UK Health Security Agency
Principal Scientist
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Scientific Campus : Colindale
Job Summary
The postholder will be a senior member of the scientific staff of the Division. We are a multidisciplinary team including epidemiologists, microbiologists, public health specialists, bioinformaticians, behavioural scientists, data managers, statisticians, IT specialists, and operational and administrative staff.
The Division is responsible for a range of national surveillance programmes that collect epidemiological data on a number of healthcare associated infections (HCAI) and invasive bacterial infections; monitoring resistance to and usage of antimicrobials; providing specialist epidemiology; coordinating the investigation and cause of national outbreaks; advice to government. In addition to epidemiological focused work the division also includes national reference laboratory for HCAI and AMR related pathogens.
The Post Holder, Based At The UKHSA Colindale Site, Will Take a Senior Role In Providing And Developing National Surveillance Of Healthcare-associated Infections And Antimicrobial Resistance And Leading Research Studies. There Are a Number Of Areas Of Focus Within The Division, Including But Not Limited To:
- Surgical Site Infection Surveillance (SSI)
- Streptococcal Infection
- Antimicrobial Resistance and Prescribing (AMRP)
- Mandatory Surveillance of Bloodstream Infections including Gram negative infections and Clostridium difficile
- Infections in Critical Care Units (ICCU)
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
Surveillance, Epidemiology & Public Health
- Lead and manage the design, development, introduction, audit and continuous improvement of Divisional surveillance systems as required. Responsibility for specific systems will be assigned upon appointment and reflected within associated job advertisements noting that these may evolve in response to emerging public health priorities.
- Conduct complex statistical and epidemiological analyses of data on HCAI and AMRP drawn from a variety of surveillance sources. Providing expert technical advice and assistance to public health and clinical practitioners on the design, maintenance, analysis and interpretation of Divisional databases.
- Provide expert advice in response to ad hoc enquiries from Government agencies, public health practitioners, academics, media, commercial organisations and members of the public.
- Ensure emerging threats are recognized in a timely manner by the analysis and interpretation of often complex data from a variety of sources to understand the public health significance of the potential risk. Provide epidemiological support to incidents or outbreaks both within UKHSA and externally to NHS and Independent Sector health providers. Ensure the scientific validity and evidence-base of risk assessments, and that findings are communicated to the relevant stakeholders nationally and internationally through situation reports and briefing notes.
- Provide specialist advice on the epidemiological aspects of the prevention and control of HCAI & AMR by contributing to the development of guidance, designing data collection systems, interpreting epidemiological data, conducting statistical analyses, and scientific publications.
- Manage scientific and administrative staff in the maintenance, development, statistical analysis, quality outputs and reporting from Divisional datasets. Undertake periodic evaluation of surveillance systems including stakeholder engagement exercises.
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Research
- Design analytical strategies and supervise complex statistical analyses of research datasets for the production of project reports, papers for peer reviewed journals and conference presentations.
- Initiate collaborative projects within UKHSA and external collaborators to address public health research questions. This may also include taking a lead on research proposals for externally funded projects and provision of expert advice to academic units and other agencies involved in collaborative epidemiological and microbiological studies.
Management and Planning
To Work Alongside Other Members Of The Division On:
- The business planning process and the development of surveillance/research, communication, training strategies etc.;
- Compare, analyse and interpret highly complex options for running projects identified as key public health priorities, and communicate this information across organisations and key stakeholders;
- Budget responsibility for Section led grants
- Selection and recruitment of staff, including, shortlisting applicants and interviewing candidates selected for interview;
- Staff management responsibilities to be agreed with line manager.
- Responsible for developing quality control processes, participating in audits and ensuring resilience through maintaining Standard Operating Procedures and business continuity planning.
- Be responsible for ensuring their team’s work complies to UKHSA standards and governance requirements including maintaining confidentiality and security of surveillance information.
- Development of business cases to support system developments, this may include undertaking relevant procurement requirements and management of supplier relationships.
- To deputise for the Section Lead/Lead Epidemiologist as required.
Publications and presentations
- To plan and oversee the development of Divisional epidemiological outputs including outward facing publications including annual reports, web pages, writing of scientific papers for publication in peer reviewed journals and to manage junior scientific and administrative colleagues in the development of manuscripts.
- To represent the Division on expert committees, national and local incident control teams, national/international meetings and conferences.
Teaching and Training
- To develop public health capacity by contributing to teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate level and by supervising those training and working in public health and epidemiology.
- To contribute to the training for new members of staff on the epidemiology and surveillance of communicable disease.
- To participate in wider scientific activities to maintain professional standards including peer review of manuscripts.
Incident Response Activity
From time to time, the role holder may be required to support UKHSA’s incident response activity by contributing their appropriate expertise within an Incident Cell; during such periods, supported by the line manager, this work will take priority over normal day-to-day responsibilities, commensurate with their grade, skills and experience.
Person specification
Qualifications And Registrations
For roles where specific qualifications or registrations are required, successful applicants will be asked to provide appropriate evidence. Employment cannot commence until satisfactory documentation has been received and verified.
Essential Role Criteria
- Degree level (BA/BSc) in a relevant scientific subject (e.g. epidemiology, microbiology, demography, geography)
- MSc degree in epidemiology/ public health/ microbiology or related discipline (e.g. science)
- PhD in Epidemiology, public health, medical statistics, bioinformatics, health economics or substantial post-graduate experience in a relevant scientific subject ( e.g. epidemiology, microbiology)
- Training in research methods, infectious disease epidemiology, surveillance, prevention and/or public health
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Alongside your salary of £60,494, UK Health Security Agency contributes £17,525 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).
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
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 A:
- Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
- 1,500 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.
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 CV. 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.
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 may conduct an initial sift on:
- Degree level (BA/BSc) in a relevant scientific subject (e.g. epidemiology, microbiology, demography, geography)
- MSc degree in epidemiology/ public health/ microbiology or related discipline (e.g. science)
- Training in research methods, infectious disease epidemiology, surveillance, prevention and/or public health
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview.
Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Stage 2: Interview
You will be invited to a (single) remote interview.
Knowledge, Experience, Skills & abilities will be tested at interview.
You will be asked to prepare a 5-10 minute presentation aimed to assed you against the following criteria:
- PhD in Epidemiology, public health, medical statistics, bioinformatics, health economics or substantial post-graduate experience in a relevant scientific subject ( e.g. epidemiology, microbiology)
- Training in research methods, infectious disease epidemiology, surveillance,
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