Director of Health Security Scientific Research

Job overview

This is a high-profile, challenging and rewarding leadership role at UKHSA with the ability to make a significant impact on the organisation’s future direction.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) exists to protect people from health threats. We prevent and reduce the harm caused by infectious diseases, chemicals, radiation, the health effects of climate change and environmental hazards.

The Director of Health Security Scientific Research provides national leadership for UKHSA’s research portfolio, ensuring that scientific activity across the organisation is high-quality, ethically governed, strategically aligned and impactful. 

Main Duties

The role leads UKHSA’s teams delivering specialist laboratory capabilities, as well as behavioural science, evaluation and epidemiology.

The Director is accountable for high-hazard infectious disease work and vaccine-related research, for the scientific performance of key laboratory research teams, and for the safe and effective operation of specialist facilities, including our extensive high-containment infrastructure. They lead the organisation’s research governance, manage relationships with research funders, and ensure strong systems for research information, visibility and communication. The Director also oversees the knowledge and library service, ensuring rapid access to evidence across UKHSA, and works closely with the external research community, including the Health Protection Research Units.

Working with fellow directors in the Chief Scientific Officer group, they shape research strategy, integrate scientific services, strengthen partnerships, build workforce capability and lead the development of research capacity that supports UKHSA’s public health mission. 

Key responsibilities will include:

• Leadership & Strategy: Provide overall direction and accountability for the Directorate, setting strategic priorities within UKHSA’s framework and leading change, succession planning, and resilience.
• Scientific & Laboratory Excellence: Ensure all scientific and research activity is internationally leading and delivered with the highest standards of research, integrity, ethics, clinical governance, and statutory compliance, including maintaining relevant accreditation and validation.
• Workforce Development: Build and sustain a skilled, safe, and motivated workforce through recruitment, retention, training and career development, ensuring health and safety standards remain paramount. 
• Partnerships & Engagement: Strengthen collaborations with NHS, academia, industry, and global health organisations, delivering UKHSA’s international commitments and supporting commissioned services.
• Governance & Performance: Oversee quality systems, data reporting, and business continuity, ensuring outputs are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest standards of efficiency and effectiveness.
• Finance & Operations: Act as budget holder, accountable for financial performance, resource allocation, and continuous improvement of directorate operations.
• Group and Corporate Responsibilities: Play a full and active role in the leadership of CSO Group, the work of the Directors’ Group across UKHSA and in representing UKHSA across government.

Location:

This role is hybrid working, based at one of UKHSA’s core locations (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London) or at one of our scientific campus sites (Colindale, Porton, and Chilton). In exceptional circumstances, you may also be based in one of the UKHSA supporting hubs or health protection operation centres. There will also be a need to travel regularly to London and Porton Down.

Security clearance:

This role requires Developed Vetting (DV) clearance. If not already held, the successful candidate can start the role once Security Check (SC) clearance has been obtained, but continued employment is dependent on obtaining and maintaining DV level clearance, which must be initiated within the first 3 months of an agreed start date.

Please see the full advert and candidate pack for more information.

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