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UK Health Security Agency
About
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) will be responsible for planning, preventing and responding to external health threats, and providing intellectual, scientific and operational leadership at national and local level, as well as on the global stage. UKHSA will ensure the nation can respond quickly and at greater scale to deal with pandemics and future threats.
Principal Scientist (Emerging Infections)
Closed for applications on: 9-May-2024 12:26
Vacancy status: Closed
Closed for applications on: 9-May-2024 12:26
Key details
Location
- Site
- Colindale
- Address
- 61 Colindale Avenue
- Town
- London
- Postcode
- NW9 5EQ
- Major / Minor Region
- London
Contract type & working pattern
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Flexible working
Salary
- Salary
- £55,799 - £65,089 'pa pro rata, per annum'
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Grade
- (Grade 7)
Specialty
- Main area
- Science
The United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is a system leader for health security; taking action internationally to strengthen global health security, providing trusted advice to government and the public and reducing inequalities in the way different communities experience and are impacted by infectious disease, environmental hazards, and other threats to health.
UKHSA’s remit, as an agency with a global-to-local reach, is to protect the health of the nation from infectious diseases and other external threats to health. As the nation’s expert national health security agency UKHSA will:
- Prevent: anticipate threats to health and help build the nation’s readiness, defences and health security
- Detect: use cutting edge environmental and biological surveillance to proactively detect and monitor infectious diseases and threats to health
- Analyse: use world-class science and data analytics to assess and continually monitor threats to health, identifying how best to control and mitigate the risks
- Respond: take rapid, collaborative and effective actions nationally and locally to mitigate threats to health when they materialise
- Lead: lead strong and sustainable global, national, regional and local partnerships designed to save lives, protect the nation from public health threats and reduce inequalities.
Job overview
This is an exciting opportunity to work in emerging infections within UKHSA. You will be responsible for coordinating and undertaking horizon scanning of emerging infections, developing risk assessments to inform UK responses to outbreaks and incidents and assisting with other crucial elements of emerging infection response and preparedness.
This is a role that requires you to use your advanced epidemiological skills to interpret, analyse and advise UKHSA and other governmental departments on emerging infections and associated issues.
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The successful candidate will be responsible for managing existing horizon scanning programmes as well as developing and introducing new systems. They will also be responsible for providing rapid assessments, situational updates and specialist papers on emerging situations for senior staff in UKHSA and other governmental departments.
The postholder will also:
- provide specialist scientific and logistical support to national and international outbreaks requiring a cross-Government response
- present epidemic intelligence findings at a range of national and international meetings and conferences
- manage scientific staff and undertake their annual appraisals
- develop research proposals
- write scientific reports and papers for publication
- contribute to producing official guidance
- serve on UKHSA development/work groups.
They will be expected to work independently at a senior level and will have significant autonomy within their specialist area of expertise.
Working for our organisation
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.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Co-ordination of Emerging Infections activities
- Ensure the maintenance and development of horizon scanning activities with daily and monthly outputs, and lead continued participation in innovations such as the all hazards International Forward Look and High Consequence Infectious Disease monthly reports
- Identify gaps in epidemic intelligence activities, prioritizing and developing new initiatives as appropriate
- Contribute to risk assessment work and to the public health response for cross Government activities and lead on potential emerging infectious threats. This will include ensuring the scientific validity of the risk assessments and that the findings are communicated to the relevant stakeholders. Provide robust alert and communication systems for potential threats
- Provide high quality advice and guidance for those dealing with emerging infectious disease threats including in OGDs and Agencies.
- Ensure continued development of UKHSA’s emerging infections and zoonoses web pages and ensuring that the advice and information is accurate and up to date
Incident support
Responsible for public health advice and assistance in zoonotic and emerging infectious incidents or outbreaks and advising their prevention and control, including contributing to the development of guidance in the management of such incidents. This may be within UKHSA or externally to partner agencies such as DEFRA, APHA, etc.
- Support cross-Government responses to emerging incidents of infectious diseases by providing technical and epidemiological information and papers for high levels groups, including COBR.
- Provide public health specialist in-put to cross-Government meetings and to OGDs e.g. FCDO. Rapidly produce high quality technical papers in non-technical language for UKHSA and cross-Government groups to inform responses to rapidly involving situations
- Write or contribute to the writing of outbreak control team reports and subsequent publications.
