Job summary
- Main area
- Science and Engineering
- Grade
- Civil Service: Grade 7
- Contract
- 33 months (Fixed Term appointment until 31/03/2029)
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Job share
- Flexible working
- Job ref
- 919-JI-633004187-EXT
- Employer
- UK Health Security Agency
- Employer type
- Public (Non NHS)
- Site
- Core HQs or Scientific Campus - Porton
- Town
- London
- Salary
- £60,494 - £70,566 Per Annum, Pro Rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 08/09/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Senior Epidemiology Scientist
Civil Service: Grade 7
Job overview
Senior Epidemiology Scientist G7 post will be based within the Evaluation and Epidemiological Science (EES) Division of the Science Strategy and Evidence (SSE) Directorate.
The function of this post is to provide critical leadership to, and delivery of, a programme of impactful evaluations that address knowledge gaps in the effectiveness and proportionality of contact tracing methods. The postholder will lead and influence colleagues and stakeholders; ensure rigour of methodology and outputs across a number of evaluations; and pursue funding opportunities for additional research proposals.
The interface with local, regional and national colleagues, as well as with external stakeholders, will be an important feature of this role.
Main duties of the job
- You will provide strategic leadership for epidemiological & evaluation activities in health protection response, with particular focus on contact tracing. You will lead the delivery of a rolling research and evaluation agenda for UKHSA. This will include identifying and developing methods to answer key questions relating to contact tracing approaches and experiences, generating robust evidence to inform advice and decision-making.
- You will lead, manage and assure the scientific, analytical and technical quality of evaluation and epidemiological activities, while supporting and developing staff. Responsibilities may include managing a portfolio of programmes, projects and team members.
- You will lead the production of project reports, routine & ad hoc publications, and peer-reviewed papers, working with a high degree of autonomy and professional accountability. You must be able to build effective relationships and influence decision-making across a range of stakeholders.
- You should demonstrate experience of developing and managing projects and delivering high-quality scientific outputs. They will have strong attention to detail, motivation, and interpersonal skills.
- The role includes line management responsibilities, contributing to teaching & training, leading meetings with internal and external colleagues, undertaking mandatory & professional development training, and supporting evolving organisational priorities through additional duties as required.
Continues below
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. Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Data & Epidemiological Analyses
- Identify evaluation and epidemiology science needs within contact tracing; conduct complex statistical analyses, interpret surveillance data, make recommendations and translate findings into public health action.
- Authorise/manage complex or sensitive data requests and oversee the development of outputs and statistical analyses.
- Plan, implement and maintain high-quality epidemiological and evaluation outputs to meet stakeholder needs, providing expert technical advice while considering current and future political, economic, scientific, technological, legal and environmental influences.
- Take a lead role in public health scientific analyses and the production of project reports, regular and ad hoc publications, and peer-reviewed papers.
Epidemiological Investigations
- Lead and manage the technical and analytical aspects of epidemiological investigations, including advising on study design, writing protocols, overseeing questionnaire design and study databases, training interviewers, preparing reports, and supervising investigations.
Strategic Thinking and Partnership Working
- Build and maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders and partners across the CSO Group, UKHSA and other organisations appropriate to the role.
- Provide subject matter expertise and use available engagement approaches to develop and maintain stakeholder relationships.
- Manage delivery of agreed work programmes, including timely reporting, ensuring stakeholder needs are met and working across Division, Directorate and Group boundaries to support effective delivery and identify interdependencies.
- Manage challenging and/or conflicting subject matter issues, escalating where appropriate.
Audit, Quality and Governance
- Collaborate with colleagues across the Division to improve standards and consistency, evaluate teaching sessions, and undertake or supervise audits as part of the team audit programme.
Research
- Identify research questions, manage research studies, analyse datasets using appropriate methodologies, and translate findings into public health action.
- Conduct systematic literature reviews, co-author grant proposals and applications (including ethical approval submissions), present at scientific conferences and meetings, and publish scientific papers with health, public health, academic and other partners.
Management and Leadership
- Be a visible, positive and competent role model, promoting professional standards and providing senior scientific leadership. Represent the EES Division within UKHSA and at external scientific fora.
- Contribute as a member of the EES Division senior management team, supporting business planning and the development of evaluation, research and training strategies. Support operational delivery of divisional functions and deputise where appropriate.
- Provide effective line management of staff, including recruitment and selection, objective setting, performance management, induction, training and development, and management of employee relations issues to ensure capacity and flexibility to meet team needs.
Teaching and Training
- Teach colleagues and stakeholders on evaluation and epidemiology science, support departmental training activities, develop teaching materials and courses, assess learning needs, and supervise MSc students and other short-term attachments.
This list is not exhaustive.
Essential Criteria
- MSc (or equivalent education) in Epidemiology, Public Health or allied discipline, or equivalent experience in the field of Epidemiology, Public Health or allied discipline
- Knowledge of principles and practice of health protection surveillance, including data management, data transmission, data security and information governance, data quality, data analysis including descriptive statistics and graphics and data reporting.
- Demonstrable experience in public health, evaluation and epidemiology, including interpreting and evaluating complex epidemiological data, sensitive health data analyses and performing analytical epidemiology.
- Proficiency in common statistical tools (such as R, Stata), and knowledge and experience of common statistical tests, modelling and analyses, with ability to interpret results appropriately, including for research.
- 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.
- Excellent oral and written communication, including presentation and scientific report writing skills.
- Line management and leadership skills that empower, support, and develop teams to encourage high performance, and enable team members to reach their full potential through a learning culture.
- 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.
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.
- Experience of teaching epidemiology and/or surveillance
Selection Process Details
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
Competency Based
You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 8 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:
- Application form (Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
- 750 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 750 words. We will not consider any words over 750 words.
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) that meets ALL essential criteria’ will proceed to shortlisting.
Shortlisting:
In the event of a large number of applications we will conduct an initial sift, on the lead criteria of:
- Demonstrable experience in public health, evaluation and epidemiology, including interpreting and evaluating complex epidemiological data, sensitive health data analyses and performing analytical epidemiology.
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
Competency Based
You will be invited to a single remote interview.
Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview in the form of questions.
There will be a Presentation. Candidates invited to interview will be required to deliver a 5-minute presentation with slides. The topic will be related to describing an epidemiological or evaluation study that you have led.
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
This role is being offered as hybrid working based at any of our Core HQs, or our Scientific Campus in Porton (Salisbury). 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).
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 if based at one of our Core HQ's or Counter-Terrorist Check if based at our Scientific Campus in Porton (Salisbury).
If based in Porton (Salisbury): When based at one of our scientific campuses, 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. In exceptional circumstances 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.
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. Please be aware that the salary is based on the office location.
Person specification
Application form and supporting statement
Essential criteria
- Application form and supporting statement
Interview
Essential criteria
- Questions on knowledge, experience, skills and abilities
Interview
Essential criteria
- Presentation
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- John Inglis
- Job title
- Resourcing Officer
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Additional information
If you need any questions answered relating to the vacancy, you can email [email protected]
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