Job responsibilities
Surveillance and Data Analysis
- Identify surveillance needs within given lead areas, create surveillance system specifications, conduct complex statistical analyses and interpret surveillance data, making appropriate recommendations, develop automated routines and solutions and supervise / assure on the preparation, quality and delivery of routine and ad hoc surveillance reports.
- Respond to complex or sensitive data requests
Outbreak Support and Epidemiological Investigations
- Where appropriate, lead and manage the technical and analytical aspects of epidemiological outbreak investigations, and supervise exceedance investigations, e.g. write protocol of analytical studies, contribute to the production of outbreak control team reports and train interviewers.
Statistical and Software Skills
- Apply a range of common statistical tests and algorithms including time trend analysis and translate statistical processes into automated solutions where appropriate
- Use common statistical/database/mapping/web tools such as Stata, R, ArcGIS, network analysis, SQL and SharePoint in routine reports, surveillance activities and the development of solutions. Undertake complex analytical and programming tasks to support data extractions, analysis and validation
Audit, Quality and Governance
- Advise on quality and governance issues including information security for all aspects of Field Service work, evaluating existing systems and acute response to incidents and outbreak, and use to improve standards and consistency across the team.
- Contribute to the Field Service quality programme such as through audit and be responsible for the quality of data collected, stored and extracted and transferred.
Research and project management
- Support/lead and facilitate the delivery of projects using a framework to ensure they are well planned, efficiently implemented, predetermined benefits are realised and associated risks mitigated
- Project manage research studies, analysing datasets with appropriate methodology to answer research questions, supported by the systematic review of literature and with knowledge of how to develop a grant proposal, and apply for ethical approval.
- Present at scientific conferences, programme area meetings. Publish and present scientific papers on relevant work in collaboration with key partners
Management and Leadership
- Contribute to specified quality improvement and governance initiatives as agreed.
- Actively engage in meetings with internal and external colleagues, identify potential problems and seek to resolve and undertake a lead role for a specific topic or function area, on behalf of the service as a whole
- Support defined areas of work as agreed with line manager as well as the development of policies and protocols for use within the team/departments
- Undertake line management responsibilities as agreed, contribute to the supervision and training of junior staff allocated to the team and act as a role model adhering to UKHSA Values and Behaviours
- Contribute to teaching/training programmes and activities) on surveillance, epidemiology information science, data management, information governance and quality and support ongoing training activities within the team and Service.
- Deal with at times, challenging and/or conflicting subject matter problems in day to day workload referring/escalating to line management as appropriate.
Essential criteria:
- Educated to degree level in a scientific discipline or equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level in epidemiology.
- MSc (or equivalent) in Epidemiology, public health or allied discipline or equivalent level of experience in epidemiological surveillance and outbreak management.
- Completion of the Field Epidemiology Training Programme or equivalent training and experience
- Knowledge of principles and practice of surveillance, including data(base) management, data transmission, data security, data quality, data analysis including descriptive statistics and graphics and data reporting
- Demonstrable experience of public health, health protection or epidemiology, including experience of interpreting and evaluating epidemiological data, sensitive health data analyses and performing analytical epidemiology
- Knowledge and experience of common statistical tests, modelling and analyses and interpret results appropriately, including for research purposes
- Proficient in common statistical/database/mapping tools such as STATA, R, GIS, network analysis, SQL, etc. and experience using epidemiological and statistical software packages
- Knowledge of health and social care environment, and roles and responsibilities within it including information flows in the NHS and allied service
- Experience of effective line management
- Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with co-workers and key stakeholders
- Understanding 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, seek out new information and new ways to develop yourself as well as to respond to sudden unexpected demands whilst maintaining a professional calm and efficient manner
Desirable criteria:
- Experience of research activities with one or more first author publications in peer reviewed journals
- Experience of teaching epidemiology and/or surveillance
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.
Selection Process Detail
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 Competency-based assessments
You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 13 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of:
- An Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
- 1500 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.
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
Those falling into the 'Meets all' and 'Meets some essential criteria' piles will progress to shortlisting.
Shortlisting:
In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on the following essential criteria:
- Demonstrable experience of public health, health protection or epidemiology
- Knowledge of principles and practice of surveillance, including data(base) management, data transmission, data security, data quality, data analysis including descriptive statistics and graphics and data reporting
- Proficient in common statistical/database/mapping tools such as STATA, R, GIS, network analysis, SQL, etc.
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
Competency based
You will be invited to a remote interview.
Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview.
You will be expected to prepare and present a 5 minute presentation during the interview. This will be an epidemiological summary based on mock data shared in advance.
Interviews 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 (including by definition internal applicants).
Location
This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our Core HQ in Birmingham, or our Regional Office in Nottingham.
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
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 todemonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.
Security Clearance LevelRequirement
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.
