HIV/STI Surveillance and Prevention Scientist

Job description

Job responsibilities

Your key responsibilities will include:

Administrative Support

• Be the first point of contact for internal and external callers/emails with ad hoc data and information requests, including public health specialists and academics, policy makers and members of the public, to supply the corresponding information where possible, and when needed escalate queries.
• Organise meetings, prepare and distribute agendas and supporting documentation, and take minutes.

Data Management and Analysis

• Ensure that data are collected and processed in accordance with relevant policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Assess the quality of, and cleaning and analysing of data (including surveys).
• Produce study updates and reports.
• Prepare materials for presentations and publications.
• Be aware of, and put into practice, all policies and procedures to maintain confidentiality of patient information. To ensure data confidentiality and security in compliance with relevant policies, the Data Protection Act, and other statutory requirements (Caldicott guardians).

Surveillance and Prevention Monitoring

• Develop and utilise information and intelligence systems related to the projects to underpin public health action across the department and surveillance systems therein.
• Have responsibility for the development and productivity of the information and intelligence system(s) related to the projects.
• Undertake specialist and complex analyses of quantitative and/or qualitative datasets which will require selection of the best option from a range of possible solutions.
• Analyse and evaluate quantitative and qualitative data and research evidence from a range of sources to inform decision making.
• Receive, interpret, provide and advise on complex epidemiological and statistical information about the health of populations to the NHS, Department of Health and Social Care and others.
• Specialist Advice and Evaluation
• Communicate effectively and diplomatically research and other specialist information with colleagues from own or other disciplines and present findings at local, national and international meetings and conferences.
• Write and/or contribute to national and local policy setting reports, as well as peer-reviewed publications in scientific journals, on the health of the population.
• Research and Development
• Undertake literature reviews, evaluative research surveys, audits and other research as required.
• Teaching and Training
• Assist in teaching and training courses run at Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance and Control, Colindale and outside, by producing presentation materials and assist in HIV lectures.

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.

Essential criteria

• Educated to degree level in Science, Public health or Statistics or equivalent experience working in public health
• Scientific research work experience, particularly in public health
• Data management, cleaning, handling, analysis and reporting
• Interpreting and evaluating epidemiological data
• Preparing scientific reports and presentations
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft packages, including Access, Word, PowerPoint and Excel
• Use of statistical software (e.g. STATA, SPSS, SAS, or R) and graphics software
• Communicate and negotiate accurately, succinctly and in a friendly manner with a wide range of health, IT and academic professionals, as well as the general public
• Prioritise and co-ordinate own workload in order to meet tight deadlines
• Work well on own initiative as well as in a team
• Identify and deal with problems in a calm, efficient and timely manner
• Communicate and document methods clearly and succinctly
• Have a clear and organised approach to work, and produce accurate and consistent work
• Maintain required levels of confidentiality
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships

Selection process details

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

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the 15 essential criteria listed, and this will be in the form of a:

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

• 1200 word supporting statement

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

The Application form and supporting statement will be marked together.

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

• Meets all essentialcriteria

• Meets some essential criteria

• Meets no essential criteria

Piles Meets all essentialcriteriawill be moved through to the shortlisting stage.

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

• Educated to degree level in Science, Public health or Statistics or equivalent experience working in public health
• Scientific research work experience, particularly in public health
• Data management, cleaning, handling, analysis and reporting

Please do not exceed 1200 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number. If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview. Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered.

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 (single) remote interview.

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 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 to spend 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

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.

Person Specification

Application form and supporting statement

Essential

• Application form and supporting statement

Essential criteria

Essential

• Questions on experience, knowledge and skills

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 Colindale

61 Colindale Ave

London

NW9 5EQ

Employer's website

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