Job responsibilities
The post holder must have the ability to liaise effectively with colleagues to influence decision-making. They should demonstrate previous experience in developing and managing projects or delivering high-quality scientific outputs. They will pay close attention to detail, be highly motivated and have excellent interpersonal skills.
This post may require regular travel within the geographical area of responsibility and travel elsewhere/nationally.
Data & Epidemiological Analyses
- Identify evaluation and epidemiology science needs within given lead areas (including horizon scanning), conduct complex statistical analyses and interpret surveillance data, making appropriate recommendations, and translating it in to public health action, develop automated routines and solutions and supervise / assure on the preparation, quality and delivery of routine and ad hoc reports
- Authorise /manage complex or sensitive data requests and in the development of outputs and statistical analysis
- Responsible for planning, implementing and maintaining high quality epidemiological outputs to meet stakeholder needs, providing expert technical advice whilst assessing the current and future political /economic /scientific /technological /legal /environmental influences on team work
- Take a lead role in public health scientific analyses and writing reports on specific projects, regular and ad hoc publications and peer reviewed publications
- Oversee routine surveillance activities across specific topic areas, including routine outputs, evaluating and responding to local needs.
Epidemiological Investigations
- Lead and manage the technical and analytical aspects of epidemiological investigations including advising on study design, writing protocols for analytical studies, overseeing questionnaire design and study database development, training interviewers, preparing reports and supervising and supporting investigations.
Strategic Thinking and Partnership Working
- Build and maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders and partners across the Science Group, wider UKHSA and other colleagues as appropriate to role
- Identify and/or provide subject matter expertise and utilise effectively the various forms of engagement available to develop comprehensive stakeholder relationships
- Manage delivery of agreed work programme including timely reporting to stakeholders and work in partnership to ensure needs of stakeholders are met. Forge close working relationships across team/department/directorate boundaries to facilitate an effective matrix style approach to delivery of workstreams identifying areas of interdependency and forging links as appropriate
- Manage at times, challenging and/or conflicting subject matter problems in day-to-day work load referring/escalating to as appropriate.
Audit, Quality and Governance
- Collaborate with colleagues across the Division to improve standards and consistency across the team, evaluate teaching sessions and undertake and supervise audits as part of the team audit programme.
Research
- Identify research questions, project manage a research study, analyse datasets with appropriate methodology to answer research questions, and translate results into public health action
- Perform systematic reviews of literature, co-author grant proposals/applications (including applying for ethical approval), present at scientific conferences, programme area meetings and other fora, and publish and present scientific papers in collaboration with health, public health, academic and other partners.
Management and Leadership
- To be a visible, positive and competent role model and motivator, monitoring team professional standards. Adopt a senior leadership role for scientists and represent the Evaluation & Epidemiology Science Division at UKHSA and external scientific fora
- Be member of Evaluation & Epidemiology Science Division senior management teams, with involvement in business planning and development of evaluation, research and training strategies. Support senior managers to ensure day-to-day operational delivery of the Divisional functions, its responsibilities and resources are fully equipped and fit for purpose. Deputize where appropriate, using leadership approaches and skills
- Effective line management of staff (if applicable) to ensure flexibility and capacity to meet the teams needs. This will include recruitment and selection, support and ongoing performance discussions including setting clear objectives, enabling staff to meet these with access to appropriate induction, training and development opportunities and managing any employee relations issues within the team.
Teaching and Training
- Teach colleagues and stakeholders on evaluation and epidemiology science, support ongoing training activities within the department, develop teaching material and courses, assess teaching requirements of team and colleagues and supervise MSc and other short term team attachments.
PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- The post holder will identify, discuss and action own professional performance and training / development needs with their line manager through appraisal / individual development plan. Attending internal / external training events
- To participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e. safeguarding, fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training.
OTHER DUTIES
- The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by the directorate
- The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation.
Please see attached job description for a full list of duties.
Selection Process Details:
This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your qualifications, knowledge and experience, skills and abilities outlined in the essential criteria.
Stage 1: Application & Sift
Competency-based.
You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 11 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:
- Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
- 750 word Statement of Suitability.
This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.
The Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.
Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:
- Meets all essential criteria
- Meets some essential criteria
- Meets no essential criteria
The pile 'meets all essential criteria' will proceed to shortlisting stage.
Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on:
- Experience of interpreting and evaluating complex epidemiological data, sensitive health data analyses and performing analytical epidemiology and
- People supervisory and leadership skills that empower, support, and develop teams to encourage high performance and enable team members to reach their full potential.
Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications/ large amount of successful candidates (see attached job description).
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview and assessment.
Please do not exceed 750 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.
Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Stage 2: Interview
Competency-based
You will be invited to a single remote interview.
Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview
There will be a 5-10 minute presentation- details will be confirmed to those invited to 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.
Selection Process
Please note you will not be able to upload your CV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible. Please do not email us your CV.
Eligibility Criteria
External: open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
Location
This role is being offered as hybrid working based at any of our Core HQs. We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using 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 one of UKHSA's core HQs (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London).
Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport link and benefit from benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).
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.
