Job responsibilities
In AHI Global, we deliver expert evidence synthesis, analysis and assessment of medical, epidemiological, environmental, bio-scientific and other information related to human health from all sources open, technical and closed. We employ critical thinking and structured analytical techniques, including futures projection, to draw out the so-what. We deliver actionable assessments that provide insight and foresight to policy and decision-makers in UKHSA, DHSC, and across UK Government, supporting them to understand and prepare for global health hazards that are a potential risk to the UK. We are comprised of two teams:
(i) The Global Emerging Hazards team, in which we monitor global health trends on emerging pathogens and other health hazards. We do this by understanding the historical context to better anticipate future risk, scenario generation to identify multiple plausible futures, and expert elicitation to crowdsource an assessment of the most likely trajectory of emerging health hazards.
(ii) The Global Health Systems Assessment team provides policy- and decision-makers with insight into the context in which global health hazards arise, including health, public health and biosurveillance systems, and foresight of the risk and implications for the UK from international crises and major events.
The post is within the Global Emerging Hazards team and offers superb development opportunities and the chance to gain exposure across a broad range of policy areas, achieving real-world impact with the most senior officials at the heart of decision making in government. The assessment that you will lead and deliver will aim to get to the bottom of issues, drawing on a range of health and non-health data and information from all sources.
You will become a Professional Head of Intelligence Assessment (PHIA) analyst, belonging to the UKHSA analytical community, and will work closely with UKHSA colleagues to ensure insight and foresight be shared across the Agency, and wider public health and emergency response communities. We draw on specialist and generalist talent across a range of disciplines, maximising our impact through collaboration. These include intelligence assessment, epidemiology, data science, statistical modelling and social research. We want to know what you can bring to the mission. In turn we will help you to broaden and deepen your expertise while in post, with a tailored learning and development offering within a supportive and positive working environment.
Memberships
- For these roles you are not required to be a member of one of the Government analytical professions but professional standards for those roles give an indication of the professional skills we require.
- AHI Global is a Professional Head of Intelligence Assessment (PHIA) accredited organisation and the postholder will become a member of the PHIA profession. They will receive extensive professional training and are expected to meet PHIA professional standards through evaluation against the professional development framework.
- Applications from analysts aligned with Government Analysis Function professions (specifically GSR and GORS) are welcomed, but this recruitment exercise will not offer accreditation or badging to those applying on promotion.
- After the appointment, there will be opportunities for further accreditation processes to formally join one of the Government Analysis Function professions (e.g. GSS, GSR, OR, GES); but this part of the process is optional and is not a condition of employment for these roles. This final stage would not directly affect any salary offer for these roles, but accreditation is beneficial to those wishing to pursue their career in future roles.
Essential criteria:
- A masters degree or demonstrable postgraduate experience working directly in public health, epidemiology, biosciences or a health-related topic.
- Experience of working within a relevant field (including but not limited to public health, epidemiology, global health, biosecurity, health)
- Evidence of excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively tailor messages to the relevant audience, articulating complex matters clearly and concisely.
- Experience of gathering, organising, and evaluating complex data and information feeds (quantitative and qualitative) to draw sound conclusions.
- Experience of working at pace to deadlines across multiple projects.
- Evidence of working effectively within a team, with the ability to collaborate, and enable and encourage effective challenge.
- Experience of working with a range of internal and external stakeholders to ensure outputs meet customer needs.
- Evidence of being flexible and adaptable to change, including the ability to prioritise, work under pressure and meet strict deadlines.
Desirable criteria:
- Experience tailoring analysis and/or assessment to support decision or policy requirements.
- Experience of interpreting and evaluating epidemiological data.
- Experience of intelligence assessment.
- Experience of working on high profile and fast paced issues and/or working in incident response.
- Experience of telling stories with data and creating intuitive data visualisations (for example using Excel, R, Python).
Selection Process Details:
This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Ability, Experience and Technical skills.
Stage 1: Application & Sift
Success profiles
You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 8 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:
- Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
- 1000 words supporting statement.
This should outline how 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 essential criteria
- Meets some essential criteria
- Meets no essential criteria
The pile 'meets all essential criteria' will proceed to shortlisting.
Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on the lead criteria of
- Experience of working within a relevant field (including but not limited to public health, epidemiology, global health, biosecurity, health).
Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications/large amount of successful candidates.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment.Please do not exceed 1000 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.
Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Stage 2: Interview
Success profiles
You will be invited to a single remote interview.
Behaviours, technical, experience, ability and strengths will be tested at interview.
The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:
- Delivering at pace
- Communicating and influencing
- Seeing the big picture
Technical skills and Ability:
- Confident handling and interpreting a range of quantitative and qualitative information, including complex and incomplete data sets
- Understanding of analytical techniques and their application to real-world, complex problems
- Understanding of how to best distil and present complex, technical information for none-technical audiences
- Ability to produce clear and concise written analytical assessments to inform senior decision making
There will be a Technical Exercise/Presentation as part of the interview process- details will be sent to those who are successful at securing an interview.
Interviews dates to be confirmed.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Selection Process
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.
Eligibility Criteria
External- Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
Location
This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our core HQ in London (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 (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, averaged over a month) working at one UKHSA HQ in London (Canary Wharf).
Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport link and benefit from benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).
Security Clearance Level Requirement
Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.
Successful candidates will require Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) as a minimum with willingness and capability to work towards Developed Vetting (DV) clearance.
You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 10 years to obtain Developed Vetting (DV) clearance. UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting at this higher level and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder / Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.
