Senior Epidemiology Scientist

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main duties continued:

Strategic Thinking and Partnership Working

• Build and maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders and partners across the National Infection Service, wider PHE and NHS colleagues at regional/local level 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

Audit, Quality and Governance  

• Evaluate existing surveillance systems (acting on results) and the acute response to incidents and outbreak, ensuring that it is used to improve standards and consistency across the team, evaluate teaching sessions and undertake and supervise audits as part of the team audit programme

Research and project management

• 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 on public health surveillance, outbreaks and infectious disease control 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 within Field Epidemiology and represent Field Service at PHE and external scientific fora
• Be member of Field Service national and team senior management teams, with involvement in business planning and development of surveillance, research and training strategies. Support senior managers to ensure day-to-day operational delivery of the epidemiology service, its responsibilities and resources are fully equipped and fit for purpose. Deputise where appropriate, using leadership approaches and skills
• Provide consultant level representation for Field Service for a named Region and for a Field Service defined programme area
• Effective line management of staff  

Essential criteria 

• Educated to degree level in a biological, microbiological or health science related subject or equivalent experience
• MSc in Epidemiology, or allied discipline or equivalent experience/education
• Completion of the Field Epidemiology Training Programme or equivalent training and experience
• Knowledge of principles and practice of surveillance and syndromic surveillance, including data management, data transmission, data security, data quality, data analysis including descriptive statistics and graphics and data reporting
• Experience of interpreting and evaluating complex epidemiological data, sensitive health data analyses and performing analytical epidemiology and concepts in outbreak situations
• Demonstrable experience of public health, health protection or epidemiology including epidemiology for outbreak investigations
• Knowledge and experience of common statistical tests, modelling and analyses and interpret results appropriately, including for research purposes.
• Experience of teaching epidemiology and/or surveillance and able to facilitate a learning culture
• Experience of effective line management
• Able to build and maintain effective relationships with co-workers and key stakeholders, negotiate with senior stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues, and present complex and sensitive information to large and influential groups.
• Understanding of information governance including data protection and confidentiality requirements
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with proven presentation and scientific report writing skills
• Proficient and/or expert  in common statistical/ database/mapping tools such as Stata, R, GIS, network analysis, SQL, etc.
• Proven capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly
• People supervisory and leadership skills that empower, support, and develop teams to encourage high performance and enable team members to reach their full potential.
• Ability to make decisions autonomously, engender trust and confidence and demonstrate integrity in the provision of advice and support whilst working to tight and often changing timescales
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships

Desirable criteria

•  Experience of research activities with a suitable publication record (3+ papers including 1+ first author) and grant writing experience
• Experience of using advanced epidemiological and statistical software packages

Selection Process Details (Competency based) 

This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your qualifications, knowledge and experience and / or skills and abilities outlined in the essential criteria. 

Stage 1: Application & Sift  

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed  (17) essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:  

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application) 
• 1000 word supporting statement.  

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.  
 
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).

Please do not email us your CV. 

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 1000 words. We will not consider any words over 1000 words. 

Longlisting:

In the event of a large number of applications we may longlist into 3 piles of: 

1. Meets all essential criteria  
2. Meets some essential criteria  
3. Meets no essential criteria  

If used, the following will proceed to shortlisting:

1. Meets all essential criteria  

Shortlisting:

In the event of a large number of applications we may conduct an initial sift, on the lead criteria of:

• Educated to degree level in a biological, microbiological or health science related subject or equivalent experience
• MSc in Epidemiology, or allied discipline or equivalent experience/education
• Knowledge of principles and practice of surveillance and syndromic surveillance, including data management, data transmission, data security, data quality, data analysis including descriptive statistics and graphics and data reporting

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. 

Feedback will not be provided at this stage. 

Stage 2: Interview  

You will be invited to a single face to face interview. (In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview).

Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview.

There will be a Presentation the full details will be provided at interview stage. The presentation will be assessing the following:

• Knowledge of principles and practice of surveillance and syndromic surveillance, including data management, data transmission, data security, data quality, data analysis including descriptive statistics and graphics and data reporting 
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with proven presentation and scientific report writing skills 
• Proven capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly 

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.

Location 

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our core HQ in Birmingham.

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 office. Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport links and 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 basic disclosure and barring security check before they can be appointed.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard.

Eligibility Criteria – External

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

Salary Information
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