ENVIORNMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH SCIENTIST

UK Health Security Agency

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

Environmental Public Health Scientist

Salary & Grade: Chilton SEO (Outer London) £40,721 - £46,231

UKHSA Chilton, Didcot - Hybrid Working with regular office days.

Permanent Contract

Are you looking for a rewarding and challenging career in public health? Do you have a passion for protecting people from environmental hazards? If so, you might be interested in joining the Environmental Hazards and Emergencies (EHE) department within the UKHSA Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards (RCE) directorate.

RCE is part of the UKHSA Science Group. They provide scientific advice, research, and services to safeguard the nation's health. RCE specialises in assessing and managing the risks of exposure to chemicals, radiation and other environmental factors that can harm human health.

UKHSAChilton, OX11 0RQ - Hybrid Working with regular office days.

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

Working Pattern - Full Time, Hybrid Working,

Main duties of the job

As an Environmental Public Health Scientist, you will work within the regional teams of the Environmental Hazards and Emergencies department. You will deal with incidents and enquiries involving chemicals and environmental hazards that may harm people's health. You will do this by assessing the public health risks of these situations. These situations could include chemical fires, chemical spills, or intentional use of chemicals and poisons. As well as this, you will also help to produce evidence and give expert advice on environmental public health issues to the government, other agencies, and the public.

About us

Working for the UKHSA

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 suppor

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

Date posted

04 October 2023

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£40,721 to £46,231 a year per anumn

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

UKHSA00639

Job locations

Chilton, Didcot

Chilton, OX11 0RQ

Chilton, OX11 0RQ

OX11 0RQ


Job description

Job responsibilities

Responsibilities section:

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

  • Undertake environmental public health risk assessments for acute and chronic chemical and environmental hazard exposures to prevent or mitigate risks to the public
  • Critically analyse and interpret complex data to inform the public health risk assessments
  • Develop and effectively communicate expert and authoritative advice in relation to chemical and environmental hazards to key stakeholders including Government departments, emergency services and members of the public
  • Contribute to the UKHSA Emergency Preparedness Resilience and Response arrangements as a Category 1 responder
  • Collaborate with stakeholders and multi-agency partners to ensure an effective and efficient public health response during emergencies
  • Collaborate with stakeholders and multi-agency partners to improve the evidence base in order to protect the population from identified chemical and environmental hazards
  • Translate scientific evidence and policy into practical applications
  • Provide environmental public health training and teaching in relation to chemicals and environmental hazards

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.

Please see full duties and responsibilitiesattached.

Essential Criteria:

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 1250 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the following criteria:

Essential

  • Bachelors degree and post-graduate Master degree in relevant scientific subject or equivalent experience
  • Experience of research and development in a relevant scientific discipline as well as high level of experience in relevant scientific environment
  • Experience of managing risks and reporting
  • Significant experience of successfully operating in a politically sensitive environment
  • Ability to communicate effectively at all levels, formally, informally, orally and in writing to UKHSA staff, and representatives from Government Departments and other organisations
  • Technical competence in analysing data coupled with good numerate ability and capable of analysing complex dat

Desirable

  • Experience in the provision of training
  • Experience of monitoring budgets and business planning processes
  • Comprehensive knowledge of project planning and management
  • Good presentation skills for training courses, scientific and more general meetings

Selection process details

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

This competition will involve an interview by video.

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.

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. Candidates will also be asked to participate in a session where they will be required to prepare and deliver a 10-minute presentation to the panel. This will be followed by a question-and-answer segment. The presentation will be designed to assess each candidates experience in line with the requirements of the role. Full details will be provided prior to the interview.

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.

