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UK Health Security Agency

Environmental Public Health Practitioner

The closing date is 31 October 2025

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Job summary

The Environmental Hazards and Emergencies (EHE) Department provides authoritative scientific advice to government, NHS and other bodies. EHE's mission is to prepare for and prevent future health security hazards, strengthen capability and respond to chemical and environmental emergencies, building the UK's capacity on health security for new and long-term exposure to environmental hazards.EHE comprises of multidisciplinary teams of scientists working across various locations in England and Wales. The Department is responsible for providing specialist advice at local, national and international level on public health impacts of acute and chronic non-infectious environmental exposures. Scientists collaborate with academia on research and evidence reviews to underpin this advice, including the National Institute of Health Research Health Protection Research Units (HPRU). Many scientists sit on cross government and multi-agency expert groups relevant to environmental public health.The post holder, located in the EHE Cardiff team, will:

  • Respond to chemical and environmental hazard incidents and enquiries which threaten people's health, through provision of public health risk assessments. These might involve chemical fires, chemical contamination of the environment, or deliberate release of chemicals.
  • Contribute to development of evidence and provision of expert environmental public health advice to government, various stakeholders and members of the public.

Main duties of the job

Incident Response

  • Contribute to UKHSA Emergency Preparedness Resilience & Response arrangements as a Category 1 responder
  • Collaborate within EHE, relevant regulators and others to promote an effective public health response service, providing advice on public health protection
  • Undertake environmental public health risk assessments for acute & chronic chemical and environmental hazard exposures to prevent or mitigate public health risk

Publication & communication

  • Review environmental permit and planning applications; health impact or environmental impact assessments providing advice on threats to public health
  • Plan and carry out, with support, complex scientific studies of high quality to formulate robust evidence based environmental public health advice
  • Contribute to research papers for submission to peer reviewed journals
  • Participate in scientific meetings and conferences, presenting papers describing research activities.

Training

  • Disseminate information and knowledge gathered from participation at workshops, meetings, seminars and conferences to colleagues
  • Assist in training provision on environmental public health issues for a range of stakeholders, in support of EHE training courses
  • Assist in reviewing training materials to improve training outcomes
  • Participate at multi-agency training including emergency planning, chemical incident exercises and other technical workshops

This list is not exhaustive .

About us

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.

UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

Details

Date posted

17 October 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£33,422 to £40,731 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

919-CG-303091-EXT

Job locations

Regional Office

Cardiff

CF5 2YB


Job description

Job responsibilities

Essential criteria:

  • Bachelors degree (or equivalent) in a science or environmental science related subject
  • Analysis of scientific and technical data
  • Experience of scientific project work
  • Ability to observe and question when gathering information, and identifying key issues
  • Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage own workload
  • Good presentation skills with experience of creating and giving presentations to varied audiences such as team colleagues and external stakeholders
  • An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships
  • Proficient working knowledge of Microsoft Office

Desirable criteria:

  • Broad general knowledge of environmental sciences and environmental public health
  • Experience of scientific research and development
  • Ability to write evidence based scientific material
  • Evidence of continuing professional development

Selection Process Detail

This vacancy is using SuccessProfiles and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, 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 word 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.

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.

Longlisting:

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

  1. Meets all essential criteria
  2. Meets some essential criteria
  3. Meets no essential criteria

Those falling in the 'Meets all essential criteria' pile will progress to shortlisting.

Shortlisting:

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

  • Bachelors degree (or equivalent) in a science or environmental science related subject
  • Analysis of scientific and technical data

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 1000words. 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 face to face interview. If face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

Behaviours, Technical Skills, and Strengths will be tested at interview.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be

  • Making Effective Decisions (Lead behaviour)
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Working Together

You will also be expected to prepare and present 5 to 10 minute presentation during the interview. This will be based on:

  • Describing a key public health challenge in the UK.

Interview dates are yet 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.

Eligibility Criteria

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

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our Office in Cardiff - Cardiff Metropolitan University, Western Ave, Cardiff, CF5 2YB. 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).

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.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Essential criteria:

  • Bachelors degree (or equivalent) in a science or environmental science related subject
  • Analysis of scientific and technical data
  • Experience of scientific project work
  • Ability to observe and question when gathering information, and identifying key issues
  • Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage own workload
  • Good presentation skills with experience of creating and giving presentations to varied audiences such as team colleagues and external stakeholders
  • An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships
  • Proficient working knowledge of Microsoft Office

Desirable criteria:

  • Broad general knowledge of environmental sciences and environmental public health
  • Experience of scientific research and development
  • Ability to write evidence based scientific material
  • Evidence of continuing professional development

Selection Process Detail

This vacancy is using SuccessProfiles and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, 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 word 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.

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.

Longlisting:

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

  1. Meets all essential criteria
  2. Meets some essential criteria
  3. Meets no essential criteria

Those falling in the 'Meets all essential criteria' pile will progress to shortlisting.

Shortlisting:

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

  • Bachelors degree (or equivalent) in a science or environmental science related subject
  • Analysis of scientific and technical data

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 1000words. 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 face to face interview. If face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

Behaviours, Technical Skills, and Strengths will be tested at interview.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be

  • Making Effective Decisions (Lead behaviour)
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Working Together

You will also be expected to prepare and present 5 to 10 minute presentation during the interview. This will be based on:

  • Describing a key public health challenge in the UK.

Interview dates are yet 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.

Eligibility Criteria

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

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our Office in Cardiff - Cardiff Metropolitan University, Western Ave, Cardiff, CF5 2YB. 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).

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

Behaviours

Essential

  • Making Effective Decisions (Lead behaviour)
  • Working Together
  • Communicating and Influencing

Technical

Essential

  • Presentation

Strengths

Essential

  • Strength based questions
Person Specification

Application Form and Supporting Statement

Essential

  • Application Form and Supporting Statement

Behaviours

Essential

  • Making Effective Decisions (Lead behaviour)
  • Working Together
  • Communicating and Influencing

Technical

Essential

  • Presentation

Strengths

Essential

  • Strength based questions

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).

Additional information

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

Regional Office

Cardiff

CF5 2YB


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

UK Health Security Agency

Address

Regional Office

Cardiff

CF5 2YB


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Resourcing Support

Carmelita Goodwin

Carmelita.Goodwin@ukhsa.gov.uk

Details

Date posted

17 October 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£33,422 to £40,731 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

919-CG-303091-EXT

Job locations

Regional Office

Cardiff

CF5 2YB


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

UK Health Security Agency's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)