Principal Scientist (Epidemiology)

UKHSA is pleased to offer an exciting opportunity to work in the Hepatitis Section of the Blood Safety, Hepatitis, STI & HIV (BSHSH) Division of the Clinical & Public Health Directorate. We are recruiting a Principal Scientist to lead the Drugs and Infections team focusing on the surveillance of blood borne viruses (BBVs), behaviours and interventions among people who inject drugs.
The post holder will provide critical scientific advice and leadership to ensure the highest standards in BBV surveillance and related research; design and implement highly specialised multidisciplinary surveillance systems; provide expert scientific advice on infectious disease outbreaks and BBV exposures; manage large programmes of work across BBV; deliver national surveillance and policy reports and lead on engagement with external stakeholders across the BBV commissioning landscape. The postholder will develop existing research partnerships with external research institutions as well as develop and implement new research proposals and projects., + Manage and direct the work of the Drugs and Infections team in the Hepatitis Section of the BSHSH Division
+ Lead the co-ordination, management and development of the Unlinked Anonymous Monitoring (UAM) Survey of People Who Inject Drugs (PWID) and other surveillance systems designed to monitor infections and behaviours in this population including needle and syringe provision and severe bacterial infections among PWID
+ Design and lead epidemiological analyses on trends in and risk factors for blood-borne viruses among PWID
+ Provide scientific support to UKHSA’s responses to outbreaks
+ Lead on development of national reports and programme management
+ Liaise effectively with clinical and public health colleagues to influence decision-making
We are recruiting a Principal Scientist to join the hepatitis team in the Blood Safety, Hepatitis, STI and HIV (BSHSH) Division.
The post holder will:
+ Provide critical scientific advice and leadership to ensure the highest standards in blood borne virus (BBV) and other hepatitides surveillance and related research
+ Design and implement highly specialised multidisciplinary surveillance systems
+ Design and lead epidemiological analyses on trends and risk factors
+ Provide expert scientific advice on infectious disease outbreaks and exposures
+ Manage large programmes of work across BBVs and other hepatitides
+ Deliver national surveillance and policy reports, and lead on engagement with external stakeholders across the BBV commissioning landscape.
+ Manage and direct the work of teams within the hepatitis team and liaise effectively with clinical and public health colleagues to influence decision-making.
+ Develop existing research partnerships with external research institutions as well as develop and implement new research proposals and projects.
+ Provide support to and work closely with the Immunisation & Vaccine Preventable Disease Division to provide expert public health advice and leadership on vaccine preventable diseases and outbreaks, including those related to hepatitis., + Degree in a relevant scientific subject (e.g. biology) or significant experience of working at a similar level in this field
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview and assessment
Please do not exceed 1500 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.
Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Stage 2: Interview (competency based)
You will be invited to a (single) remote interview.
Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview
There will be a presentation.
Interviews dates 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.
Selection Process
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.
Eligibility Criteria
External- Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including internal applicants).
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/
Security Clearance Level Requirement
If based at one of our scientific locations you will be required to have 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.
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.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
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) (opens in a new window)
+ 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 (opens in a new window)

+ Degree in a relevant scientific subject (e.g. biology) or significant experience of working at a similar level in this field
+ Higher degree in epidemiology/ public health/ microbiology or related discipline
+ PhD or equivalent research experience and substantial post-graduate experience in a relevant field e.g. biology
+ Training in research methods, infectious disease epidemiology, surveillance, prevention and/or public health
+ Knowledge and work experience of communicable disease epidemiology, surveillance and prevention including STIs and BBVs
+ Broad understanding of and experience of health care systems, public health and the communicable disease function in the UK
+ Creating, validating and managing large databases and datasets
+ Advanced statistical analysis of large and complex datasets, including knowledge and experience with STATA and/or R
+ Writing research protocols, grant applications and scientific reports
+ Preparing and reviewing standard operating procedures, and project plans
+ Presenting scientific papers at national and international meetings and conferences and proven peer review publication record
+ Able to work effectively in a multi-disciplinary team and motivate and encourage team members
+ Ability to make decisions autonomously, when required, on difficult issues including problem solving, working to tight and often changing timescales.
+ Communicate ideas and methods clearly and succinctly

Alongside your salary of £58,589, UK Health Security Agency contributes £16,973 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%