The Competency based framework will be used to assess and recruit the most suitable candidate. The following will be used at the interview:

  • Job Description
  • Technical Skills, Knowledge and experience
  • Presentation

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 22nd October 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: w/c 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/

Complaint process:

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email:Complaints1@ukhsa.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Responsibilities section:

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

  • Undertake environmental public health risk assessments for acute and chronic chemical and environmental hazard exposures to prevent or mitigate risks to the public
  • Critically analyse and interpret complex data to inform the public health risk assessments
  • Develop and effectively communicate expert and authoritative advice in relation to chemical and environmental hazards to key stakeholders including Government departments, emergency services and members of the public
  • Contribute to the UKHSA Emergency Preparedness Resilience and Response arrangements as a Category 1 responder
  • Collaborate with stakeholders and multi-agency partners to ensure an effective and efficient public health response during emergencies
  • Collaborate with stakeholders and multi-agency partners to improve the evidence base in order to protect the population from identified chemical and environmental hazards
  • Translate scientific evidence and policy into practical applications
  • Provide environmental public health training and teaching in relation to chemicals and environmental hazards

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.

Please see full duties and responsibilitiesattached.

Essential Criteria:

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 1250 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the following criteria:

Essential

  • Bachelors degree and post-graduate Master degree in relevant scientific subject or equivalent experience
  • Experience of research and development in a relevant scientific discipline as well as high level of experience in relevant scientific environment
  • Experience of managing risks and reporting
  • Significant experience of successfully operating in a politically sensitive environment
  • Ability to communicate effectively at all levels, formally, informally, orally and in writing to UKHSA staff, and representatives from Government Departments and other organisations
  • Technical competence in analysing data coupled with good numerate ability and capable of analysing complex dat

Desirable

  • Experience in the provision of training
  • Experience of monitoring budgets and business planning processes
  • Comprehensive knowledge of project planning and management
  • Good presentation skills for training courses, scientific and more general meetings

Selection process details

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

This competition will involve an interview by video.

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.

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. Candidates will also be asked to participate in a session where they will be required to prepare and deliver a 10-minute presentation to the panel. This will be followed by a question-and-answer segment. The presentation will be designed to assess each candidates experience in line with the requirements of the role. Full details will be provided prior to the interview.

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.

The Competency based framework will be used to assess and recruit the most suitable candidate. The following will be used at the interview:

  • Job Description
  • Technical Skills, Knowledge and experience
  • Presentation

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 22nd October 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: w/c 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/

Complaint process:

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email:Complaints1@ukhsa.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website.

Person Specification

Essential

Essential

  • oBachelor's degree and post-graduate Master's degree in relevant scientific subject or equivalent experience
  • oExperience of research and development in a relevant scientific discipline as well as high level of experience in relevant scientific environment
  • oExperience of managing risks and reporting
  • oSignificant experience of successfully operating in a politically sensitive environment
  • oAbility to communicate effectively at all levels, formally, informally, orally and in writing to UKHSA staff, and representatives from Government Departments and other organisations
  • oTechnical competence in analysing data coupled with good numerate ability and capable of analysing complex data

Desirable

  • oExperience in the provision of training
  • oExperience of monitoring budgets and business planning processes
  • oComprehensive knowledge of project planning and management
  • oGood presentation skills for training courses, scientific and more general meetings
Person Specification

Essential

Essential

  • oBachelor's degree and post-graduate Master's degree in relevant scientific subject or equivalent experience
  • oExperience of research and development in a relevant scientific discipline as well as high level of experience in relevant scientific environment
  • oExperience of managing risks and reporting
  • oSignificant experience of successfully operating in a politically sensitive environment
  • oAbility to communicate effectively at all levels, formally, informally, orally and in writing to UKHSA staff, and representatives from Government Departments and other organisations
  • oTechnical competence in analysing data coupled with good numerate ability and capable of analysing complex data

Desirable

  • oExperience in the provision of training
  • oExperience of monitoring budgets and business planning processes
  • oComprehensive knowledge of project planning and management
  • oGood presentation skills for training courses, scientific and more general meetings

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

Chilton, Didcot

Chilton, OX11 0RQ

Chilton, OX11 0RQ

OX11 0RQ


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

Chilton, Didcot

Chilton, OX11 0RQ

Chilton, OX11 0RQ

OX11 0RQ


Employer's website

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

For questions about the job, contact:

Senior RPO Talent Partner

Amrita Jetwani

Amrita.Jetwani@reed.com

Date posted

04 October 2023

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£40,721 to £46,231 a year per anumn

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

UKHSA00639

Job locations

Chilton, Didcot

Chilton, OX11 0RQ

Chilton, OX11 0RQ

OX11 0RQ


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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