Job summary
THIS POST IS FIXED TERM/SECONDMENT FOR 2 YEARS UNTIL END OF MARCH 2027 DUE TO SECONDMENT.
To complement our existing team, Public Health Wales is seeking to appoint a highly motivated, enthusiastic Public Health Specialist to the post of Environmental Public Health Scientist within our Health Protection Division. This post is available at 1.0 WTE until the end of March 2027 as a Secondment or Fixed Term Contract.
Prospective candidates are invited to contact Dr Sarah Jones, Consultant in Environmental Public Health, email sarah.jones27@wales.nhs.uk
Main duties of the job
As a whole, the Service aims to protect and improve health in relation to environmental harms and benefits, as well as prevent harms from environmental hazards. It delivers reactive services in line with requirements of the Civil Contingencies Act, responding to a wide range of environmental events whilst working with multi-agency partners to protect the people of Wales. As part of the team, you will provide specialist advice and input on the management of environmental public health issues, leading on the response to incidents as required.
The Service works proactively to address the environmental determinants of health, including air quality, sustainable transport, contaminated land and water. You will provide evidence-based advice/guidance to support policy and practice decision making at national and local levels.
The Service is involved in on-going work to develop a programme of surveillance to specifically analyse links between environmental hazard exposures and associated health outcomes. As part of the team, you will provide specialist public health advice/input on the development of this programme, including key subject areas and working with partners to link to a wide variety of data sources.
The Service also works closely with the Directors of Public Health and Health Boards to provide specialist advice on local issues, including those relating to planning and permitting.
About us
Public Health Wales is the National Public Health Institute in Wales. Our vision is 'Working to achieve a healthier future for Wales'. We play a pivotal role in driving improvements in population health and well-being, reducing health inequalities, improving healthcare outcomes, protecting the public and supporting the development of health in all policies across Wales.
Never more has public health been so important as we come through the Coronavirus pandemic, face the challenges of the cost-of-living crisis and tackle and prevent the harmful effects of climate change. We are an organisation that places ourselves at the heart of supporting people, communities, partners, and the Welsh Government in addressing these major challenges and providing solutions for action.
Our organisation is guided by our Values, 'Working together, with trust and respect, to make a difference'. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that values equality, diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications which represent the rich diversity of the communities we serve and from those wishing to work part time or on a job share basis.
To find out more about working for us and the benefits we offer please visit https://phw.nhs.wales/careers/
For guidance on the application process, please visit https://phw.nhs.wales/working-for-us/applicant-information-and-guidance/
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click Apply now to view in Trac.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click Apply now to view in Trac.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in an environmental/ public health, science or related relevant subject
- Masters qualification or equivalent experience acquired in an environmental public health health or research field
- A qualification or demonstrable training/ experience in public health, health protection or epidemiology
Desirable
- Postgraduate training in areas such as: air quality, environmental epidemiology, surveillance methods, public health, statistics, data science
Experience
Essential
- Substantial post-graduate experience of relevant environmental health protection practice and scientific work
- Demonstrable experience of working within a public health setting
- Experience of working in the field of air quality
- Experience of working in the field of environmental health protection
- Experience of surveillance and epidemiology
- Experience of working with large complex databases
- Understanding of current scientific and/or epidemiological advances
- Experience of training other staff groups
- Experience in epidemiological study/ research methods, including data collection instruments and linking and analysing datasets
- Staff line management experience
- Budget management experience (including developing funding business cases and grant applications to obtain funding, managing ad hoc project funding/grants and delivering against specified work outcomes)
Desirable
- Working in an NHS environment
- Experience of developing and monitoring performance indicators
- Specialist knowledge of further analytic and descriptive analyses in epidemiology including mapping, data linkage and time series analysis
- Record of peer-reviewed publications and scientific report writing
- Knowledge of health-care systems in Wales
- Knowledge of staff management
Skills
Essential
- Advanced knowledge and understanding of environmental health protection issues, especially air quality, decarbonisation and related fields
- Sound grasp of epidemiological and statistical methods
- Effective oral and written communication skills. Ability to document and communicate clearly and succinctly
- Excellent computer literacy, including advanced skills in Microsoft Office applications
- Ability to project manage, coordinate teams and problem solve
- Professional judgments on methods and interpretation
Desirable
- Advanced skills in mapping and database software to manage and analyse complex data
- Ability to speak Welsh or willingness to learn
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of environmental health protection policy and practice
- Knowledge of air quality and wider environmental public health issue policy and practice
- Knowledge of surveillance/epidemiological principles and their application to environmental public health
- Sound understanding of the environmental public health 'system' or 'community' in Wales
- Awareness of policies and procedures relating to environmental public health practice and research.
