Principal Scientist

Join our vibrant team in a role where you’ll bring your scientific, epidemiological, and data-management expertise to ensure top-tier STI, HIV, and BBV surveillance and research. As the postholder, you’ll oversee the implementation, data collection, analysis, and dissemination of findings for the Positive Voices national survey conducted in 2022 and planned for 2026. These findings are pivotal for informing the delivery and implementation of the HIV Action Plan. A specialism in mixed methodology research and behavioural science would be a valuable asset.

In this role, you’ll develop and implement statistical analyses and metrics, utilizing mixed methodologies to lead research, evaluate the impact of responsive health protection measures, and prepare surveillance outputs, scientific reports, and articles. You’ll also have opportunities for national and international travel to present at scientific and health policy meetings, representing Public Health England.

If you’re detail-oriented, highly motivated, and possess excellent interpersonal skills, this is your chance to make a significant impact on public health!

Location:

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) operates 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) working at UKHSA’s Colindale site.

*Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available.*

Working Pattern – Full Time, Part Time, Job Share, Flexible Working, Hybrid Working,

Responsibilities:

• Develop and utilise information and intelligence systems across disciplines and organisations, and lead collation and interpretation of relevant data to develop the most appropriate analyses from a range of sources
• Undertake specialist and complex analyses of quantitative and/or qualitative datasets which will require selection of the best option from a range of possible solutions
• Analyse and evaluate quantitative and qualitative data and research evidence from a range of sources to make recommendations and inform decision making which may have long term impacts
• Receive, interpret, provide and advise on highly complex epidemiological and statistical information about the health of populations to the NHS, Department of Health and others, and challenge or respond to differing opinions
• Provide expert public health advice and leadership to support and inform an evidence-based approach within ethical frameworks, across sectors including local authorities, voluntary organisations, etc, in potentially contentious and hostile environments where barriers to acceptance may exist
• Communicate effectively and diplomatically with a wide audience, in sometimes highly challenging circumstances, where good levels of persuasive, motivational, negotiating and/or training skills are required
• Write and/or contribute to national and local policy setting reports on the health of the population
• Compare, analyse and interpret highly complex options for running projects identified as key public health priorities, and communicate this information across organisations and the local community
• Manage a team of staff including their day to day management
• Lead on public health research, undertake research or audit and commission research audits/projects and pursue (and manage) external funding for research and development
• Plan research projects and the delivery of organisational goals (relating to work-areas) that may include colleagues across PHE and in external organisations, sometimes over long timescales (5+ years)
• Develop public health capacity by contributing to teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate level and by supervising those training and working in public health

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.

Essential Criteria:

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 1250 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the essential criteria (for full details of all essential criteria please refer to the attached job description): 

Essential

• Educated to degree level in a relevant scientific subject or significant experience of working at a similar level in HIV/sexual health field
• PhD or equivalent experience in public health, epidemiology, health promotion, health-care research or similar
• Training in research methods, infectious disease epidemiology, surveillance, behavioural surveys, prevention and/or public health
• Experience of leading, developing, designing and implementing new scientific initiatives including behavioural surveys
• Experience of working at a senior level with responsibility for multiple projects
• Experience of using computers and database software packages (particularly Stata, Microsoft ACCESS and Excel)
• Experience of advanced epidemiological and statistical research and qualitative methods (i.e. post-doctoral level)
• Experience of project management – planning, monitoring and controlling single or multi-disciplinary project groups
• Must have an understanding of the background to and aims of current healthcare policy and appreciate the implications of this on engagement

Desirable

• Experience of obtaining external research funds through grant applications

Working for the UKHSA

For more information on the UKHSA please visit: UK Health Security Agency - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Benefits 

• 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 average employer contribution of 27%
• Range of health and wellbeing support 

Any move to UKHSA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at Childcare Choices | 30 Hours Free Childcare, Tax-Free Childcare and More | Help with Costs | GOV.UK

Selection process details 

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT:   

You will be required to complete an application form and Statement of Suitability. Your Statement of Suitability should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria (outlined in the person specification section). You will also be asked to provide information within the ‘Employer/ Activity history’ section of the application form. This is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV, setting out your career history.  

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview. 

STAGE 2 – INTERVIEW   

This stage will involve an interview via MS Teams.   

As part of the process, candidates will be invited to interview which will involve an in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification.  Candidates will also be asked to participate in a session where they will be required to prepare and deliver a 5/10-minute presentation to the panel.  This will be followed by a question-and-answer segment.  The presentation will be designed to assess each candidate’s experience in line with the requirements of the role. Full details will be provided prior to the interview. 

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on the 1^st September 2024 – unfortunately, late applications will not be considered. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Shortlist: w/c 2^nd September 2024

Interviews: w/c 23^rd September 2024

Please note these dates could be subject to change.  

Eligibility Criteria

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants)

Nationality requirements

Appointments to roles within UKHSA will be made in accordance with the Civil Service nationality rules. These can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• Nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• Certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.

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.  People working with government assets must complete Basic Personnel Security Standard checks.

For posts on UKHSA Civil Service terms and conditions, new entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. For existing Civil Servants and roles advertised across government, the rules of transfer apply, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive a 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest. 

Please Note

This role is to be appointed under Civil Service Terms & Conditions. Full details on the T&C’s are found https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

Are you already a civil servant, or employed by a Civil Service Commission accredited public body? Please state home department on your application form.

Do you meet the nationality requirements for this post? https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

Complaint process:

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: Complaints1@ukhsa.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website.