Principal Scientist

Job overview

The postholder will be a senior member of the scientific staff of the Division. We are a multidisciplinary team including epidemiologists, microbiologists, public health specialists, bioinformaticians, behavioural scientists, data managers, statisticians, IT specialists, and operational and administrative staff.

The Division is responsible for a range of national surveillance programmes that collect epidemiological data on a number of healthcare associated infections (HCAI) and invasive bacterial infections; monitoring resistance to and usage of antimicrobials; providing specialist epidemiology; coordinating the investigation and cause of national outbreaks; advice to government. In addition to epidemiological focused work the division also includes national reference laboratory for HCAI and AMR related pathogens.

The post holder, based at the UKHSA Colindale site, will take a senior role in providing and developing national surveillance of healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance and leading research studies. There are a number of areas of focus within the Division, including but not limited to:

• Surgical Site Infection Surveillance (SSI)
• Streptococcal Infection
• Antimicrobial Resistance and Prescribing (AMRP)
• Mandatory Surveillance of Bloodstream Infections including Gram negative infections and Clostridium difficile
• Infections in Critical Care Units (ICCU)

Main duties of the job

Specifically, this role will play a leading role for a programme of work responsible for supporting and monitoring appropriate use of therapies to minimise the development of resistance with respect to COVID-19 therapeutics.

The role will involve working in a small team to provide scientific support to the analysis, operation, and development of surveillance systems including development of methodology and directing changes to data capture systems in liaison with system architects and software developers. The role may involve day-to-day management of scientific, technical and information staff within their Section.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Surveillance, Epidemiology & Public Health

• Lead and manage the design, development, introduction, audit and continuous improvement of Divisional surveillance systems as required. Responsibility for specific systems will be assigned upon appointment and reflected within associated job advertisements noting that these may evolve in response to emerging public health priorities.
• Conduct complex statistical and epidemiological analyses of data on HCAI and AMRP drawn from a variety of surveillance sources. Providing expert technical advice and assistance to public health and clinical practitioners on the design, maintenance, analysis and interpretation of Divisional databases.
• Provide expert advice in response to ad hoc enquiries from Government agencies, public health practitioners, academics, media, commercial organisations and members of the public.
• Ensure emerging threats are recognized in a timely manner by the analysis and interpretation of often complex data from a variety of sources to understand the public health significance of the potential risk. Provide epidemiological support to incidents or outbreaks both within UKHSA and externally to NHS and Independent Sector health providers. Ensure the scientific validity and evidence-base of risk assessments, and that findings are communicated to the relevant stakeholders nationally and internationally through situation reports and briefing notes.
• Provide specialist advice on the epidemiological aspects of the prevention and control of HCAI & AMR by contributing to the development of guidance, designing data collection systems, interpreting epidemiological data, conducting statistical analyses, and scientific publications.
• Manage scientific and administrative staff in the maintenance, development, statistical analysis, quality outputs and reporting from Divisional datasets. Undertake periodic evaluation of surveillance systems including stakeholder engagement exercises.

Research

• Design analytical strategies and supervise complex statistical analyses of research datasets for the production of project reports, papers for peer reviewed journals and conference presentations.
• Initiate collaborative projects within UKHSA and external collaborators to address public health research questions. This may also include taking a lead on research proposals for externally funded projects and provision of expert advice to academic units and other agencies involved in collaborative epidemiological and microbiological studies.

Management and Planning

To work alongside other members of the Division on:

• the business planning process and the development of surveillance/research, communication, training strategies etc.;
• Compare, analyse and interpret highly complex options for running projects identified as key public health priorities, and communicate this information across organisations and key stakeholders;
• Budget responsibility for Section led grants
• Selection and recruitment of staff, including, shortlisting applicants and interviewing candidates selected for interview;
• Staff management responsibilities to be agreed with line manager.
• Responsible for developing quality control processes, participating in audits and ensuring resilience through maintaining Standard Operating Procedures and business continuity planning.
• Be responsible for ensuring their team’s work complies to UKHSA standards and governance requirements including maintaining confidentiality and security of surveillance information.
• Development of business cases to support system developments, this may include undertaking relevant procurement requirements and management of supplier relationships.
• To deputise for the Section Lead/Lead Epidemiologist as required.

Publications and presentations

• To plan and oversee the development of Divisional epidemiological outputs including outward facing publications including annual reports, web pages, writing of scientific papers for publication in peer reviewed journals and to manage junior scientific and administrative colleagues in the development of manuscripts.
• To represent the Division on expert committees, national and local incident control teams, national/international meetings and conferences.

Teaching and Training

To develop public health capacity by contributing to teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate level and by supervising those training and working in public health and epidemiology.

To contribute to the training for new members of staff on the epidemiology and surveillance of communicable disease.

To participate in wider scientific activities to maintain professional standards including peer review of manuscripts.

Essential role criteria

• Degree level (BA/BSc) in a relevant scientific subject (e.g. epidemiology , microbiology, demography, geography)
• MSc degree in epidemiology/ public health/ microbiology or related discipline (e.g. science)
• PhD in Epidemiology, public health, medical statistics, bioinformatics, health economics or substantial post-graduate experience in a relevant scientific subject ( e.g. epidemiology, microbiology)
• Training in research methods, infectious disease epidemiology, surveillance, prevention and/or public health

Selection Process

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

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

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• 1,500 word Supporting Statement

This should outline how you consider your skills, experience and knowledge provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.

You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. The application form is the kind of information you would put into your CV. Please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please 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

If used, the pile ‘Meets all essential criteria’ will proceed to shortlisting.

Shortlisting

In the event of a large number of applications we may conduct an initial sift on :

• Degree level (BA/BSc) in a relevant scientific subject (e.g. epidemiology , microbiology, demography, geography)
• MSc degree in epidemiology/ public health/ microbiology or related discipline (e.g. science)
• Training in research methods, infectious disease epidemiology, surveillance, prevention and/or public health

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

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview

You will be invited to a (single) remote interview.

Knowledge, Experience, Skills & abilities will be tested at interview.

You will be asked to prepare a 5-10 minute presentation aimed to assed you against the following criteria:

• PhD in Epidemiology, public health, medical statistics, bioinformatics, health economics or substantial post-graduate experience in a relevant scientific subject ( e.g. epidemiology, microbiology)

Eligibility Criteria - External

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

Location - Hybrid Colindale

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our scientific campus 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) working at our scientific campus.

Based at our scientific campus 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.

Security Clearance Level Requirement - Basic DBS + CTC

Successful candidates must pass a basic disclosure and barring security check before they can be appointed.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is:

• Baseline Personnel Security Standard
• Counter Terrorist Check (CTC)

Salary Information

If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary.

Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.