Job vacancy: Field Epidemiology Training Programme Director, UK Health Security Agency, London

Job summary

Main area

Field Epidemiology

Grade

NHS Medical & Dental: Consultant or Agenda for Change band 8d

Contract

Permanent

Hours

Full time
Part time
Job share
Flexible working

10 sessions per week (Full time =10 Programmed Activities per week, 40 hours per week (NHS Medical and Dental pay scale) or 37.5 hours per week (NHS Agenda for Change))

Job ref

919-HM-307290-EXT

Employer: UK Health Security Agency
Employer type: Public (Non NHS)
Site: Colindale
Town: London
Salary: £94,356 - £150,569 per annum, pro rata
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 13/09/2026 23:59

Field Epidemiology Training Programme Director

NHS Medical & Dental: Consultant or Agenda for Change band 8d

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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Further develop, progress and maintain a field epidemiology training programme to the highest international standards and ensure a high-quality service in a changing context
Oversee FETP management: manage the FETP office; manage the FETP budget; lead on programme technical quality assurance
Manage programme risks and resources
Be responsible for programme governance, report to the UK FETP Advisory Group, National Field Services Senior Management Team, and Health Protection in Regions Senior Leadership Team
Continue the planning, development and implementation of the programme, including the delivery of core training modules.
Teach and facilitate in FETP training modules, which are delivered residentially in week-long blocks at various locations across the United Kingdom, and occasionally overseas.
Oversee a network of field epidemiology training sites and supervisors
Work with the Faculty of Public Health and other regulatory bodies to ensure coherence and synergy between the field epidemiology training programme and professional requirements
Ensure continued accreditation of the programme by the relevant professional standards setting and regulatory bodies
Work with academic centres of excellence in the UK and other countries to draw on best practice and ensure content of the course is focussed on future needs
Establish collaboration with other field epidemiology training programmes
Promote and advocate for the field epidemiology training programme and liaise with relevant stakeholders
Oversee collaboration with the UK Rapid Support Team, and Global Public Health Programmes to ensure the development of staff with international expertise
Collaborate with colleagues in Global Public Health to identify where trainees, FETP fellows and staff, can support capacity building and achievement of global health security in Lower and Middle Income Countries
Work with devolved administrations and partner countries to offer FETP training as an external UKHSA ‘product’, generating potential income to the programme and providing workforce development/capacity building in those countries.
Act as an ambassador for UKHSA with regard to the FETP and the above-mentioned responsibilities.
Establish contacts with TEPHINET/ECDC/EPIET/CDC and other FETPs to exchange training material, fellows and trainers

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

Deputy Director, National Field Services Division
Director and Deputy Directors, Global Health Protection Directorate
Director and Deputy Directors, Radiation, Chemical, Climate & Environmental Hazards Directorate
UK Rapid Support Team
Public Health Microbiologists
FETP Scientific Coordinators
FETP Fellows
FETP Programme Office (Programme Manager and Personal Assistant)
FETP Advisory Group
Primary field and project supervisors
Statisticians, Modellers, and IT specialists

External

UK devolved administrations (DAs)
Faculty of Public Health
Training Programs in Epidemiology and Public Health Interventions Network (TEPHINET), Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network (EMPHNET), African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), and other FETP programmes
Task Force for Global Health
World Health Organisation (WHO)
US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (EDCD)
Collaborating scientists in academic institutions

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

Stage 1: Application & Sift

This vacancy is using the Competency 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)
• Up to 1500 word Statement of Suitability

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)

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

If we receive a large number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted against the lead essential criteria listed under Qualifications in the Person Specifications section of the job description.

Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications, we may longlist and only candidates who meets all essential criteria will proceed to shortlisting.

Please note feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview stage (competency based):

You will be invited to a face to face interview.

Interviews will be held at 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf, London, E14 4PU, week commencing 28 September 2026. Please note these dates are subject to change.

In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

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

Knowledge
Experience
Skills and Abilities

You will be asked to prepare and present a 10 minute presentation on the following:

What are the characteristics and scope of an FETP programme that should be nurtured and protected and what could /should be modernised?

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

The successful candidate will be appointed to the point of the Consultant salary scale appropriate to their years of seniority or if from a background other than medicine to NHS Agenda for Change Band 8d.

Inclusion in the GMC Full and Specialist Register with a license to practice (or be eligible for registration within six months of interview)

If included in the GMC Specialist Register/ in a specialty other than public health medicine, candidates must have equivalent training and/or appropriate experience of public health practice

Public Health Specialty Registrar applicants who are not yet on the GMC Specialist Register must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they are within 6 months of gaining entry at the date of interview; all other applicants must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they have applied for inclusion in the GMC.

