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UK Health Security Agency

About

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) prevents, prepares for and responds to infectious diseases, and environmental hazards, to keep all our communities safe, save lives and protect livelihoods.

We provide scientific and operational leadership, working with local, national and international partners to protect the public’s health and build the nation’s health security capability.

UKHSA is an executive agency, sponsored by the Department of Health and Social Care.

Contact

Address: 10 South Colonnade; London; E14 4PU

Find out more

Jobs Website

Open

Ref: 919-CA-62445678-EXT Vacancy ID: 8001990

AI & Systems Modeller

Accepting applications until: 20-Jul-2026 23:59

Vacancy status: Open

Accepting applications until: 20-Jul-2026 23:59

Location

Gwefan: Any Core HQ
Tref: Birmingham / Leeds / Liverpool / London (Canary Wharf)
Cod post: E14 4PU

Contract type & working pattern

Contract

Permanent

Oriau

Full time
Part time
Job share
Flexible working

Salary

Cyflog: £56,185 - £70,566 per annum pro rata National(£56,185-66,581)London(£58,340-70,566)
Cyfnod cyflog: Yearly
Gradd: (Civil Service: Grade 7)

Specialty

Prif leoliad: AI

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) prevents, prepares for and responds to infectious diseases, and environmental hazards, to keep all our communities safe, save lives and protect livelihoods.

We provide scientific and operational leadership, working with local, national and international partners to protect the public’s health and build the nation’s health security capability.

UKHSA is an executive agency, sponsored by the Department of Health and Social Care.

Swydd-ddisgrifiad a phrif gyfrifoldebau manwl

Operationalise and Design AI/ML Models to Enhance Decision Support:

Design and develop models that directly address key business challenges, delivering clear, actionable insights that support financial decisions and improved operations. Occasionally, conduct ad hoc analyses to address urgent business needs.
Ensure seamless integration and embedding of AI/ML solutions with core finance planning and analytics platforms and next-generation data architectures to enable scalable, real-time decision support, replacing manual processes and static reporting within core workflows.
Deliver model outputs through intuitive, user-facing tools (to empower real-time, self-service analytics across finance and business functions, enabling decision making at scale.
Leverage modern MLOps practices such as versioning, performance monitoring, and automated retraining pipelines to ensure models remain scalable, relevant, and operationally excellent.
Apply advanced techniques such as supervised and unsupervised learning, reinforcement learning (RL), generative modeling, and feature engineering to build scalable models.
Design automated variance analysis loops that systematically compare generated forecasts against financial quarter/annual closed actuals. Use these variance outputs to identify error patterns and trigger back-feeds for model retraining.

Validate and Monitor Model Performance:

Conduct rigorous testing and validation of models using metrics such as accuracy, precision, recall, and cross-validation against business KPIs, A/B testing, and Explainable AI to ensure reliability and transparency.
Validate the integrity of fully automated data pipelines. Promptly identify and report any data quality issues or anomalies to maintain compliance with governance standards.
Proactively monitor and improve model performance against defined business KPIs, identifying improvement areas to optimise performance and reliability. Additionally, track and report adoption KPIs for model outputs to lead targeted enablement and drive iterative enhancements, maximizing business value realisation and user satisfaction.
Leverage modern MLOps practices to detect Data Drift and Concept Drift early. Establish automated triggers that initiate retraining pipelines when model variance against actual financial data exceeds defined thresholds.
Ensure models adhere to AI governance policies, regulatory standards, and ethical guidelines, including bias mitigation and explainability.
Implement model risk controls, maintain audit trails, and ensure documentation supports auditability and compliance with evolving regulatory requirements.

Integrate Data and Knowledge Sources:

Integrate diverse data sources into model pipelines, including structured, unstructured, and tacit knowledge.
Identify potentially valuable new data sources and evaluate their impact on model performance through exploratory testing and validation, ensuring any additions enhance predictive accuracy and align with governance standards.
Partner with data architects to design conceptual and physical data models, ensure end-to-end data lineage, and uphold robust data governance across all model inputs and outputs.
Support training and enablement efforts to help users effectively engage with model-driven tools.

The above provides an outline of the tasks, responsibility and outcomes required of the role. The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the team, Directorate and the Organisation.

Essential role criteria

Data engineering skills and expertise and experience of low code/coding (e.g. SQL)
Experience building and deploying AI/ML models, preferably in a finance or enterprise analytics context.
Experience designing feedback systems where actuals (ground truth) are automatically fed back to update model weights. Understanding of Model Drift (detecting when financial patterns shift) and strategies to mitigate it.
Demonstrable experience with large-scale datasets and machine learning.
Proven ability to adapt models to evolving business needs and regulatory requirements and be able to demonstrate proactive approach to maintaining up-to-date understanding and translation of complex information and practical guidance.

