Field Epidemiologist

Job description

Job responsibilities

Response

In the country of deployment, in close collaboration with local partners:

• Lead and/or contribute to the technical and analytical aspects of epidemiological outbreak response, including (i) setting up or contribute to enhanced surveillance, (ii) analyse data, (iii) develop and/or implement data collection tools, (iv) produce reports, and any other epidemiological support duties, where required, such as contact tracing, monitoring and evaluation, or others
• Lead and/or support quality assurance and training activities to strengthen critical capacities
• Lead and/or support management of outbreak priorities and activities in line with outbreak response.
• Support response to reduce the impact of the outbreak, including scoping the need for further support and research.

Partnership Working

• Develop and nurture key relationships with a wide range of individuals and stakeholders as required for role.
• Contribute to building regional and in-country capacity and capability through training and coaching, in line with International Health Regulations and Global Health Security Agenda requirements.

Teaching and Training

• Contribute to teaching/training programmes and activities on surveillance and epidemiology.
• Contribute to the development and management of a capacity building programme overseas
• Teach colleagues and stakeholders on surveillance and epidemiology and support ongoing training activities within the UK-PHRST and partners.
• Develop teaching material and courses.

Research

• Conduct and contribute to UK-PHRST research projects.
• Contribute and/or develop grant proposals.
• Analyse datasets with appropriate methodology to answer research questions.
• Write research reports and peer-review manuscripts.
• Present at scientific conferences, meetings and other fora.
• Maintain active participation with the LSHTM and other academic partners and networks.

Management

• Actively engage in meetings with internal and external colleagues.
• Identify and seek to resolve potential problems.
• Be responsible for managing own workload, including developing objectives and reviewing progress against these.
• Comply with UKHSA Information Governance standards, including understanding the ethical, legal and technical obligations for protection of personal patient information

Other Duties

• The above is an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. The post-holder will carry out additional duties as may reasonably be required by the directorate, with appropriate training as required.
• The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation and programme.

Please see the job description for the full list of duties and responsibilities.

Selection Process

This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your qualifications, knowledge and experience and / or skills and abilities outlined in the essential criteria.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed seven essential criteria that have been selected from the job description , and this will be in the form of a:

• Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
• 1250 number of words word Statement of Suitability.

This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the seven listed essential criteria.

The 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

Please note only those applications meeting all the essential criteria will be taken through to shortlist.

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

• Demonstrable familiarity with public health information in emergency settings, including surveillance, data management, data capture, data management, data analysis and epidemiological outputs

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

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

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

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview (Competency based)

You will be invited to a face to face interview. In expectational circumstances we may be able to offer remote interviews.

There will be a presentation.

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

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

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our Core HQ in Canary Wharf. 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 to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours in the office (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month). Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport links and benefit from benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Eligibility Criteria

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).

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 Counter Terrorism Check clearance.

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. 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.

Person Specification

Experience #1

Essential

• Knowledge of and experience on health protection in acute emergencies, including knowledge of surveillance and response mechanisms and tools

Experience #2

Essential

• Demonstrable familiarity with public health information in emergency settings, including surveillance, data management, data capture, data management, data analysis and epidemiological outputs.

Experience #3

Essential

• Experience leading research projects in a relevant field, with several peer reviewed publications as first author

Experience #4

Essential

• Experience conducting and leading statistical analyses and advanced analytical epidemiology

Experience #5

Essential

• Understanding of information governance, health protection issues and data confidentially requirements

Experience #6

Essential

• Experience of providing effective project and people management

Qualifications

Essential

• MSc or PhD in Epidemiology, Public health or allied discipline and/or Completion of the Field Epidemiology Training Programme or equivalent training and experience training and education

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

UKHSA Canary Wharf

10 South Colonnade

London

E14 4PU

Employer's website

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