Job summary
At the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) our mission is to provide health security for the nation by protecting from infectious disease and external hazards. We are a trusted source of advice to government and to the public, focusing on reducing inequalities in the way different communities experience and are impacted by infectious disease, environmental hazards, and other threats to health.
Our mission is challenging, innovative and in the spotlight. We will work to ensure our people have the diverse skills, experiences and backgrounds we need to thrive, that our employees are representative of the communities we serve and feel valued and enabled to play their part in delivering our work.
Main duties of the job
The Senior Scientist works closely with senior epidemiologist colleagues to provide epidemiological and data management support across a number of topic areas; and to the epidemiological investigation of incidents and outbreaks of infectious diseases and routine, supporting local Health Protection Teams and in collaboration with other partners. This will include supporting and managing the technical and analytical aspects of epidemiological outbreak investigations and supporting a team in carrying out these tasks.
The interface with local, regional and national colleagues, as well as with external stakeholders, will be an important feature of this role.
Location
Civic centre, Barras Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8QH / Blenheim House, West One, Duncombe Street, Leeds, LS1 4PL with Hybrid Working
You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process.
*Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available.*
Working Pattern - Full Time, Part Time, Job Share, Flexible Working, Hybrid Working
About us
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
- Range of health and wellbeing support
Job description
Job responsibilities
Responsibilities section:
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:
Surveillance and Data Analysis
- Identify surveillance needs within given lead areas, create surveillance system specifications, conduct complex statistical analyses and interpret surveillance data, making appropriate recommendations, develop automated routines and solutions and supervise / assure on the preparation, quality and delivery of routine and ad hoc surveillance reports.
- Respond to complex or sensitive data requests.
Outbreak Support and Epidemiological Investigations
- Where appropriate, lead and manage the technical and analytical (including data management) aspects of epidemiological outbreak investigations, including the supervision of the investigation of exceedances, e.g. write protocol of analytical studies, contribute to the production of outbreak control team reports and train interviewers.
Statistical and Software Skills
- Use common statistical/database/mapping/web tools such as Stata, R, ArcGIS, network analysis, SQL and SharePoint in routine reports, surveillance activities and the development of solutions and undertake complex analytical and programming tasks using common and specialist software packages to support data extractions, analysis and validation.
Audit, Quality and Governance
- Advise on quality and governance issues including information security for all aspects of Field Service work, evaluating existing systems and acute response to incidents and outbreak, and use to improve standards and consistency across the team.
Research and project management
- Support/lead and facilitate the delivery of projects using a framework to ensure they are well planned, efficiently implemented, predetermined benefits are realised and associated risks mitigated
- Project manage research studies, analysing datasets with appropriate methodology to answer research questions, supported by the systematic review of literature and with knowledge of how to develop a grant proposal, and apply for ethical approval.
Management and Leadership
- Actively engage in meetings with internal and external colleagues, identify potential problems and seek to resolve and undertake a lead role for a specific topic or function area, on behalf of the service as a whole
- Undertake line management responsibilities as agreed, contribute to the supervision and training of junior staff allocated to the team and act as a role model adhering to UKHSA Values and Behaviours
- Deal with at times, challenging and/or conflicting subject matter problems in day to day workload referring/escalating to line management as appropriate.
Please see the job description for a full list of duties
The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Responsibilities section:
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:
Surveillance and Data Analysis
- Identify surveillance needs within given lead areas, create surveillance system specifications, conduct complex statistical analyses and interpret surveillance data, making appropriate recommendations, develop automated routines and solutions and supervise / assure on the preparation, quality and delivery of routine and ad hoc surveillance reports.
- Respond to complex or sensitive data requests.
Outbreak Support and Epidemiological Investigations
- Where appropriate, lead and manage the technical and analytical (including data management) aspects of epidemiological outbreak investigations, including the supervision of the investigation of exceedances, e.g. write protocol of analytical studies, contribute to the production of outbreak control team reports and train interviewers.
Statistical and Software Skills
- Use common statistical/database/mapping/web tools such as Stata, R, ArcGIS, network analysis, SQL and SharePoint in routine reports, surveillance activities and the development of solutions and undertake complex analytical and programming tasks using common and specialist software packages to support data extractions, analysis and validation.
Audit, Quality and Governance
- Advise on quality and governance issues including information security for all aspects of Field Service work, evaluating existing systems and acute response to incidents and outbreak, and use to improve standards and consistency across the team.
Research and project management
- Support/lead and facilitate the delivery of projects using a framework to ensure they are well planned, efficiently implemented, predetermined benefits are realised and associated risks mitigated
- Project manage research studies, analysing datasets with appropriate methodology to answer research questions, supported by the systematic review of literature and with knowledge of how to develop a grant proposal, and apply for ethical approval.
Management and Leadership
- Actively engage in meetings with internal and external colleagues, identify potential problems and seek to resolve and undertake a lead role for a specific topic or function area, on behalf of the service as a whole
- Undertake line management responsibilities as agreed, contribute to the supervision and training of junior staff allocated to the team and act as a role model adhering to UKHSA Values and Behaviours
- Deal with at times, challenging and/or conflicting subject matter problems in day to day workload referring/escalating to line management as appropriate.
Please see the job description for a full list of duties
The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.
Person Specification
Essential/Desirable criteria
Essential
- Educated to degree level in relevant subject or equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level in specialist area (in the maintenance, analysis of data)
- MSc in Epidemiology, public health or allied discipline or equivalent level of experience/education
- 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 and performing analytical epidemiology
- Demonstrable experience of public health, health protection or epidemiology
- Knowledge and experience of common statistical tests, modelling and analyses and interpret results appropriately, including for research purposes
- Experience of using epidemiological and statistical software packages
- Knowledge of health and social care environment, and roles and responsibilities within it including information flows in the NHS and allied services
- Experience of effective line management
- Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with co-workers and key stakeholders
- Understanding of information governance including data protection and confidentiality requirements
- Excellent oral and written communication skills with proven presentation and scientific report writing skills
- Understand of information governance including data protection and confidentiality requirements
- Proficient in common statistical/database/mapping tools such as STATA, R, GIS, network analysis, SQL, etc.
- Able to work under own initiative, seek out new information and new ways to develop yourself as well as to 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
- Experience of research activities with one or more first author publications in peer reviewed journals
- Experience of teaching epidemiology and/or surveillance
Person Specification
Essential/Desirable criteria
Essential
- Educated to degree level in relevant subject or equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level in specialist area (in the maintenance, analysis of data)
- MSc in Epidemiology, public health or allied discipline or equivalent level of experience/education
- 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 and performing analytical epidemiology
- Demonstrable experience of public health, health protection or epidemiology
- Knowledge and experience of common statistical tests, modelling and analyses and interpret results appropriately, including for research purposes
- Experience of using epidemiological and statistical software packages
- Knowledge of health and social care environment, and roles and responsibilities within it including information flows in the NHS and allied services
- Experience of effective line management
- Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with co-workers and key stakeholders
- Understanding of information governance including data protection and confidentiality requirements
- Excellent oral and written communication skills with proven presentation and scientific report writing skills
- Understand of information governance including data protection and confidentiality requirements
- Proficient in common statistical/database/mapping tools such as STATA, R, GIS, network analysis, SQL, etc.
- Able to work under own initiative, seek out new information and new ways to develop yourself as well as to 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
- Experience of research activities with one or more first author publications in peer reviewed journals
- Experience of teaching epidemiology and/or surveillance
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).
