Job responsibilities
- Lead the delivery of rapid evidence reviews and other outputs, ensuring they are appropriately planned, delivered on time, to high quality standards and in an efficient manner
- Work with colleagues in advice, guidance or policy roles to identify priority topics and develop answerable questions
- Establish and work within a standardised process to produce rapid evidence reviews and other outputs, such as evidence summaries and briefings
- Ensure the quality of work through internal and external quality assurance processes, including (but not limited to) internal quality assurance processes and independent peer review
- Lead the publication of rapid evidence reviews, working with the communications team and guidance colleagues and including publishing in peer review journals
- Ensure that evidence is provided in a timely and useful manner, whilst also being robust and transparent
- Ensure that research gaps are identified and shared to support the generation of new evidence
- Lead the engagement of expert and topic advisors in evidence review processes, and initiate advisory groups if necessary
- Develop and implement standardised rapid review methodologies that can be used across the organisation
- Develop mechanisms to gather user feedback and use this to improve the quality and usability of outputs
- Provide support and advice to others working on evidence reviews, and ensure the methodological quality of their work
- Develop and implement tools and resources (including capacity building) to support others working on rapid evidence reviews
- Ensure adequate consideration of inequalities is built into all evidence review work
- Share information and conduct regular communication with partners as appropriate and report on progress to relevant governance groups
Other
- There may be line management responsibility for SEO and HEO posts.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- Identify, discuss and action own professional performance and training / development needs with your line manager through appraisal / individual development plan. Attending internal / external training events
- To participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e. fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training.
- Undergo a programme of on-going development and education, including the annual appraisal process, to build on existing knowledge and develop skills to meet the behaviours and competencies required to undertake the role.
KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPSThe post holder will develop working relationships and communicate regularly with a wide range of individuals, clinical and non-clinical, internal and external to UKHSA. This will include:
Internal
- Senior Medical Advisors
- All Hazards Public Health Clinical Response Guidance team
- UKHSA Knowledge & Library Services
- Research governance and operations team
- Behavioural science team
- Communications team
- Health inequalities team
- Relevant committees and working groups
- Expert/Senior Topics advisors across UKHSA
- Other colleagues working on evidence synthesis and knowledge mobilisation across the organisation
External
- Department of Health and Social Care and other government departments
- Other organisations with an evidence synthesis role (such as NICE, Cochrane, the What Works Centres)
- Colleagues working on evidence synthesis within other countries (including the Devolved Administrations)
- Universities
This list is not exhaustive.
Essential Criteria
- Educated to first degree level (in a health or science subject) or equivalent experience in an appropriate scientific or technical specialist area relevant to the role
- Post-graduate degree (in a health or science subject) or equivalent experience in an appropriate scientific or technical specialist area relevant to the role
- Knowledge and experience in conducting systematic or rapid evidence reviews using appropriate methods and tools
- Critical and analytical scientific skills, including scientific literature reviewing and experience of applying basic epidemiological and statistical knowledge
- Understanding of quality assurance procedures and working to best practice processes
- Experience of project management and an appreciation that tasks are expected to be delivered at pace, with competing priorities but always delivered in an assured and professional manner
- Experience of managing others
- Prioritise own work effectively and to direct activities of others, including responding to sudden or unexpected demands
- Must be able to use initiative to decide relevant actions and make recommendations to Manager, with the aim of improving deliverables
- Excellent communication skills (written/oral) strong written skills to summarise scientific issues for scientific and lay audiences; strong oral skills to represent the team in a range of settings
- Plans and organises a broad range of complex activities, formulating and adjusting plans to reflect changing circumstances
- Skilled at building and managing relationships with internal and external colleagues
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 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of:
- an application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
- a 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.
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.
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
Only those meeting all essential criteria will be taken through to shortlisting.Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on:
- Knowledge and experience in conducting systematic or rapid evidence reviews using appropriate methods and tools
- Critical and analytical scientific skills, including scientific literature reviewing and experience of applying basic epidemiological and statistical knowledge
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview and 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
You will be invited to a remote interview.
Knowledge, experience, skills and abilities will be tested at interview.
You will be required to prepare a 10 minute presentation as part of the interview. The details of this will be "Please present, with a worked example, how you would curtail systematic review methods to produce a rapid review within 2 weeks, to inform public health response to a disease outbreak".
Interviews will be held week commencing 17th November 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.
Location
This role is being offered as hybrid working based at any of our Core HQs in Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool or 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).
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).
Salary Details
Civil Service Grade 7:
- National £56,185 - £66,581
- Outer £58,340 - £68,574
- Inner £60,494 - £70,566
Please note: If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.
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 Basic Personnel Security Standard.
