Senior Scientist

Job description

Job responsibilities

Senior ScientistThe work of the team covers a range of activities and the postholder will work across both the travel health and IHR functions. They will support the national focal point function under the International Health Regulations (IHR) by: Contributing to the day-to-day management of IHR National Focal Point inbox and phone line, including responding to international contact tracing situations, drafting notifications for WHO and the European Commission, managing information requests to and from international partners, supervising and advising other scientists as appropriate, UKHSA Incident Management Teams with international communications and ensuring that all emails are responded to appropriately and in a timely fashion. Contributing to and supporting other scientists on the Event Information Site (EIS) Duty Scientist rota, ensuring that international public health event information is disseminated within the UK territories efficiently and appropriately and co-ordinating responses, as required. Coordinating the UK State Parties Annual Self-Assessment (SPAR) activity report for WHO and support work on the IHR Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.

The postholder will also have key responsibilities within the surveillance and reporting work undertaken by the team. Alongside other members of the team, they will: Take scientific responsibility for national surveillance of selected travel-associated infections in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Identify gaps in surveillance activities related to travel-associated infections and contribute to the design and development of new surveillance initiatives in collaboration with other parts of UKHSA. Contribute to complex epidemiological analysis and interpretation of surveillance data relating to travel-associated infections and ensure the data outputs for the relevant GOV.UK pages and the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC), as well as any other ad hoc reports, are timely and accurate.

Alongside routine work undertaken by the team, they also will form an integral part of international event and outbreak response work when required, by: Monitoring clusters of infection in UK residents in tourist resorts abroad and conduct appropriate public health responses to these; this may involve communication with wider UKHSA, the tourist industry, other international public health institutions and WHO. Undertaking risk assessments in collaboration with National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) and UKHSA disease specific teams in response to international outbreaks or natural disasters that may affect UK travellers. With other section members and as required, supporting those at local, regional or national level who are managing incidents or outbreaks that have an international dimension and/or are relevant under IHR or which affect the health of travellers specifically.

The postholder will also: Contribute to scientific reports and papers for publication Produce regular and ad hoc topic specific surveillance reports on a variety of travel-associated infections Present at specialist meetings Contribute data and expertise to the production of advice and official guidance Take part in the provision of travel advice and outputs published by NaTHNaC Contribute to teaching and training Manage scientific staff and undertake their annual appraisals

The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. They may be asked to deputise and cover as necessary for colleagues during annual leave, study leave and other absences and will be expected to be able to work independently.

The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation.

Selection Process Details

Please note you will not be able to upload yourCV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible.Please do not email us your CV

This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your knowledge, experience, skills & abilities.

Stage 1:Application& Sift

You willbe requiredto complete an application form. You will be assessed on the above listed 12 essentialcriteria,and this will be in the form of

• Application form(Employer/ Activity history section on the application)

• a 1250word Statement of Suitability.

This should outline howyour skills,experience,andknowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.

Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.

Longlisting:

In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:

• Meets all essential criteria

• Meets some essential criteria

• Meets no essential criteria

Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on:

• Experience in data management, analysis and reporting.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview.

Please do not exceed 1250 words.We will not consider any words over and above this number.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2:Interview (competancy based)

You will be invited to a single remote interview

Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview.

Interviews will be held week commencing TBC, 2025

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Eligibility Criteria

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (includingby definition internalapplicants).

Location

his role is being offered as hybrid working based at our Scientific Campus in Colindale.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 tospend 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 campuses, you will be required to have a minimum of a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum. For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years as the role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance. In exceptional circumstances UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is aCounter-terrorist Check (CTC).

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to degree level in relevant subject or equivalent level qualification or equivalent experience
• Educated to master's degree level in science or health related topic or equivalent level qualification, or experience of working at a similar level in specialist area

Desirable

• Training in epidemiology and/or public health

Knowledge and experience

Essential

• Knowledge and experience of using computer and database software packages (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint)
• Experience in data management, analysis and reporting
• Experience in scientific report writing and scientific presentations
• Experience of working in epidemiology, communicable disease surveillance, public health or the health sector

Desirable

• Experience of staff management

Skills and capabilities

Essential

• Work as a team member
• Liaise with a range of health and other professionals
• Communicate ideas and methods clearly and succinctly and tailor communication to a broad range of stakeholders including the public
• Identify and solve day-to-day practical problems
• Maintain required levels of confidentiality and handle sensitive issues with tact and understanding

Equality and diversity

Essential

• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.

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

UK Health Security Agency

Address

Colindale

61 Colindale Avenue

London

NW9 5EQ

Employer's website

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency (Opens in a new tab)