Public Involvement and Engagement Coordinator

Job description

Job responsibilities

You will work as part of the third National Institute for Health and Social Care Research (NIHR) Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU) in Blood Borne and Sexually Transmitted Infections (BBSTI). The post holder will be part of a dynamic team at UKHSA and in partnership with the University College London and will work towards key deliverables focusing on patient and public involvement and engagement.

Essential criteria:

• Educated to degree level in a Public Health related subject or equivalent level of experience working in patient and community engagement, knowledge mobilisation and inclusion health and/or working in a public health agency/setting
• Post graduate experience of Patient, Public, Community Involvement, Engagement, Dissemination and Participation in Research either through working with research funders, public involvement networks and organisations, or through working in similar role in NHS or Academia
• Knowledge of the UK health research environment and experience with working with multiple stakeholders in patient and public involvement in research
• Understand of information governance including data protection and confidentiality requirements
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with proven presentation and scientific report writing skills
• Able to work under own initiative, 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 criteria:

• Good understanding of barriers in public involvement and engagement, diversity and inclusion principles and health equity
• Understanding of research design, including PPIE in research
• Understanding of interface between PPIE and ethics, data governance, research governance, peer review, health equity, and customer insights
• Able to build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders

Selection Process Detail

This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your qualifications, knowledge and experience 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 7 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of:

• An Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
• 1000 word Supporting Statement

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 1000.

This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role.

You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. (The application form is the kind of information you would put into your C.V please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible)

Longlisting:

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

• Meets all essential criteria
• Meets some essential criteria
• Meets no essential criteria

Those that meet all essential criteria and those that meet some essential criteria will proceed to shortlisting.

Please note feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Shortlisting:

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

• Post graduate experience of Patient, Public, Community Involvement, Engagement, Dissemination and Participation in Research either through working with research funders, public involvement networks and organisations, or through working in similar role in NHS or Academia
• Knowledge of the UK health research environment and experience with working with multiple stakeholders in patient and public involvement in research

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

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview stage

Competency based

You will be invited to a remote interview.

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

You will be asked to prepare and present a 5-10 minute presentation at the start of your interview. The title of this will be 'Approaches and challenges to PCIEP in blood borne and sexually transmitted infection research'.

Interviews are due to take place week commencing 13 October 2025. Please note, these dates are subject to change.

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 (including by definition internal applicants).

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our Core HQ in Canary Wharf, London. 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).

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 must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard.

Person Specification

Application form and supporting statement

Essential

• Application form and supporting statement

Essential Criteria

Essential

• Questions on experience, knowledge and skills

Presentation

Essential

• Presentation

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

10 South Colonnade

London

E14 4PU

Employer's website

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