Job summary
We are excited to offer an opening for an epidemiologist / public health surveillance scientist to work on high profile areas of infectious disease surveillance.
The post is based in the Public Health Programmes Directorate of UKHSA, working between the Immunisation & Vaccine Preventable Diseases Division and the COVID Vaccines and Epidemiology Division.
The post holder will be a core member of the SARI (Severe Acute Respiratory Infection) Watch team monitoring hospitalisation for COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and be the epidemiologist responsible for serosurveillance of COVID-19 and other vaccine preventable diseases, including the coordination of data collection, analysis and reporting of population SARS-CoV-2 immunity. You will work closely with the full time senior SARI surveillance scientist.
Main duties of the job
The role will include
- Taking a lead in serosurveillance across COVID-19 and other vaccine-preventable diseases,
- Liaison with NHS Trusts participating in the SARI Watch hospitalisations surveillance programme,
- Surveillance of SARI Watch critical care admissions, cross-covering other areas of ARI surveillance.
Location
This role is based at the UKHSA Colindale office, 61 Colindale Ave, London NW9 5EQ
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) operates a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce.As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, averaged over a month) working at of the above UKHSA locations (Colindale) as this is considered a specialist role.
*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, Part Time, Job Share, Flexible Working
About us
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
Job description
Job responsibilities
Responsibilities section:
As a Senior Epidemiologist your main responsibilities will include:
- Lead sero-epidemiological surveillance across COVID-19 and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
- Contribute to surveillance of SARI Watch critical care admissions and other aspects of SARI surveillance.
- Contribute to regular routine and ad-hoc reports and peer reviewed publications on the surveillance and epidemiology of vaccine preventable diseases.
- Create and review surveillance system standard operating procedures and protocols, and identify and support further developments (where appropriate).
- Respond to complex or sensitive data requests.
- Conduct complex statistical analyses of surveillance data.
- Interpret surveillance data, and make appropriate recommendations.
- Manage/supervise and train scientific and information staff in the development of outputs and statistical analysis.
- Liaise with a wide range of external collaborators, including NHS Trusts participating in the SARI Watch hospitalisations surveillance programme
- Develop automated routines and solutions for surveillance data reports.
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 review the job description for a full list of roles and responsibilities.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Responsibilities section:
As a Senior Epidemiologist your main responsibilities will include:
- Lead sero-epidemiological surveillance across COVID-19 and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
- Contribute to surveillance of SARI Watch critical care admissions and other aspects of SARI surveillance.
- Contribute to regular routine and ad-hoc reports and peer reviewed publications on the surveillance and epidemiology of vaccine preventable diseases.
- Create and review surveillance system standard operating procedures and protocols, and identify and support further developments (where appropriate).
- Respond to complex or sensitive data requests.
- Conduct complex statistical analyses of surveillance data.
- Interpret surveillance data, and make appropriate recommendations.
- Manage/supervise and train scientific and information staff in the development of outputs and statistical analysis.
- Liaise with a wide range of external collaborators, including NHS Trusts participating in the SARI Watch hospitalisations surveillance programme
- Develop automated routines and solutions for surveillance data reports.
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 review the job description for a full list of roles and responsibilities.
Person Specification
Essential/Desirable criteria
Essential
- Undergraduate degree in science
- MSc or PhD in epidemiology, public health or an allied discipline
- Understanding of infectious disease surveillance and able to interpret surveillance data
- Understanding of serology as applied to epidemiology
- Proficiency in using epidemiological and statistical software packages for data analysis
- Knowledge and experience of data management and information governance
- Able to build and maintain effective working relationships with people in partner organisations
- Able to convey surveillance and scientific information clearly and concisely in writing and orally.
- Experience of successfully managing projects
- Able to prioritise competing demands
- Able to work independently and as part of a team
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.
Desirable
- Experience of preparing written reports and scientific publishing
Person Specification
Essential/Desirable criteria
Essential
- Undergraduate degree in science
- MSc or PhD in epidemiology, public health or an allied discipline
- Understanding of infectious disease surveillance and able to interpret surveillance data
- Understanding of serology as applied to epidemiology
- Proficiency in using epidemiological and statistical software packages for data analysis
- Knowledge and experience of data management and information governance
- Able to build and maintain effective working relationships with people in partner organisations
- Able to convey surveillance and scientific information clearly and concisely in writing and orally.
- Experience of successfully managing projects
- Able to prioritise competing demands
- Able to work independently and as part of a team
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.
Desirable
- Experience of preparing written reports and scientific publishing
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).
