Public Health Wales

Public Health Research Assistant

The closing date is 24 September 2025

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated research assistant to join the Policy and International Health Directorate, to work on Time to Talk Public Health. Time to Talk Public Health is our nationally representative population panel which supports us to deliver our long-term strategy through regularly engaging with the public to understand their attitudes and opinions on a broad range of public health topics (e.g. policy, health improvement, health protection, health services). As Time to Talk Public Health is a cross-organisational work programme, the role will involve working with colleagues across a range of levels from Public Health Wales, Welsh Government, Local Public Health Teams, and other stakeholders. Interested in the breadth of public health? The post holder will work closely with the Principal Public Health Researcher to undertake evidence syntheses, develop questionnaires, contribute to project management, analyse data and produce a range of outputs (e.g. reports, academic journal articles, presentations, social media creatives) on different public health topics. With a focus on achieving impact through translating the evidence into policy and practice, we will also monitor the impact achieved to show value.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will contribute to growing the reach and impact of Time to Talk Public Health. This will involve exposure across the organisation and with Welsh Government, meaning excellent communication skills and attention to detail are crucial. Through Time to Talk Public Health we seek to gather insight on the public's attitudes, emotions, interests, opinions and understanding of different areas of public health through regular surveys. Knowledge and skills of questionnaire development and delivery is important. The post holder will be expected to use their research skills to support colleagues to refine and focus their insight needs. They will need to be able to review evidence on multiple topics concurrently. Using excellent project management skills, they will be involved in ensuring the work programme runs to time and is documented appropriately. To maximise the impact of the data collected, the post holder will be actively involved in dissemination activities with internal and external stakeholders.

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/

Details

Date posted

10 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,516 to £38,364 a year per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

29 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

028-AC231-0925

Job locations

Cardiff / Wrexham / Swansea

Cardiff / Wrexham / Swansea

CF10 4BZ


Job description

Job responsibilities

THIS POST IS FIXED TERM/SECONDMENT FOR 29 MONTHS UNTIL MARCH 2028 DUE TO FUNDING.

Although this post has been advertised as a fixed term appointment, NHS staff will be offered the appointment as a secondment. If you wish to apply for a secondment, you must have the approval of your line manager.

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

THIS POST IS FIXED TERM/SECONDMENT FOR 29 MONTHS UNTIL MARCH 2028 DUE TO FUNDING.

Although this post has been advertised as a fixed term appointment, NHS staff will be offered the appointment as a secondment. If you wish to apply for a secondment, you must have the approval of your line manager.

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

  • Educated to degree level in health-related subject (e.g. psychology, health sciences), or equivalent level of experience

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of undertaking evidence synthesis and literature searches
  • Experience of developing and administering questionnaires
  • Experience of administrative work including planning and data management
  • Experience of managing data, data cleaning and quality assurance

Skills

Essential

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills for different audiences
  • Competent in the use of analytical software for quantitative analysis (e.g. SPSS, R)

Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of questionnaire development
  • Knowledge of the research governance process, including information governance

Personal Attributes

Essential

  • Self-motivated, pro-active and able to overcome barriers
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to degree level in health-related subject (e.g. psychology, health sciences), or equivalent level of experience

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of undertaking evidence synthesis and literature searches
  • Experience of developing and administering questionnaires
  • Experience of administrative work including planning and data management
  • Experience of managing data, data cleaning and quality assurance

Skills

Essential

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills for different audiences
  • Competent in the use of analytical software for quantitative analysis (e.g. SPSS, R)

Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of questionnaire development
  • Knowledge of the research governance process, including information governance

Personal Attributes

Essential

  • Self-motivated, pro-active and able to overcome barriers

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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

Cardiff / Wrexham / Swansea

Cardiff / Wrexham / Swansea

CF10 4BZ


Employer's website

https://phw.nhs.wales/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Public Health Wales

Address

Cardiff / Wrexham / Swansea

Cardiff / Wrexham / Swansea

CF10 4BZ


Employer's website

https://phw.nhs.wales/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Principal Public Health Researcher

Catherine Sharp

catherine.sharp@wales.nhs.uk

Details

Date posted

10 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,516 to £38,364 a year per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

29 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

028-AC231-0925

Job locations

Cardiff / Wrexham / Swansea

Cardiff / Wrexham / Swansea

CF10 4BZ


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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