Section specific
- Manage scientific staff ensuring annual objectives are met and that performance is regularly appraised.
- Contribute to the management of the EIZ section and to be a positive and influential representative for colleagues.
Research
- Initiate research or health protection projects within the postholder’s area of specialist expertise.
- Write research proposals and present them to funding bodies.
- Carry out research projects and supervise the work of others.
- Write research reports and present at scientific meetings.
Reports and publications
- Write or contribute to scientific papers for publication in peer reviewed journals and EIZ produced reports
- Write or contribute to UKHSA reports, Annual and Update Reports
- Write or contribute to technical reports and advice documents for expert committees, cross-Government groups, and for the relevant national and local incidents
Teaching and Training
- Provide training and other presentations in the postholder’s area of specialist expertise and the work of EIZ for UKHSA internal training courses, university postgraduate courses, and professional development training programmes
- Provide training for new members of staff on epidemic intelligence and risk assessment
- Collaborate with other senior members of the department in developing and managing training courses or their equivalents, for internal and external use.
Other
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 organization.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- Identify, discuss and action own professional performance and training / development needs with your line manager through appraisal / individual development plan. Attending internal / external training events
- To participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e. fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training.
KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
The post holder will develop working relationships and communicate regularly with a wide range of individuals, clinical and non-clinical, internal and external to UKHSA. This will include;
Internal
- Medical, scientific, specialist, and administrative colleagues within the Clinical and Emerging Infections Division (particularly the Rare and Imported Pathogens laboratory) and in other UKHSA Directorates including colleagues in Health Protection, Port Health, Emergency Preparedness and Response Division, and the Communications Team
External
- Medical, veterinary, scientific officers, and policy officials across a wide range of Government Agencies and Departments including: the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Cabinet Office; Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO); Government Office for Science etc. as well as other international organizations such as the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), World Health Organization, plus colleagues from the human and animal health Agencies in the Devolved Administrations; collaborating researchers in universities; and a wide range of other stakeholders.
Essential
- Higher degree in Epidemiology or an allied subject (MSc or PhD)
- Extensive experience in epidemiology and infectious disease surveillance. Providing epidemiological information and advice to colleagues and external agencies.
- Presenting scientific papers at national and international meetings and conferences.
- Using databases, spreadsheets, statistical and graphics packages. Ability to analyse, summarise and interpret complex epidemiological and situational awareness data.
- Understanding of recent advances in epidemic intelligence and risk assessment of emerging infections
- Ability to work independently and to tight deadlines
- Ability to plan and conduct multidisciplinary scientific projects.
- Writing clear and concise scientific papers and/or project reports.
Desirable
- Extensive experience of collating, understanding and reporting situational analysis outputs at national level.
- Managing collaborative, multidisciplinary projects.
Selection Process
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
Competency-based assessments
You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on essential criteria, and this will be in the form of
This should outline how you consider your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.
The CV and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.
Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist.
Shortlisting: In the of a large number of applications we will shortlist on...(must be an essential criteria)
Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview and 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 face to face interview. Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview. There will be a presentation and assessment at interview. A presentation title and any relevant preparation materials will be provided in advance of interview date.
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
Option 1 - External
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants.
Security Clearance Level Requirement
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard
IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ
This is a Non-Reserved post under the Civil Service Nationality Rules. To be eligible for employment in the UK Civil Service applicants must meet the Civil Service Nationality Rules (CSNRs) which operate independently of and additionally to the Immigration Rules. Applicants must also meet necessary security and vetting requirements, along with any other relevant pre-employment checks.
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
For more information on job nationality requirements and the right to work in the UK, see the Civil Service Nationality rules (opens in a new window) and the UK Visas and Immigration rules (opens in a new window)
For posts on UKHSA Civil Service terms and conditions, new entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. For existing Civil Servants and roles advertised across government, the rules of transfer apply, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive a 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.
The Civil Service pay structure and progression is different from NHS Agenda for Change (AfC), most local authority pay grades and other systems that have annual pay increments. For further details, please refer to the Information Sheet- Starting Salaries & Benefits attachment.