Desirable
- Knowledge of Public Health Wales
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES (Demonstrable)
Essential
- Flexible approach and commitment to apply skills in support of clinical/scientific priorities
- Proven track record as a team player
- Enthusiastic approach with excellent planning and organisational skills
- Negotiation and diplomacy skills to work with a wide range of staff
- Ability to work on own initiative.
- Good time-keeping.
- Respect confidentiality.
- Willingness to learn and develop skills
- Ability to work to deadlines and under pressure.
Desirable
- Ability to work in challenging or different circumstances
Other (Please Specify)
Essential
- Ability to foster and maintain good working relationships with administrative staff, scientific staff and health professionals at all levels
- Commitment to CPD within Public Health competency frameworks
- Prepared to travel
Desirable
- Evidence of continuing professional Development
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in an environmental/ public health, science or related relevant subject
- Masters qualification or equivalent experience acquired in an environmental public health health or research field
- A qualification or demonstrable training/ experience in public health, health protection or epidemiology
Desirable
- Postgraduate training in areas such as: air quality, environmental epidemiology, surveillance methods, public health, statistics, data science
Experience
Essential
- Substantial post-graduate experience of relevant environmental health protection practice and scientific work
- Demonstrable experience of working within a public health setting
- Experience of working in the field of air quality
- Experience of working in the field of environmental health protection
- Experience of surveillance and epidemiology
- Experience of working with large complex databases
- Understanding of current scientific and/or epidemiological advances
- Experience of training other staff groups
- Experience in epidemiological study/ research methods, including data collection instruments and linking and analysing datasets
- Staff line management experience
- Budget management experience (including developing funding business cases and grant applications to obtain funding, managing ad hoc project funding/grants and delivering against specified work outcomes)
Desirable
- Working in an NHS environment
- Experience of developing and monitoring performance indicators
- Specialist knowledge of further analytic and descriptive analyses in epidemiology including mapping, data linkage and time series analysis
- Record of peer-reviewed publications and scientific report writing
- Knowledge of health-care systems in Wales
- Knowledge of staff management
Skills
Essential
- Advanced knowledge and understanding of environmental health protection issues, especially air quality, decarbonisation and related fields
- Sound grasp of epidemiological and statistical methods
- Effective oral and written communication skills. Ability to document and communicate clearly and succinctly
- Excellent computer literacy, including advanced skills in Microsoft Office applications
- Ability to project manage, coordinate teams and problem solve
- Professional judgments on methods and interpretation
Desirable
- Advanced skills in mapping and database software to manage and analyse complex data
- Ability to speak Welsh or willingness to learn
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of environmental health protection policy and practice
- Knowledge of air quality and wider environmental public health issue policy and practice
- Knowledge of surveillance/epidemiological principles and their application to environmental public health
- Sound understanding of the environmental public health 'system' or 'community' in Wales
- Awareness of policies and procedures relating to environmental public health practice and research.
Desirable
- Knowledge of Public Health Wales
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES (Demonstrable)
Essential
- Flexible approach and commitment to apply skills in support of clinical/scientific priorities
- Proven track record as a team player
- Enthusiastic approach with excellent planning and organisational skills
- Negotiation and diplomacy skills to work with a wide range of staff
- Ability to work on own initiative.
- Good time-keeping.
- Respect confidentiality.
- Willingness to learn and develop skills
- Ability to work to deadlines and under pressure.
Desirable
- Ability to work in challenging or different circumstances
Other (Please Specify)
Essential
- Ability to foster and maintain good working relationships with administrative staff, scientific staff and health professionals at all levels
- Commitment to CPD within Public Health competency frameworks
- Prepared to travel
Desirable
- Evidence of continuing professional Development
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details
Employer name
Public Health Wales
Address
Public Health Wales, Environmental Services
2 Capital Quarter, Tyndall Street
Cardiff
CF10 4BZ
Employer's website
https://phw.nhs.wales/ (Opens in a new tab)
