Job Description

Details

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Reference number

403406

Salary

44,852 - 50,472
Per Annum/Pro Rata
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP

Job grade

Senior Executive Officer

Contract type

Fixed term

Loan

Secondment

Length of employment

Fixed term until 31.03.2027

Business area

Chief Medical Advisor Group (CMA) Public Health Programmes BSHSH / PDSI

Type of role

Science

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-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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UKHSA Colindale


61 Colindale Avenue


London


NW9 5EQ

About the job

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Job summary

We are looking for a Senior Scientist to join the Blood Safety, Hepatitis, STI and HIV (BSHSH) Division to work as part of the third NIHR funded Blood Borne and Sexually Transmitted Infections Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU).


The Blood Safety, Hepatitis, STI and HIV (BSHSH) Division is the national centre for surveillance of hepatitis, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in England. It is within the Public Health Programmes (PHP) Directorate of the Chief Medical Advisor's Group and is based mainly in Colindale, north London. The Division consists of around 100 permanent and project-funded medical, scientific, technical and administrative staff including epidemiologists, public health specialists, microbiologists, virologists, data managers and statisticians.


The Division works closely with other Divisions, particularly Immunisation and Vaccine-Preventable Diseases, Health Equity, Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance and Reference and Specialist Microbiology Services and with the Analytics and Data Sciences Directorate and Health Protection Operations.


The Division also works in partnership with both national and regional teams in the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), NHS England and NHS Improvement and NHSBT. The Division is also closely involved with the work of the NIHR-funded Health Protection Research Units, which are collaborative ventures involving UKHSA and academia.


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.

Job description

In general, the postholder will be expected to lead on the implementation and management of one or more projects related to Blood Safety, Hepatitis, STI and HIV.


This post will require project management and management of staff. The postholder will lead on behalf of the division on developing and designing datasets, managing the collation and validation of data, and the timely production of outputs (e.g. reports and articles).


The postholder will be expected to lead on the analysis of datasets, to provide advice and guidance on specialist aspects of the analyses, to interpret and prepare scientific reports and articles of the results and to undertake further research. The postholder will contribute to the teaching activities of the division.


In general, the postholder will be expected to cope with multiple and changing demands, and to meet tight deadlines. The postholder will be expected to have a high level of intellectual rigour and to advise and make recommendations regarding the development of strategy and implementation of systems.


A high level of tact and diplomacy is required and an ability to understand other cultures to enable effective working across organisational boundaries and influencing without authority.


Main duties and responsibilities will cover tasks with-in the following areas:

Surveillance Outbreak Investigation Research Publications and Presentations Teaching and Training Personal development Key Working relationships

For a full list of the main duties and responsibilities of the role, please refer to the attached .

Please note: The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required. The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation.

Person specification

Essential criteria

You will be assessed on the below 11 essential criteria, which have been selected from the Document.

First degree in a science subject Higher degree in Epidemiology, Public Health or an allied subject, or equivalent Postgraduate work/study in public health, epidemiology or an allied subject Interpreting and evaluating epidemiological data, using Access/ SQL databases, spreadsheets, statistical and graphics packages to an advanced level Statistical analysis of large and complex epidemiological datasets Managing epidemiological studies and outbreak investigation Communicate ideas and methods clearly and succinctly to include excellent oral and experience of writing scientific papers and/or project reports Identify and solve day-to-day practical problems Ability to work on several separate tasks at the same time, whilst keeping to agreed deadlines Ability to analyse very complex issues where material is conflicting and drawn from multiple sources and to act upon incomplete information, using experience to make inferences and decision making An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.

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

Benefits

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Alongside your salary of 44,852, UK Health Security Agency contributes 12,993 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 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 assessments

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 11 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

Application form ('Employer/ Activity history' section on the application) 1250- word Statement of Suitability.

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 Statement of Suitability will be marked together.

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

Please note Piles 1&2 will be carried though to shortlisting.


Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered, and feedback will not be provided at this stage.

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/

Stage 2: Interview

Competency based

You will be invited to a remote online interview via teams.


Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview


There will be a Presentation


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

External

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

Location

UKHSA Colindale

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our lab in Colindale. 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).

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.


As you will be based at one of our labs you will be required to have a minimum of a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum. For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to

be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time.


You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years as the role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance. In exceptional circumstances UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

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)

Your application may be rejected and/or you may be subject to disciplinary action if evidence of plagiarism is detected. Examples of plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence (AI), as your own.

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.



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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check .



See our vetting charter .
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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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 : Chris Williams Email : chris.williams2@ukhsa.gov.uk
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Recruitment team

Email : chris.williams2@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