Job summary
UKHSA has established the Centre for Climate and Health Security (the 'CCHS') to provide scientific advice and support to local, national and international partners to ensure that the impacts of climate change on public health are considered and embedded in system design. Possessing multi-disciplinary teams, scientific infrastructure, and a broad network of partners, UKHSA will speak with an authoritative voice that will aid the design of local, national and international policies, as well as the organisations responsible for delivering them.
Main duties of the job
The Medical Entomology & Zoonoses Ecology (MEZE) group assess, prepare, and respond to current and emerging vector-borne disease threats in the UK.
The team:
- provide entomological expertise on vector issues through research and surveillance activities, primarily on ticks and mosquitoes
- work internationally on vectors and vector-borne diseases to deliver European funded projects and to support the development and delivery of surveillance systems in the UK Overseas Territories
Research and surveillance activities are translated into expert advice for UKHSA, the Department of Health and related sister agencies and departments, contributing to policy, contingency planning, and public health preparedness on vector-borne diseases.
The post holder will work to actively support and contribute to the delivery of a wide range of projects through literature reviews, ecological field/laboratory-based research and surveillance activities and contribution to peer-reviewed publications, as required by UKHSA and externally funded projects. The main duties of the job holder are related to vector surveillance and research activities in the UK. The post involves data collection, analysis and interpretation, the writing of scientific reports and publications.
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
Duties include (but are not limited to):
- Support the delivery of complex scientific studies of high quality to contribute to core funded research and national vector surveillance activities as well as externally funded contract work.
- Investigate specialist worldwide epidemiological and infectious disease literature on emerging and re-emerging vector-borne diseases, through horizon scanning activities, extracting, evaluating and summarising key scientific publications.
Essential criteria
- Degree in relevant subject, e.g. biological sciences, biology, microbiology, ecology and conservation, zoology etc or equivalent experience such as working as a field biologist, ecologist, molecular biologist, entomologist etc.
- Knowledge of medical entomology and vector-borne diseases.
- Knowledge and experience of conducting robust and/or systematic literature reviews, including use of relevant databases and references management software.
- Knowledge and practical experience of using ecological field-based techniques for research and/or surveillance.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to produce scientific reports and presentations.
- Ability to work as part of a team, and independently, to deliver shared goals.
- Use organisational, time management and prioritisation skills to deliver agreed project goals/milestones within agreed timescales.
- Ability to focus on allocated tasks, producing accurate and consistent work with excellent attention to detail.
- Experience in working within an environment where sudden unexpected demands require flexibility and re-prioritisation of work
Selection Process Details
This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your Qualifications, knowledge and experience and/or skills and capabilities outlined in the essential criteria.
Stage 1:Application & Sift
You willbe requiredto complete an application form. You will be assessed onthe above listedessentialcriteria, and this will be in the form of a:
- 1500wordStatement of Suitability.
This should outline howyou consideryour skills,experience,andknowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.
The CV/Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment
Please do not exceed 1500words.We will not consider any words over and above this number.
Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Stage 2:Interview
You will be invited to a (single) remote interview.
Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview.
Interviews dates to be confirmed.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Eligibility Criteria
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internalapplicants).
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.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Duties include (but are not limited to):
- Support the delivery of complex scientific studies of high quality to contribute to core funded research and national vector surveillance activities as well as externally funded contract work.
- Investigate specialist worldwide epidemiological and infectious disease literature on emerging and re-emerging vector-borne diseases, through horizon scanning activities, extracting, evaluating and summarising key scientific publications.
Essential criteria
- Degree in relevant subject, e.g. biological sciences, biology, microbiology, ecology and conservation, zoology etc or equivalent experience such as working as a field biologist, ecologist, molecular biologist, entomologist etc.
- Knowledge of medical entomology and vector-borne diseases.
- Knowledge and experience of conducting robust and/or systematic literature reviews, including use of relevant databases and references management software.
- Knowledge and practical experience of using ecological field-based techniques for research and/or surveillance.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to produce scientific reports and presentations.
- Ability to work as part of a team, and independently, to deliver shared goals.
- Use organisational, time management and prioritisation skills to deliver agreed project goals/milestones within agreed timescales.
- Ability to focus on allocated tasks, producing accurate and consistent work with excellent attention to detail.
- Experience in working within an environment where sudden unexpected demands require flexibility and re-prioritisation of work
Selection Process Details
This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your Qualifications, knowledge and experience and/or skills and capabilities outlined in the essential criteria.
Stage 1:Application & Sift
You willbe requiredto complete an application form. You will be assessed onthe above listedessentialcriteria, and this will be in the form of a:
- 1500wordStatement of Suitability.
This should outline howyou consideryour skills,experience,andknowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.
The CV/Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment
Please do not exceed 1500words.We will not consider any words over and above this number.
Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Stage 2:Interview
You will be invited to a (single) remote interview.
Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview.
Interviews dates to be confirmed.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Eligibility Criteria
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internalapplicants).
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.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in relevant subject, e.g. biological sciences, biology, microbiology, ecology and conservation, zoology etc OR equivalent experience such as working as a field biologist, ecologist, molecular biologist, entomologist etc
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Knowledge of medical entomology and vector-borne diseases.
- Knowledge and experience of conducting robust and/or systematic literature reviews, including use of relevant databases and references management software.
- Knowledge and practical experience of using ecological field-based techniques for research and/or surveillance.
Skills and capabilities
Essential
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to produce scientific reports and presentations.
- Ability to work as part of a team, and independently, to deliver shared goals.
- Use organisational, time management and prioritisation skills to deliver agreed project goals/milestones within agreed timescales.
- Ability to focus on allocated tasks, producing accurate and consistent work with excellent attention to detail.
- Experience in working within an environment where sudden unexpected demands require flexibility and re-prioritisation of work.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in relevant subject, e.g. biological sciences, biology, microbiology, ecology and conservation, zoology etc OR equivalent experience such as working as a field biologist, ecologist, molecular biologist, entomologist etc
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Knowledge of medical entomology and vector-borne diseases.
- Knowledge and experience of conducting robust and/or systematic literature reviews, including use of relevant databases and references management software.
- Knowledge and practical experience of using ecological field-based techniques for research and/or surveillance.
Skills and capabilities
Essential
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to produce scientific reports and presentations.
- Ability to work as part of a team, and independently, to deliver shared goals.
- Use organisational, time management and prioritisation skills to deliver agreed project goals/milestones within agreed timescales.
- Ability to focus on allocated tasks, producing accurate and consistent work with excellent attention to detail.
- Experience in working within an environment where sudden unexpected demands require flexibility and re-prioritisation of work.
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).
