UK Health Security Agency
Epidemiology and Information Scientist/Data Surveillance Scientist
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Job Summary
UKHSA are recruiting for an Epidemiology and Information Scientist and a Data Surveillance Scientist.
Epidemiology and Information Scientist
The Epidemiology and Information Scientist will support senior epidemiologist colleagues in the provision of a range of activities including contributing to outbreak management and response and epidemiological investigation through designing questionnaires and outbreak databases, contributing to the production of outbreak reports and preparing descriptive epidemiology. Exceedances will also be investigated.
Data Surveillance Scientist
The Data Surveillance Scientist for Health Protection (DSS) works as part of a dynamic analytical community and supports the regional health protection team (HPT) by providing the health protection intelligence function to enable delivery of an effective health protection service. This includes developing and maintaining effective health surveillance databases, developing and delivery of routine and bespoke reports and supporting the use of the UKHSA Case and Incident Management Systems
For both posts, the interface with local, regional and national colleagues, as well as with external stakeholders, will be an important feature of this role.
Working for your organisation
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
Job Description
Specific duties of the role may vary depending on the site and teams/functions.
Outbreak support and epidemiological investigation
- Undertake specific steps of an epidemiological study under direction, including designing questionnaires (e.g. Snap Survey), outbreak databases, descriptive epidemiology, outbreak reports, investigating exceedances and interviewing cases and controls
- Undertake complex analytical tasks using statistical, database and mapping software to support analysis, including producing tables, graphs, maps and advanced queries
Surveillance and data analysis
- Maintain and improve infectious disease surveillance databases, test new systems, validate data quality through automated routines and audit, and update Standard Operating Procedures
- Apply and interpret basic statistical tests, analyse surveillance data, produce reports using tools such as Stata, R, ArcGIS, network analysis and SQL, respond to data requests and support surveillance through data quality assurance and database improvements
- Undertake complex analytical tasks including advanced querying, data validation and pivot tables.
Research
- Support research through contributions to scientific papers, projects and study databases, analysing and interpreting findings, creating automated reports, importing and exporting data, presenting work internally and externally, and sharing findings at meetings and conferences.
Management and Leadership
- Act as a role model, participate in meetings, resolve issues, lead specific topic areas, support policy and protocol development, contribute to quality improvement and governance initiatives, and support or lead projects as agreed with the line manager
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of epidemiology, surveillance and public health interventions, contribute to supervision and training, support teaching programmes and ensure data transfer, extraction, storage and reporting meet governance and quality standards
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Personal & Professional Development
- Identify and address development needs through appraisal and training plans, attend internal and external training events, and complete all mandatory training, including safeguarding, fire safety and information governance
Main Duties
Role Responsibilities Include:
- Supporting outbreak investigations and epidemiological studies through questionnaire and database design, case interviews, descriptive and advanced statistical analyses, and contributions to outbreak reports.
- Performing complex analytical tasks using statistical, database and mapping tools to generate insights, including tables, graphs, queries and visualisations.
- Maintaining and improving infectious disease surveillance systems, validating and auditing data quality, and producing standard operating procedures and routine surveillance reports with analysis and interpretation.
- Applying statistical methods to surveillance data, responding to data requests, developing enhanced datasets and analytical solutions, automating reports, and disseminating findings through presentations, publications and other communication channels to ensure high-quality outputs.
Please note this list is not exhaustive.
Person specification
Essential Role Criteria:
- Educated to an undergraduate degree in health, biological or scientific discipline, or able to demonstrate equivalent knowledge and skills gained through relevant work experience in epidemiology, public health intelligence, health protection, surveillance, or health data analysis.
- Master's degree in public health, epidemiology, statistics, health informatics, or an allied discipline, or equivalent experience demonstrating application of epidemiological and analytical methods.
- Knowledge of epidemiological investigation
- 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 and statistical analysis
- Understand information governance including data protection and confidentiality requirements
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Proficient in a common statistical/database/mapping tool such as Stata, R, GIS, network analysis, SQL, etc.
- 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, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems
Desirable Role Criteria:
- Training or experience in validating data including automated routines
- Knowledge of the health and social care environment, and an understanding of epidemiological surveillance systems, health intelligence processes, and information flows across public health, healthcare and partner agencies.
- Line management experience including appraising staff and managing performance
- Proven scientific report writing skills
Salary Information
Alongside your salary of £33,422, UK Health Security Agency contributes £9,682 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides opens in a new window.
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Learning and development tailored to your role
An environment with flexible working options
A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance opens in a new window for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
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
You Will Be Required To Complete An Application Form. You Will Be Assessed On The Listed 12 Essential Criteria, And This Will Be In The Form Of A:
- Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
- 1250 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 indicate within your personal statement your preferred job role.
You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. (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).
Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 1250 words. We will not consider any words over 1250 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
If used, the pile ‘Meets all essential criteria’ will proceed to shortlisting.
Shortlisting
In the event of a large number of applications we will conduct an initial sift, on the lead criteria of:
- Knowledge of epidemiological investigation
- 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 a common statistical/database/mapping tool 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 single face to face interview at our site in Liverpool. In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview. Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview.
There will be a 10 to 15-minute technical assessment during the interview where you'll be asked to describe and interpret epidemiological data, assess data quality and/or review code.
Interviews dates to be confirmed. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no
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