Job responsibilities
Scientific Management
- Provide scientific and surveillance leadership on surveillance systems to monitor disease burden of seasonal respiratory viruses, COVID-19 and/or other vaccine preventable diseases
- Evaluate impact of vaccine programmes
- Undertake epidemiological investigations of adverse events reported following vaccination
- Use scientific knowledge and expertise, to fully understand the strengths and weaknesses of the various surveillance systems to be able to correctly report scientific information to key stakeholders such as NHS-E and DHSC at meetings and teleconferences, and to prepare, supply and assist in the submission of project proposals, reports and publications
- Assist the consultant leads and other senior staff in developing the scientific and technical direction of the work programme
- Present updates regularly to JCVI.
Stakeholder management
- Proactively create, maintain and promote a strong network of connections with senior colleagues across the UKHSA, DHSC and NHS E to understand the policy objectives
- Personally lead, support and contribute to formal negotiations with senior level staff from external stakeholders
- Have regular contact with internal and external stakeholders and engage frequently with them over sensitive, complex, contentious and confidential issues; liaise with other UKHSA leaders to share best practice and achieve collaboration that contribute to UKHSAs mission
- Take a leadership role in relevant internal and external working groups/projects, services and initiatives to provide senior programme, information and analytical advice and expertise, working collaboratively with service delivery partners.
Communication
- Oversee the response to formal correspondence and preparation of material to and support senior members of UKHSA and DHSC for a variety of media, parliamentary and speaking appearances in relation to vaccines. This includes translation of complex scientific surveillance and research information, policy, commissioning, and delivery arrangements into key messages suitable for the audience being addressed
- Work with other members of the Implementation Team and satisfy the communications needs of diverse audiences clients, government stakeholder groups, partners, media and employees; to build and maintain constructive relationships and balance a range of different demands
- Represent the division at a range of national and international groups.
Management responsibilities
- Deputise for the Deputy Director and other senior staff to represent Division at UKHSA, external (national and international meetings)
- Line manage senior scientists in the division.
Other
- To perform any other duties required by the Line manager commensurate with grade.
Essential criteria:
- Degree or equivalent in a relevant scientific subject (e.g. epidemiology/biomedical sciences) or significant experience of working at a similar level in the Immunisation field
- Postgraduate degree or equivalent qualification in relevant topic area (e.g. epidemiology/public health) or equivalent relevant experience.
- Professional/scientific knowledge and research or surveillance experience relevant to the Immunisation field
- Experience of programme and surveillance management planning, monitoring and controlling single or multi-disciplinary project groups, including managing risks and reporting
- Experience of working in the NHS, UKHSA, or similar healthcare/public health service.
- Experience in team leadership and supervision
Desirable criteria:
- Experience in providing and receiving highly complex scientific, clinical and operational information and to present this to influential groups
- Ability to negotiate on difficult and controversial issues including performance and change.
Selection Process Details:
This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your qualifications, knowledge, experience 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 6 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:
- Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
- 1500 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
Piles 'meets all essential criteria' and 'meets some essential criteria' will proceed to shortlisting.
Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on:
- Degree or equivalent in a relevant scientific subject (e.g. epidemiology/biomedical sciences) or significant experience of working at a similar level in the Immunisation field
- Postgraduate degree or equivalent qualification in relevant topic area (e.g. epidemiology/public health) or equivalent relevant experience.
Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications/large amount of successful candidates.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment.Please do not exceed 1500 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 face to face interview.
Knowledge, experience, skills and abilities will be tested at interview
There will be a presentation- details will be confirmed to those who are 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 our Scientific Campus in Colindale. 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 our Colindale site.
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. If based at one of our scientific campuses, you will be required to have a minimum of a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum. For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years as the role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance. In exceptional circumstances UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.Face to Face interviews
In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.