For AfC or Medical/Dental posts, you must have the correct professional registration to be appointed. The pay will follow the AfC or Medical & Dental terms & conditions. You may be asked to provide evidence of previous service whilst we are conducting pre-employment checks to determine your starting salary.
For Temporary Appointments, if you are not currently a civil servant, you will take up the post on a Fixed Term appointment. If you are an existing Civil Servant, based outside of the UKHSA, you will take up the post as a loan. If you are an existing UKHSA member of staff, you will take up the post as either a level transfer or a temporary promotion as per the UKHSA’s Pay policy.
Given the nature of the work of the UKHSA, as a Category 1 responder under the Civil Contingencies Act, you may be required in an emergency, if deemed a necessity, to redeploy to another role at short notice. You may also be required to work at any other location, within reasonable travelling distance of your permanent home address, in line with the provisions set out in your contract of employment.
Late Applications will unfortunately not be considered.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles (attached as a supporting document).
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: [email protected] If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website here.
Reserve List - If more than the required number of suitable candidates pass the interview criteria, you may be kept on a reserve list for 12 months subject to your agreement. You may be contacted, in merit-order, if similar roles with closely matching essential criteria become available and the department choose to appoint from a reserve list.
Interview expenses will not be reimbursed.
UKHSA is required to check employment and/or education history covering three consecutive years. Please ensure you give details of at least two different referees, even if you were employed in one company for three years or more.
If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system. Please note, all communication regarding your application will be made via email, please ensure you check your junk/spam folders as emails are sometimes filtered there.
Any move to UKHSA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
Benefits of working at UKHSA include:
- Generous annual leave:
-26 days for the first 5 years of continuous service
-28 days after 5 years of continuous service
-32 days after 10 years of continuous service
-Plus public holidays and one privilege day for the King’s birthday - Access to a generous Defined Benefit pension scheme with employer contributions.
- Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme, season ticket advances and payroll giving.
- Access to a retail discounts and cashback site.
- We also promote flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours). UKHSA views flexible working as essential in enabling us to recruit and retain talented people, ensuring that they are able to enjoy a long-lasting career with us. All employees have the right to apply for flexible working and there are a range of options available including working from home, compressed hours and job sharing.
- We also offer a generous maternity/ paternity and adoption leave package.
Hybrid Working
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 usually spend a minimum of 60% of your contracted hours (averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's locations (approximately 3 days a week pro rata) and the rest of your time working from home.
Disability Confident Scheme
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria at sift to ensure these candidates are invited to interview. If you wish to be included in this scheme please tick the box on your application form.
Reasonable Adjustments
The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone.
To help you during the recruitment process, we will take into account any reasonable adjustments that could help you.
An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work.
This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme.
If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should:
Contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs.
You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Higher degree in Epidemiology or an allied subject (MSc or PhD)
Knowledge and Experience
Essential criteria
- Extensive experience in epidemiology and infectious disease surveillance. Providing epidemiological information and advice to colleagues and external agencies.
- Presenting scientific papers at national and international meetings and conferences
- Using databases, spreadsheets, statistical and graphics packages. Ability to analyse, summarise and interpret complex epidemiological and situational awareness data.
- Understanding of recent advances in epidemic intelligence and risk assessment of emerging infections
Desirable criteria
- Extensive experience of collating, understanding and reporting situational analysis outputs at national level
- Extensive experience of collating, understanding and reporting situational analysis outputs at national level
Skills and Abilities
Essential criteria
- Ability to work independently and to tight deadlines
- Ability to plan and conduct multidisciplinary scientific projects.
- Writing clear and concise scientific papers and/or project reports.
Documents
- JD (PDF, 456.4KB)
- functional requirements (PDF, 344.6KB)
- Civil Service Recruitment Principles (PDF, 2.6MB)
- Civil Service Nationality Rules (PDF, 345.1KB)
- Application Form Guidance Notes (PDF, 77.3KB)
- Information Sheet - Starting salaries and benefits (PDF, 129.4KB)
- Information Sheet - Selection Process (PDF, 110.1KB)
- Working at UKHSA and your benefits (PDF, 219.2KB)
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Rosie O'Grady
- Job title
- Resourcing Support
- Email address
- [email protected]
No longer accepting applications
Sorry, this vacancy is no longer accepting applications.
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