Job Description

Details

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Reference number

433565

Salary

33,422 - 40,731
per annum, pro rata
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP

Job grade

Higher Executive Officer

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

Environmental, Public Health

Type of role

Other

Working pattern

Full-time

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

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Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information

Location

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This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our Office in Cardiff - Cardiff Metropolitan University, Western Ave, Cardiff, CF5 2YB.




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).

About the job

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Job summary

The Environmental Hazards and Emergencies (EHE) Department provides authoritative scientific advice to government, NHS and other bodies. EHE's mission is to prepare for and prevent future health security hazards, strengthen capability and respond to chemical and environmental emergencies, building the UK's capacity on health security for new and long-term exposure to environmental hazards.



EHE comprises of multidisciplinary teams of scientists working across various locations in England and Wales. The Department is responsible for providing specialist advice at local, national and international level on public health impacts of acute and chronic non-infectious environmental exposures. Scientists collaborate with academia on research and evidence reviews to underpin this advice, including the National Institute of Health Research Health Protection Research Units (HPRU). Many scientists sit on cross government and multi-agency expert groups relevant to environmental public health.



The post holder, located in the EHE Cardiff team, will:

Respond to chemical and environmental hazard incidents and enquiries which threaten people's health, through provision of public health risk assessments. These might involve chemical fires, chemical contamination of the environment, or deliberate release of chemicals. Contribute to development of evidence and provision of expert environmental public health advice to government, various stakeholders and members of the public.
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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

Incident Response

Contribute to UKHSA Emergency Preparedness Resilience & Response arrangements as a Category 1 responder Collaborate within EHE, relevant regulators and others to promote an effective public health response service, providing advice on public health protection Undertake environmental public health risk assessments for acute & chronic chemical and environmental hazard exposures to prevent or mitigate public health risk

Publication & communication

Review environmental permit and planning applications; health impact or environmental impact assessments providing advice on threats to public health Plan and carry out, with support, complex scientific studies of high quality to formulate robust evidence based environmental public health advice Contribute to research papers for submission to peer reviewed journals Participate in scientific meetings and conferences, presenting papers describing research activities.

Training

Disseminate information and knowledge gathered from participation at workshops, meetings, seminars and conferences to colleagues Assist in training provision on environmental public health issues for a range of stakeholders, in support of EHE training courses Assist in reviewing training materials to improve training outcomes Participate at multi-agency training including emergency planning, chemical incident exercises and other technical workshops

This list is not exhaustive.

Person specification

Essential criteria:

Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in a science or environmental science related subject Analysis of scientific and technical data Experience of scientific project work Ability to observe and question when gathering information, and identifying key issues Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage own workload Good presentation skills with experience of creating and giving presentations to varied audiences such as team colleagues and external stakeholders An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships Proficient working knowledge of Microsoft Office

Desirable criteria:

Broad general knowledge of environmental sciences and environmental public health Experience of scientific research and development Ability to write evidence based scientific material Evidence of continuing professional development

Benefits

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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.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%

Things you need to know

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Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

Success Profiles

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 8 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

Application form ('Employer/ Activity history' section on the application) 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.


The Application form and supporting statement will be marked together.


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.

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

Those falling in the 'Meets

all

essential criteria' pile will progress to shortlisting.

Shortlisting:

In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on the following essential criterias:

Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in a science or environmental science related subject Analysis of scientific and technical data

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.


Please do not exceed 1000 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.


Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2:

Interview

Success Profiles

You will be invited to a face to face interview. If face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.


Behaviours, Technical Skills and Strengths will be tested at interview.


The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be

Making Effective Decisions

(Lead behaviour)

Communicating and Influencing Working Together

You will also be expected to prepare and present 5 to 10 minute presentation during the interview. This will be based on:

Describing a key public health challenge in the UK.

Interview dates are yet to be confirmed.


Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Eligibility Criteria

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

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our Office in Cardiff - Cardiff Metropolitan University, Western Ave, Cardiff, CF5 2YB.


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).

Future location

UKHSA is investing in a new state-of-the-art National Biosecurity Centre in Harlow, Essex, which will eventually bring together teams currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale and Porton Down. For more details, please see: Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection - GOV.UK.


The new facilities will start becoming operational in the mid-2030s, with full completion by 2038. Staff will move in phases as facilities become available. If you're appointed to a role currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale or Porton Down, please note that we'll continue investing in these sites for the next decade. As we get closer to the transition, we'll provide full information about relocation support available to staff.

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.

Reasonable Adjustments

The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone. To help you during the recruitment process, we will consider any reasonable adjustments that could help you. An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work. This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme. If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs.


You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/

International Police check

If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and it could be time accrued over that period.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.


Link below:


Artificial intelligence and recruitment , Civil Service Careers

Internal Fraud check

If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant's personal details - name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional circumstances. Currently this is only for External candidates to the Civil Service.

Careers website

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers



Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:


UK nationals nationals of the Republic of Ireland nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.



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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

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The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

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Job contact :

Name : Carmelita Goodwin Email : carmelita.goodwin@ukhsa.gov.uk
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Recruitment team

Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk

Further information

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: Complaints@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: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk