Senior Scientist Epidemiologist

Surveillance

• Develop, manage and maintain the surveillance databases.
• Manage existing national surveillance systems and co-ordinate the development of new surveillance systems for hepatitis, HIV and/or STIs and to supervise and advise junior scientific and administrative staff in the maintenance and development of integrated or enhanced surveillance datasets.
• Conduct complex statistical analyses of data drawn from a variety of surveillance sources in response to ad hoc enquiries from Government agencies, international agencies (ECDC, WHO), public health practitioners, academics and members of the public.
• Advise scientific and administrative staff conducting routine analyses of surveillance datasets for standardised outputs and ad hoc enquiries.
• Supervise junior scientific colleagues and the administrative team in the production of surveillance reports and publications.
• Help coordinate the activities of scientists in partner institutes involved in collaborative surveillance programmes.
• Provide technical advice and assistance to public health practitioners on the design, maintenance, analysis and interpretation of surveillance databases.
• Assist in the design and development of new surveillance and data management systems in response to developments in the application of microbiological typing methods including contributing to the drafting of Standard Operating Procedures.
• Write or contribute to the drafting of scientific papers for publication in peer reviewed journals and detailed reports for UKHSA or Government departments.

Outbreak Investigation

Manage the technical and analytical aspects of outbreak investigations, under the supervision of the Senior/Consultant lead, by:

• designing outbreak databases;
• liaising with relevant specialists to collect epidemiological data;
• coordinating and advising incident teams;
• interviewing clinicians and patients to collect clinical and risk factor data during incidents;
• overseeing data entry and ensuring quality control of databases;
• collating and interpreting epidemiological and microbiological data drawn from a variety of sources;
• conducting complex statistical analyses of datasets;
• providing statistical analyses for government agencies, health protection units and others;
• writing briefing notes and situation reports;
• presenting epidemiological data to Incident Management Teams;
• contributing to the production of outbreak reports and subsequent publication

Research

• Contribute to the development of research proposals.
• Coordinate the collection and collation of data from collaborators based in specialist laboratories and other institutions throughout the UK.
• Conduct statistical analyses of epidemiological and microbiological data for grant funded research projects and UKHSA programmes.
• Provide complex statistical analyses of surveillance/research datasets to academic units and other agencies involved in collaborative epidemiological and microbiological research studies under the guidance of the project leader.
• Contribute to the process of writing scientific papers for publication in peer reviewed journals and project reports to funding bodies.

Publications and Presentations

• Supervise scientific and administrative staff in the production of departmental outputs and editorial material for the Health Protection Report.
• Produce surveillance newsletters and/or reports.
• Present epidemiological findings at national and international meetings and conferences.
• Regularly update the BSHSH webpages with data and associated information.

Teaching and Training

• Develop and present lectures, and teaching materials on the epidemiology and surveillance of hepatitis, HIV and/or STIs for UKHSA, university postgraduate and professional development training programmes.
• Contribute to the training for new members of staff on the epidemiology and surveillance of hepatitis, HIV and STIs.

Other

The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of these roles.  You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required.  The job descriptions and person specifications may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation.

Professional Development

Identify, discuss and action own professional performance and training / development needs with your line manager through appraisal / individual development plan.  Attend internal and external training events.  Participate in all mandatory training as required (e.g. information governance training).

Key Working Relationships

The postholders 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:

• Medical, scientific, ICT/bioinformatics and administrative colleagues within BSHSH and the CPH Group;
• Staff in other divisions of UKHSA, especially colleagues in Laboratory Services;
• Colleagues in the UKHSA Statistics Unit, Field Services, Local Health Protection Teams and the Communications Dept;
• Patient networks and charities;
• Department of Health and Social Care;
• British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH);
• British HIV Association;
• European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) and European Food Safety Authority (EFSA);
• Local government;
• Devolved administrations (Public Health Scotland, Public Health Wales);
• Other clinical, public health, scientific and academic staff at NHS Trusts, national, regional and local institutions within and outside the UK; members of the public.

Essential criteria

• First degree in a science subject
• Higher degree in Epidemiology, Public Health or an allied subject, or equivalent
• Postgraduate work/study in public health, epidemiology or an allied subject
• Interpreting and evaluating epidemiological data, using Access/ SQL databases, spreadsheets, statistical and graphics packages to an advanced level
• Statistical analysis of large and complex epidemiological datasets
• Managing epidemiological studies and/or outbreak investigation
• Writing scientific papers and/or project reports
• Ability to analyse, summarise and interpret complex epidemiological data
• Communicate ideas and methods clearly and succinctly to include excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to work on several separate tasks at the same time, whilst keeping to agreed deadlines
• Demonstrated capability to act upon incomplete information, using experience to make inferences and decision making
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships

Application & Sift 

These vacancies are using a Competency-based framework. 

At sift stage you will be assessed against the Essential criteria listed in the job advert.

You will be required to complete an:

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application).
• 1500 word Supporting Statement.

This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, and provide evidence of your suitability for the specific 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, we will conduct an initial sift against the lead essential criteria:

• Postgraduate work/study in public health, epidemiology or an allied subject.
• Ability to analyse, summarise and interpret complex epidemiological data.
• Communicate ideas and methods clearly and succinctly to include excellent oral and written communication skill.

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  

We will take forward those who meet all essential criteria.

Interview

You will be invited to a remote interview. During the interview we will assess against the below:

Knowledge, Experience & Skills, and Abilities based on the essential criteria.

You will be asked to prepare and present a 5-10 minute presentation at the start of your interview. The presentation subject is:

Summarise a journal article of your choice that reports on the public health evaluation of an intervention to prevent Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) or Blood-borne Viruses (BBVs).

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

Option 1 - External  

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

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at 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). 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).

Additional Information

Security Clearance Level Requirement

All successful candidates must meet the basic security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is:

Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS)

For this role you will also need to meet:

Counter Terrorism Check (CTC)

DBS Requirement: Basic DBS

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) 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.  

Please note: If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.