Inclusion in the UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) for Public Health Specialists (or eligibility within six months of interview).

Non‑medical applicants who are not yet fully registered with the UKPHR must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they are within six months of gaining specialist registration at the date of interview. All other non‑medical applicants must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they have applied for inclusion in the UKPHR Specialist Register (for example, confirmation that a UKPHR specialist portfolio has been submitted).

Hybrid working attached to a specific Scientific Campus

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our Scientific Campus in 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) working at our campus.

Based at our scientific campus in Colindale, you will be required to have a minimum of a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum. 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) 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.

Security Clearance

Successful candidates for this role must pass an enhanced 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 Counter-terrorist Check.

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.

AfC Band 8d

£94,356 - £108,814 (plus 15% basic salary to a maximum £6,137)

Consultant

£113,565 - £150,569 (plus £2,162 London Weighting)

UK Health Security Agency promoted diversity in the workplace and is an Equal Opportunities employer

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

The National Health Service (Appointment of Consultants) Regulations 1996 (legislation.gov.uk) In line with legislation, inclusion in the GMC Full and Specialist Register with a license to practice/GDC Specialist List or inclusion in the UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) for Public Health Specialists at the point of application.
If included in the GMC Specialist Register/GDC Specialist List in a specialty other than public health medicine/dental public health, candidates must have equivalent training and/or appropriate experience of public health practice
Any public health speciality registrar applicants who are currently on the UK public health training programme and not yet on either the GMC, GDC or UKPHR specialist register must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they are within 6 months of gaining entry to a register at the date of interview Applicants going through the portfolio registration routes (GMC or UKPHR) are not eligible to be shortlisted for interview until they are included on the register. The six-month rule does not apply to these portfolio route applicants.
If an applicant is UK trained in Public Health, they must ALSO be a holder of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) or be within six months of award of CCT by date of interview. If an applicant is non-UK trained, they will be required to show evidence of equivalence to the UK CCT
Applicants must meet minimum CPD requirements (i.e. be up to date) in accordance with Faculty of Public Health requirements or other recognised body
MFPH by examination, by exemption or by assessment, or equivalent
Postgraduate qualification in Public Health or a related field (e.g. MPH)

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

Experience of the control of communicable disease outbreaks and environmental hazards in a wide variety of settings including out of hours on call
Practical experience of working with UK health protection and emergency response agencies
Experience of working in an acute medical setting
Practical experience in facilitating change across complex systems
Experience of emergency planning
Experience of leading and implementing multiagency strategies
Experience of training and providing mentoring (NB training is delivered residentially in week-long blocks at various locations across the United Kingdom, and occasionally overseas
Understanding of epidemiology and statistics, public health practice, health promotion, health economics and health care evaluation
Understanding of social and political environment, laboratory microbiology services, clinical infectious diseases services, clinical toxicology services, the principles of radiological protection and of potential CBRN agents and methods of dissemination
Understanding of the public sector duty and the inequality duty and their application to public health practice
Knowledge of methods of developing clinical quality assurance, quality improvement and evidence based clinical and/or public health practice

Desirable criteria

Staff management and training
Budget management

Skills, Capabilities and Behaviours

Essential criteria

Strategic thinker with proven leadership skills
Excellent oral and written communication skills (including dealing with the public and the media
Effective interpersonal, motivational and influencing skills
Ability to respond appropriately in unplanned and unforeseen circumstances
Sensible negotiator with practical expectation of what can be achieved
Substantially numerate, with highly developed analytical skills using qualitative and quantitative data
Computer literate
Ability to design, develop, interpret and implement policies
Ability to concentrate for long periods (e.g. analyses, media presentations)
Ability to travel and attend training modules delivered in week-long blocks at various sites across the United Kingdom, and occasionally overseas

Desirable criteria

Provision of medical advice to managing clinicians on clinical investigations for patients who may have been exposed to CBRN agents
Provision of medical advice on CBRN medical countermeasures
Application of epidemiological methods and statistics

Equality and Diversity

Essential criteria

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

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. 

From time to time, the role holder may be required to support UKHSA’s incident response activity by contributing their appropriate expertise within an Incident Cell; during such periods, supported by the line manager, this work will take priority over normal day‑to‑day responsibilities, commensurate with their grade, skills and experience.

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.

Agenda for Change roles -NHS Pension

For roles offered under Agenda for Change (AFC) Terms and Conditions (and if you are eligible)

• If you are already on AFC T&Cs or accept the role on a fixed-term contract, you will be enrolled in the NHS Pension Scheme or keep your current AFC Pension.
• If you take the role on a loan or temporary promotion, you will retain your existing, substantive T&Cs.
• If the role is available under either AFC or Civil Service T&Cs depending on your registration, your pension scheme will align accordingly.