Job summary
THIS POST IS FIXED TERM/SECONDMENT FOR 22 MONTHS TO 31/8/27 DUE TO FUNDING.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN APPLYING FOR THE SECONDMENT POSITION, YOU MUST OBTAIN PERMISSION FROM YOUR CURRENT LINE MANAGER PRIOR TO APPLYING FOR THIS POST.
We are looking for a motivated and analytically skilled Senior Public Health Researcher to support Wales' contribution to the LifeArc Centre for the Acceleration of Rare Disease Trials (RD-TAP). Based in the Congenital Anomaly Register and Information Service (CARIS) team at Public Health Wales, you'll play a vital role in improving how data infrastructure supports research and clinical trial readiness for rare diseases.
This is a collaborative, UK-wide programme involving Queen's University Belfast, NCPHWR and other partners. You'll help map data assets, strengthen metadata, and contribute to exemplar studies designed to improve rare diseases surveillance and accelerate access to treatment. The role is ideal for someone who thrives in complex research environments and is confident working across academic, clinical and public health sectors.
If you're passionate about using data for impact and want to contribute to cutting-edge rare diseases research, we'd love to hear from you.
Main duties of the job
- Apply robust research and analytical methods to congenital anomaly and rare diseases datasets.
- Contribute to metadata standards and improvements that support surveillance and clinical trial readiness.
- Produce evidence-informed outputs including reports, academic publications, and presentations.
- Collaborate with project partners across the UK including Queen's University Belfast, NCPHWR and LifeArc.
- Support planning and delivery across an interdisciplinary team.
- Manage your workload independently while contributing to shared programme milestones.
- Maintain high standards of data governance and research ethics.
For further information on Public Health Wales, please visit: https://phw.nhs.wales
About us
We are Public Health Wales - the national public health agency in Wales. Our purpose is 'Working together for a healthier Wales'. We exist to help everyone in Wales live longer, healthier, happier lives. Together with our partners, we work to increase healthy life expectancy, improve health and well-being, and reduce inequalities for everyone in Wales, now and for future generations.
Our teams work to prevent disease, protect health, and provide leadership, specialist services and public health expertise. We are the leading source of public health information, research and innovation in Wales. In a world facing complex health challenges, our work has never been so important.
We are guided by our Values, 'Working together, with trust and respect, to make a difference'. We are committed to building an inclusive workplace that values equality and diversity. We welcome applications which represent the rich diversity of the communities we serve and are supportive of flexible working arrangements, including part time roles and job sharing.
To find out more about working for us and the benefits we offer please visithttps://phw.nhs.wales/careers/
For guidance on the application process, please visithttps://phw.nhs.wales/working-for-us/applicant-information-and-guidance/
Job description
Job responsibilities
About the Role
Join Public Health Wales as a Senior Public Health Researcher and play a central part in our work to transform Wales rare diseases surveillance and research capability.
Youll be part of the CARIS team in the Research, Data and Digital Directorate, contributing to a national programme that aims to transform how rare disease research is delivered in Wales. Your work will involve mapping data sources, developing exemplar studies, and enhancing the systems that support research and innovation across the rare disease landscape.
What Youll Do
Lead analytical work on rare diseases and congenital anomaly datasets.
Shape the design and delivery of exemplar research studies.
Support the development of metadata, coding standards, and infrastructure to improve research readiness.
Collaborate across disciplines and organisations to deliver meaningful, high-quality research.
Present findings to a range of audiences, from peers to policy and clinical stakeholders.
Contribute to a culture of innovation in data linkage, documentation, and research practice.
What You Bring
- Strong research skills with experience analysing health or clinical datasets.
- Knowledge of public health and/or rare disease contexts.
- Proficiency in tools such as R, Python, SPSS, or other analytical software.
- Ability to communicate complex findings clearly and with impact.
- A collaborative, solutions-focused mindset and a commitment to improving outcomes for under-served populations.
The Job Description and Personal Specification provide full details.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.
Job description
Job responsibilities
About the Role
Join Public Health Wales as a Senior Public Health Researcher and play a central part in our work to transform Wales rare diseases surveillance and research capability.
Youll be part of the CARIS team in the Research, Data and Digital Directorate, contributing to a national programme that aims to transform how rare disease research is delivered in Wales. Your work will involve mapping data sources, developing exemplar studies, and enhancing the systems that support research and innovation across the rare disease landscape.
What Youll Do
Lead analytical work on rare diseases and congenital anomaly datasets.
Shape the design and delivery of exemplar research studies.
Support the development of metadata, coding standards, and infrastructure to improve research readiness.
Collaborate across disciplines and organisations to deliver meaningful, high-quality research.
Present findings to a range of audiences, from peers to policy and clinical stakeholders.
Contribute to a culture of innovation in data linkage, documentation, and research practice.
What You Bring
- Strong research skills with experience analysing health or clinical datasets.
- Knowledge of public health and/or rare disease contexts.
- Proficiency in tools such as R, Python, SPSS, or other analytical software.
- Ability to communicate complex findings clearly and with impact.
- A collaborative, solutions-focused mindset and a commitment to improving outcomes for under-served populations.
The Job Description and Personal Specification provide full details.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level or equivalent in a mathematical, statistical, computer-science, epidemiology, operational research, informatics or a similar discipline.
Desirable
- A master's degree in relevant discipline or equivalent.
Experience & Knowledge
Essential
- Experience in conducting research and evaluation in a field related to public health and understanding the application of different types of data.
- Experience of verbal and written communicating complex information including writing academic publications.
- A proven track-record of data management and the management of projects delivering against targets.
- Knowledge of research methods such as survey design and evaluations.
- Experience in conducting research and evaluation in a field related to public health, and understanding the application of different types of data.
- Experience of conducting data analysis including survey data and routine health data
- Experience of conducting literature reviews.
Desirable
- Contribution to external funding applications.
- Experience of manipulating large and complex datasets.
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Advanced IT skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including SharePoint.
- Statistical analysis of complex information, using software packages such as R.
Desirable
- Knowledge and experience of SQL to interrogate data within a relational database environment in a health setting.
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Flexible to meet the needs of the service and able to multi task
- Ability to work to deadlines and prioritise own workload
- Must be proactive. Ability to work under own initiative and as part of a team
- Self-confident, motivated and reliable.
- Enthusiasm to develop self.
- Willingness and ability to travel between sites in Wales.
Desirable
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level or equivalent in a mathematical, statistical, computer-science, epidemiology, operational research, informatics or a similar discipline.
Desirable
- A master's degree in relevant discipline or equivalent.
Experience & Knowledge
Essential
- Experience in conducting research and evaluation in a field related to public health and understanding the application of different types of data.
- Experience of verbal and written communicating complex information including writing academic publications.
- A proven track-record of data management and the management of projects delivering against targets.
- Knowledge of research methods such as survey design and evaluations.
- Experience in conducting research and evaluation in a field related to public health, and understanding the application of different types of data.
- Experience of conducting data analysis including survey data and routine health data
- Experience of conducting literature reviews.
Desirable
- Contribution to external funding applications.
- Experience of manipulating large and complex datasets.
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Advanced IT skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including SharePoint.
- Statistical analysis of complex information, using software packages such as R.
Desirable
- Knowledge and experience of SQL to interrogate data within a relational database environment in a health setting.
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Flexible to meet the needs of the service and able to multi task
- Ability to work to deadlines and prioritise own workload
- Must be proactive. Ability to work under own initiative and as part of a team
- Self-confident, motivated and reliable.
- Enthusiasm to develop self.
- Willingness and ability to travel between sites in Wales.
Desirable
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).
