Job responsibilities
The main duties will include:
The post holder will be involved in the day-to-day management of information and surveillance data within the Environmental Epidemiology Team.
Surveillance
- Maintain and improve databases for surveillance and risk factors, test functionality of new surveillance systems, validate the quality of surveillance data including use of automated routines and through audit and produce and update Standard Operating Procedures
- Have knowledge of, apply and interpret basic statistical tests, conduct statistical analyses of surveillance data, produce reports and outputs using common statistical/database/mapping
- Use tools such as Stata, R and ArcGIS to analyse and display data, respond to routine and more complex data requests and produce routine surveillance reports, including basic descriptive analysis and interpretation of results
- Maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders and partners
Research
- Advise on the information governance aspects of a study database
- Contribute to research and scientific papers in environmental epidemiology.
- Design a study database, and develop queries to analyse data, create automated reports, import/export data from a variety of sources, participate in the interpretation and analysis of research findings and the application of findings to practice and present internally or to local partners, and poster presentations at scientific conferences
Environmental epidemiological response
- Where appropriate, undertake specific steps of an epidemiological study under direction including to design and develop questionnaires e.g. using Select Survey, design and administer databases, prepare descriptive epidemiology, contribute to the production of reports and disseminate the findings.
Software skills
- Undertake more complex analytical tasks using common software packages to support analysis such as advanced querying, data validation and pivot tables
Communication
- Present internally or to local partners and present work at scientific meetings and conferences
Teaching
- Learn and maintain up-to-date scientific knowledge regarding epidemiology, surveillance and relevant public health interventions and contribute to training colleagues and others as requested
Strategic thinking
- Maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders and partners
Quality and governance
- Ensure that data transfer, extraction and storage of data are appropriate and identify data quality issues through audit and ensure analysis and outputs are clearly presented in an appropriate context
Workforce / HR
- Be responsible for managing own workload, including developing objectives and reviewing progress against these
This is not an exhaustive list.
Essential Criteria
- Educated to degree level in information management / science, epidemiology, public health (or equivalent qualification) or equivalent experience in a similar scientific role
- Higher qualification such as a master's in public health, environmental epidemiology or equivalent experience
- Relevant experience of information and data management
- Knowledge or experience of basic statistical tests, performing descriptive epidemiology with strong analytical skills, excellent accuracy and attention to detail
- 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
- Experience of using computer and database software packages for epidemiological investigations, GIS and statistical software packages such as R or Stata
- Understand information governance including data protection and confidentiality requirements
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Able to maintain effective relationships with co-workers and key stakeholders
- Good organisational, prioritisation and time management skills and able to work under own initiative
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.
Desirable role:
- Training or experience in validating data including automated routines
- Knowledge of health and social care environment, and an awareness of relevant disease surveillance and epidemiology and information flows in the NHS and allied services
- Experience of responding to an incident
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.
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). Please do not email us your CV.
Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 1000 words. We will not consider any words over 1000 words.
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:
- Educated to degree level in information management / science, epidemiology, public health (or equivalent qualification) or equivalent experience in a similar scientific role
- Higher qualification such as a master's in public health, environmental epidemiology or equivalent experience
- Knowledge or experience of basic statistical tests, performing descriptive epidemiology with strong analytical skills, excellent accuracy and attention to details
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 and assessment.
Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Stage 2: Interview
You will be invited to a face to face interview in either Chilton (Didcot) or London (Canary Wharf). In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.
Knowledge, experience, skills and abilities will be tested at interview.
You will be required to prepare a 5 - 10 minute presentation as part of the interview. You will be provided with a small dataset and asked to analyse the data, write a report and present your findings to the panel.
Interviews will be held week commencing 27th April 2026 . 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 (Hybrid)
This role is being offered as hybrid working based at either our Core HQ in Canary Wharf or our Scientific Campus in Didcot.
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) on site.
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).
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.
If based at our scientific campus in Didcot, you will be required to have a minimum of a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum. For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years as the role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance. In exceptional circumstances UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice
