This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our site: Colindale Scientific Campus, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ.
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).
If based at one of our scientific sites you will be required to have a minimum of a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum.
Job Summary
We are looking for a Senior Scientist (Epidemiology) who will take a crucial role in epidemiological surveillance of respiratory viruses. The post is based in the Public Health Programmes Directorate of UKHSA, working in the Immunisation & Vaccine Preventable Diseases Division.
Vaccines have been identified as a key strategic priority for UKHSA. The Immunisation and Vaccine-preventable Diseases Division (in the Public Health Programmes Directorate of the Clinical and Public Health Group) is responsible for the national surveillance of most vaccine preventable infections and in providing technical support and clinical expertise to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and to the NHS in planning and delivering the national immunisation programmes. These programmes provide millions of vaccines per year, across the whole life course, and are delivered in a range of NHS settings. The division also provides secretariat to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation who recommend any changes to the national immunisation programme and publish “Immunisation Against Infectious Disease” – the single authoritative source of immunisation advice for health professionals.
The postholder will contribute to enhanced surveillance systems and research studies of respiratory diseases. They will lead and support on data collection and validation, and production of routine surveillance intelligence in these areas.
Job Description
The postholder will analyse and interpret surveillance data and develop automated routines and solutions and overseeing and responding to more complex/sensitive data requests. This will be through application of, and expertise in, analytical, statistical, database, mapping and web tools, supported by knowledge of information and data science approaches.
They will also carry out the epidemiological investigation of incidents/outbreaks of infectious diseases, supporting others across directorate, local Health Protection Teams and in collaboration with other partners. This will include the design, implementation, analysis and interpretation of analytical studies in a variety of settings and supporting team members in carrying out these tasks.
They will contribute to public health scientific analyses and writing reports on specific projects, regular/ad hoc publications and peer reviewed publications.
Contributions to the work and professional development of the team are also expected, and this may extend to Health Protection colleagues to improve services and information quality. Liaison with colleagues across the Chief Medical Advisor Group, wider UKHSA and NHS colleagues at regional/local level will also be required.
Duties Will Include:
- Surveillance and Data Analysis
- Enhanced surveillance and Epidemiological Investigations
- Statistical and software skills
- Audit, Quality and Governance
- Research
- Management / workforce / HR
- Teaching / Training
- Project management
This is not an exhaustive list, and a full Job Description will be sent to all successful candidates at interview.
The above is also only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other specialist duties as may reasonably be required.
The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the division. It should be noted that the work of the division is of a confidential nature and must not be communicated to other persons except where required for authorised purposes.
The postholder will analyse and interpret surveillance data and develop automated routines and solutions and overseeing and responding to more complex/sensitive data requests. This will be through application of, and expertise in, analytical, statistical, database, mapping and web tools, supported by knowledge of information and data science approaches.
They will also carry out the epidemiological investigation of incidents/outbreaks of infectious diseases, supporting others across directorate, local Health Protection Teams and in collaboration with other partners. This will include the design, implementation, analysis and interpretation of analytical studies in a variety of settings and supporting team members in carrying out these tasks.
They will contribute to public health scientific analyses and writing reports on specific projects, regular/ad hoc publications and peer reviewed publications.
Contributions to the work and professional development of the team are also expected, and this may extend to Health Protection colleagues to improve services and information quality. Liaison with colleagues across the Chief Medical Advisor Group, wider UKHSA and NHS colleagues at regional/local level will also be required.
Duties Will Include:
- Surveillance and Data Analysis
- Enhanced surveillance and Epidemiological Investigations
- Statistical and software skills
- Audit, Quality and Governance
- Research
- Management / workforce / HR
- Teaching / Training
- Project management
This is not an exhaustive list, and a full Job Description will be sent to all successful candidates at interview.
The above is also only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other specialist duties as may reasonably be required.
The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the division. It should be noted that the work of the division is of a confidential nature and must not be communicated to other persons except where required for authorised purposes.
Person specification
Essential Role Criteria
- Educated to degree level in biological/biomedical sciences and population health or equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level in specialist area (in maintenance/analysis of data)
- MSc in Epidemiology, public health or allied discipline or equivalent level of experience/education
- A Completion of the Field Epidemiology Training Programme or equivalent training and experience
- Knowledge of principles and practice of 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 epidemiological data, sensitive health data analyses
- Demonstrable experience of public health, health protection or epidemiology including experience of complex and/or sensitive health data analyses
- Knowledge and experience of common statistical tests, modelling and analyses and interpret results, including for research purposes
- Experience of using epidemiological/statistical software packages
- Knowledge of health/social care environment, and roles and responsibilities within it including information flows in the NHS and allied services
- Understanding of information governance including data protection and confidentiality requirements
- Excellent oral and written communication skills with proven presentation and scientific reporting
- Proficient in common statistical/database/mapping tools such as STATA, R, GIS, network analysis, SQL, etc.
- Able to build and maintain effective relationships with co-workers and key stakeholders
- Able to work under own initiative, respond to sudden unexpected demands whilst maintaining a professional calm and efficient manner
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships
Desirable Role Criteria
- Experience of research activities with one or more first author publications in peer reviewed journals
- Experience of teaching epidemiology and/or surveillance
- Experience of effective line management
Alongside your salary of £46,310, UK Health Security Agency contributes £13,416 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme
