Consultant in Public Health Global - IHR Strengthening Project

Job description

Job responsibilities

This is a position of influence, and it is important that the postholder is able to demonstrate the technical knowledge, skill and international relations capability required to operate effectively across the system atsenior level.

The post holder will: Use their public health skills to contribute to the coordination and delivery of this Official Development Assistance (ODA) funded project to strengthen public health systems and support the implementation of the WHO International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005) in low and middle-income countries. The role will contribute to further development of the IHR project, ensuring that UKHSAs technical expertise is optimally applied in the delivery of the project objectives. Contribute to day-to-day delivery of the project, including contributing to line management of project staff, business management and undertaking regular monitoring and reporting of progress, in support of the Head of the Project. As the Head of Project the postholder will provide strategic and operational direction, contributing to the leadership and management of the project, with a particular focus on driving high quality delivery of the project Be the Senior Responsible Officer for the ODA budget for the IHR-SP Deputise as required for the Deputy Director of Global Operations Require excellent communication skills to deliver project updates, reports and briefings. They will use their public health expertise to problem solve, discuss issues with senior leadership, and ensure that measures to mitigate any risks to the delivery of the project are implemented. Need to be a highly motivated individual and a self-starter, who can work independently and will require the ability to be able to work in a complex and changing environment. Be based at UKHSA 10SC London, or core HQs or remote working may be considered but will involve some international travel for short stints (up to two weeks at a time) to partner countries and institutions. Coordinate some of the activities of the wider project team including Programme managers, project managers and project support officers and work closely with the Deputy Head and Country & Regional Leads (UKHSA consultants) for the IHR-SP responsible for delivery of the project. The postholder will also be expected to lead some technical aspects of the project. The technical areas will be determined based on the post holders expertise and the project requirements

For further details, please refer to the attached Job Description & Person Specification.

ExternalOpen to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).

Stage 1: Application & Sift

This vacancy is using Competency .

At sift stage you will be assessed against the essential criteria listed in the Job Description & Person Specification attached to this vacancy advert.

You will be required to complete an:

Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application) 1500 word Statement of Suitability/ behaviour statements / technical statements

Your statement of suitability must be no more than 1500 words.

This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role.

You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. (The application form is the kind of information you would put into your C.V please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible)

If we receive a large number of applications an initial sift against the lead behaviours/criteria will be conducted. The lead criteria are:

Significant experience working in Global Public Health

Experience of public health systems with demonstrable experience in disease surveillance, emergency preparedness and response and health protection

Please note feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview stage (competency based):

You will be invited to a face to remote interview.

Interviews will be held from Weds 15/10/2025, please note these dates are subject to change.

This vacancy is being assessed using a competency based method. During the interview we will assess against the below:

KnowledgeExperienceSkills and Abilities

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

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 Security Clearance.

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 5 years as the role requires Security Check (SC) clearance. 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.

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) or at one of our scientific campus sites (Colindale, Porton and Chilton).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).

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Post-graduate qualification in Public Health (e.g. MPH) or related field
• Inclusion in the GMC Specialist Register/GDC Specialist List/UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) for Public Health Specialists
• Applicants must meet minimum CPD requirements (i.e. be up to date) in accordance with Faculty of Public Health requirements or other recognised body if applicable
• MFPH by examination, by exemption or by assessment

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

• Significant experience working in Global Public Health
• Significant experience working in Public Health at a senior level or a related discipline and experience of collaborative working at regional or national level in a multi-stakeholder environment
• Previous experience of working at a strategic level in low and middle income countries, engaging with, and influencing, directors and senior politicians.
• Experience of public health systems with demonstrable experience in disease surveillance, emergency preparedness and response and health protection
• Experience of public health systems in low and middle income countries and demonstrable experience in disease surveillance, emergency preparedness and response and health protection
• High level of understanding of surveillance, epidemiology and statistics, public health practice, health promotion, health economics and health system development.
• Significant experience managing and leading a team

Desirable

• Understanding of UK public health system
• Scientific publications, presentation of papers at conferences, seminars etc.

Skills and Capabilities

Essential

• Excellent oral, written and presentation communication skills (including dealing with the media and engaging with a wide range of diverse audiences)
• Ability to design, develop, interpret and implement policies.
• Exceptional interpersonal, motivational and influencing skills; effective negotiator with practical expectation of what can be achieved
• Strong global health diplomacy skills in engaging with senior leaders, ministers, senior government officials and other donor or development agency representatives
• Training and mentoring skills
• Resource and project management skills with the ability to respond appropriately in unplanned and unforeseen circumstances
• Understanding of global health including the health challenges of low- and middle-income countries and the international health architecture and knowledge of global health security architecture such as the WHO International Health Regulations (2005), and integrated disease surveillance and response systems
• Computer literate

Equality and diversity

Essential

• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, and in relation to management systems
• Significant self-awareness and cultural competency

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).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

UK Health Security Agency

Address

Any of the 4 core UKHSA HQs / Hybrid

London, Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool

E14 4PU

Employer's website

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