Desirable role criteria: pl

Demonstrated success in developing and maintaining models for forecasting, risk assessment, scenario planning, or decision support.
Knowledge of Reinforcement Learning agents and their application in optimization problems.

Experience with Active Learning workflows, where human expert feedback is captured to retrain models.

Experience working with cross-functional teams, including finance, IT, and compliance, to co-create solutions that address finance challenges.

Familiarity with Oracle Cloud platform

Selection Process Details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours and Technical skills.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

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

Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)

1,000 word Supporting Statement

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1, 500 but your supporting statement must be no more than 1,000 words. We will not consider any words over 1,000 words.

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 CV. 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.

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

If used, the pile(s) ‘Meets all essential criteria’ and ‘Meets some essential criteria’ will proceed to shortlisting.

Shortlisting

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

Data engineering skills and expertise and experience of low code/coding (e.g. SQL).

Experience building and deploying AI/ML models, preferably in a finance or enterprise analytics conte

Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications/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.

Behaviours, Ability, Experience, Technical skills will be tested at interview.

Behaviours :

Changing and Improving (Lead)
Making Effective Decisions
Communication and Influencing
Working Together
Managing a Quality Service

There will be a Presentation aimed to assess your technical skills. The topic will be : Provide an example of where you have developed a business solution using Machine Learning? What was the situation, what solution did you
implement and why? What was the result?

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.

Eligibility Criteria - External

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

Location - Any Core HQ

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). 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).

Salary Information

Please be aware that the salary is based on the office location.

Grade 7

£56,185- £66,581 (National)
£58,340- £68,574 (Outer London)
£60,494- £70,566 (Inner London)

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.

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:

Baseline Personnel Security Standard
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 as the role requires Security Check (SC). 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: The Chief Operating Officer (COO) group, where this role sits, is undergoing organisational change over the next 12–18 months. While the process is still in the planning stage, some roles may be affected by future restructuring. We are committed to keeping candidates informed and will share updates as they become available.

IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ

If you experience technical difficulties when using Trac, please contact Support via https://apps.trac.jobs/support and provide screenshots/details of the issue encountered. If Trac cannot resolve your issue, you should notify the UKHSA Recruitment Team at [email protected] as soon as possible.

Please note that where no technical issue has been recorded by Trac, and no supporting evidence has been provided before the closing deadline, we will be unable to accept late applications. We therefore recommend submitting applications well in advance of the closing date and taking screenshots of any issues encountered.

Qualifications and Registrations

For roles where specific qualifications or registrations are required, successful applicants will be asked to provide appropriate evidence. Employment cannot commence until satisfactory documentation has been received and verified.

Civil Service Commission | Regulating recruitment into the Civil Service and helping uphold the Civil Service core values of Impartiality, Objectivity, Integrity and Honesty

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Link below:

Artificial intelligence and recruitment | Civil Service Careers

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.  You may be able to take this role up as a Secondment. If you are an existing Civil Servant, based outside of the UKHSA, you will take up the post as a loan which you will need your department to agree. You cannot take the post up as a fixed term. 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.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

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.

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.

The panel will assess if candidates meet the requirement of the role first, using a specific benchmark system. If you are interviewed for the post and do not meet the required threshold for the specified grade, your application may be assessed against a similar, lower grade role and you may be offered the post should one be available.

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/

International Police Check

If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and could be time accrued over that period.

Internal Fraud check

If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant’s personal details – name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional circumstances. Currently this is only for External candidates to the Civil Service.

Security Vetting

Please check the Security Clearance needed for the role and follow the link for more information:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels

Future location

UKHSA is investing in a new state-of-the-art National Biosecurity Centre in Harlow, Essex, which will eventually bring together teams currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale and Porton Down. For more details, please see: Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection - GOV.UK.

The new facilities will start becoming operational in the mid-2030s, with full completion by 2038. Staff will move in phases as facilities become available. If you're appointed to a role currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale or Porton Down, please note that we'll continue investing in these sites for the next decade. As we get closer to the transition, we'll provide full information about relocation support available to staff.

Person specification

Application Form and Supporting Statement

Meini prawf hanfodol

Application Form and Supporting Statement

Interview - Behaviours

Meini prawf hanfodol

Changing and Improving
Making Effective Decisions
Communication and Influencing
Working Together
Managing a Quality Service

Interview - Presentation

Meini prawf hanfodol

Presentation

Documents

Further details / informal visits contact

Enw: Conny Agyei
Teitl y swydd: Resourcing Officer
Cyfeiriad ebost: [email protected]
Gwybodaeth i gefnogi eich cais: For information regarding the role please contact [email protected] ( Jayesh Patel - Deputy Director )