol BS1 6EH
*Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available. *
Salary & Grade: Grade 7 - £55,799 - £65,089 (Inner London), £53,812 - £63,252 (Outer), £51,834 - £61,414 (National)
Main duties of the job
The Behavioural Science Team Leader role provides support to the Principal Behavioural Scientists and Deputy Director, leading a small operational team providing robust, expert advice and guidance to internal and external stakeholders in support of the all-hazards activities of the organisation. The postholders will be expected to lead applied research and evaluation projects, utilising qualitative and quantitative methodologies, applying theoretical models and frameworks appropriate to the context of the work. The BSIU also work in support of the public health incident and emergency response functions of the organisation and will play a role in supporting UKHSA's role as a Category 1 response organisation, through the provision of rapid behavioural and social science-related evidence synthesis and advice. This role will therefore require significant experience in the behavioural and social sciences and will require the postholder to work as part of an integrated team with multidisciplinary stakeholders.
About us
We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.
UKHSA 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.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:
- Leading on the implementation and use of a range of research methods/statistical analyses/techniques in support of BSIU activities.
- Work with other members of the team to identify, evaluate and adapt new research methodologies where necessary and appropriate, and to ensure that the projects operate to a high scientific standard using current methods.
- Use literature review methodologies to rapidly identify and synthesise relevant theory and research to provide timely responses to queries with a behavioural science and insights focus.
- Liaise with internal and external stakeholders to gain and maintain data sources and provide insights from the behavioural and social sciences in support of all-hazards preparedness and response activities.
- Provide support and leadership to the development, implementation, and evaluation of behavioural and communication-based public health interventions, including advising on public health guidance documentation, communications, and more.
- Provide leadership in the identification and recommendation, where relevant, of existing behaviour change interventions that could be applied to the context new incidents and emergencies.
- Ensure adherence to BPS ethical guidelines and obtaining ethical approval as required.
- Contribute to reports, briefings, and presentations on the outcome of the teams work as relevant and
- Lead, manage, motivate, and develop staff to maintain the highest level of staff morale and to create a climate within the team in line with UKHSA behaviours and
- Effective line management of staff to ensure flexibility and capacity to meet the teams This will include support and ongoing performance discussions including setting clear objectives, enabling staff to meet these with access to appropriate training and development opportunities.
The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:
- Leading on the implementation and use of a range of research methods/statistical analyses/techniques in support of BSIU activities.
- Work with other members of the team to identify, evaluate and adapt new research methodologies where necessary and appropriate, and to ensure that the projects operate to a high scientific standard using current methods.
- Use literature review methodologies to rapidly identify and synthesise relevant theory and research to provide timely responses to queries with a behavioural science and insights focus.
- Liaise with internal and external stakeholders to gain and maintain data sources and provide insights from the behavioural and social sciences in support of all-hazards preparedness and response activities.
- Provide support and leadership to the development, implementation, and evaluation of behavioural and communication-based public health interventions, including advising on public health guidance documentation, communications, and more.
- Provide leadership in the identification and recommendation, where relevant, of existing behaviour change interventions that could be applied to the context new incidents and emergencies.
- Ensure adherence to BPS ethical guidelines and obtaining ethical approval as required.
- Contribute to reports, briefings, and presentations on the outcome of the teams work as relevant and
- Lead, manage, motivate, and develop staff to maintain the highest level of staff morale and to create a climate within the team in line with UKHSA behaviours and
- Effective line management of staff to ensure flexibility and capacity to meet the teams This will include support and ongoing performance discussions including setting clear objectives, enabling staff to meet these with access to appropriate training and development opportunities.
The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- First Degree in the behavioural sciences (e.g., psychology, human factors, ergonomics)
- Relevant PhD and relevant post-doctoral experience or MSc and equivalent significant experience of working at a similar level in relevant specialist area
Desirable
- Project management qualification e.g., PRINCE2 Practitioner, Agile Project Management Practitioner, APM Practitioner Qualification, or equivalent experience
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- An established and substantial track record in research and evaluation as applied specifically to public health emergency preparedness and response, and/or health protection
- Substantial experience in leading qualitative and quantitative research, desk-based literature research, abstracting, data/report analysis and report preparation in one of the following areas, in the following areas: emergency preparedness and response, health protection, behavioural analysis and intervention design
- Substantial practical experience of leading activity and line management in at least two of the following areas: ?Coordination of (qualitative and/or quantitative) data collection programmes for health-related research - Focus groups, interviews and online web survey delivery, especially survey design and analysis - Specific knowledge of health system training methods to respond to major incidents - Use of behavioural theory and research to conduct behavioural analyses and intervention design/ evaluation ?Experience of SPSS and other statistical packages ?Experience of with NVIVO programme ?Experience of systematic review processes and methods
- Substantial practical experience leading and line management in at least one of the following areas: ?Chairing and/or making substantial contributions to meetings/workshops ?Presenting at national/ international conferences and meetings ?Knowledge of approaches to emergency preparedness and response in the UK or elsewhere ?Expertise with internet-based search technology for health research, and leading others to complete research and evaluation tasks. ?Familiar with bibliographic searching, and leading others to complete relevant tasks.
- Experience of working as part of an integrated team with multidisciplinary stakeholders across a range of interfaces
- Experience of successfully operating in a politically sensitive environment
- Evidence of continued professional development
Desirable
- Experience of effective people management and of leading and managing teams within a changing environment
- Knowledge of project principles, techniques and tools, such as Prince 2 Foundation and/or Microsoft Project
- Experience in leading communications and stakeholder management
- Professional understanding of the health and social care environment and roles and responsibilities within it
- Experience of successfully managing change
- Experience of monitoring budgets and procurement processes
Skills and capabilities
Essential
- Clear communicator with excellent writing, report writing and presentation skills; capable of constructing and delivering clear ideas and concepts concisely and accurately for diverse audiences
- Ability to prepare and produce concise yet insightful communications for dissemination to a broad range of stakeholders as required
- Ability to analyse and interpret information, pre-empt and evaluate issues, and recommend an appropriate course of action to address the issues
- Ability to work in an environment with frequent interruptions, and within stressful, unpredictable situations including responding to and solving emerging problems and situations day to day
- Independent thinker with demonstrated good judgement, problem- solving and analytical skills
- Ability to engender trust and confidence and demonstrate integrity in the provision of advice and support
- Ability to work on own initiative and organize own workload without supervision, working to tight and often changing timescales
- People supervisory and leadership skills that empower, support, and develop teams to encourage high performance and enable team members to reach their full potential
- Skilled to a high level in using software packages, including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and the internet
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- First Degree in the behavioural sciences (e.g., psychology, human factors, ergonomics)
- Relevant PhD and relevant post-doctoral experience or MSc and equivalent significant experience of working at a similar level in relevant specialist area
Desirable
- Project management qualification e.g., PRINCE2 Practitioner, Agile Project Management Practitioner, APM Practitioner Qualification, or equivalent experience
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- An established and substantial track record in research and evaluation as applied specifically to public health emergency preparedness and response, and/or health protection
- Substantial experience in leading qualitative and quantitative research, desk-based literature research, abstracting, data/report analysis and report preparation in one of the following areas, in the following areas: emergency preparedness and response, health protection, behavioural analysis and intervention design
- Substantial practical experience of leading activity and line management in at least two of the following areas: ?Coordination of (qualitative and/or quantitative) data collection programmes for health-related research - Focus groups, interviews and online web survey delivery, especially survey design and analysis - Specific knowledge of health system training methods to respond to major incidents - Use of behavioural theory and research to conduct behavioural analyses and intervention design/ evaluation ?Experience of SPSS and other statistical packages ?Experience of with NVIVO programme ?Experience of systematic review processes and methods
- Substantial practical experience leading and line management in at least one of the following areas: ?Chairing and/or making substantial contributions to meetings/workshops ?Presenting at national/ international conferences and meetings ?Knowledge of approaches to emergency preparedness and response in the UK or elsewhere ?Expertise with internet-based search technology for health research, and leading others to complete research and evaluation tasks. ?Familiar with bibliographic searching, and leading others to complete relevant tasks.
- Experience of working as part of an integrated team with multidisciplinary stakeholders across a range of interfaces
- Experience of successfully operating in a politically sensitive environment
- Evidence of continued professional development
Desirable
- Experience of effective people management and of leading and managing teams within a changing environment
- Knowledge of project principles, techniques and tools, such as Prince 2 Foundation and/or Microsoft Project
- Experience in leading communications and stakeholder management
- Professional understanding of the health and social care environment and roles and responsibilities within it
- Experience of successfully managing change
- Experience of monitoring budgets and procurement processes
Skills and capabilities
Essential
- Clear communicator with excellent writing, report writing and presentation skills; capable of constructing and delivering clear ideas and concepts concisely and accurately for diverse audiences
- Ability to prepare and produce concise yet insightful communications for dissemination to a broad range of stakeholders as required
- Ability to analyse and interpret information, pre-empt and evaluate issues, and recommend an appropriate course of action to address the issues
- Ability to work in an environment with frequent interruptions, and within stressful, unpredictable situations including responding to and solving emerging problems and situations day to day
- Independent thinker with demonstrated good judgement, problem- solving and analytical skills
- Ability to engender trust and confidence and demonstrate integrity in the provision of advice and support
- Ability to work on own initiative and organize own workload without supervision, working to tight and often changing timescales
- People supervisory and leadership skills that empower, support, and develop teams to encourage high performance and enable team members to reach their full potential
- Skilled to a high level in using software packages, including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and the internet
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).
