Surveillance and Strategy Advisor: Community Based Surveillance

Job overview

You will be part of the team responsible for surveillance transformation which includes the design/delivery of a sustainable approach to community surveillance programmes and research underpinning it. You will be leading distinct elements of this work & work across UKHSA including with senior public health professionals, using your policy, operational, engagement & communication skills in delivering this important and exciting work.

As part of the team, you will drive forward, in partnership with experts & senior leaders across UKHSA – development of existing or new programmes, ensuring new initiatives & data streams are embedded and insights disseminated for effective use by overseeing reporting of results to senior leaders and for government briefing

As part of a team, lead on high profile elements of CDO’s cross-agency work on surveillance transformation and UKHSA’s remit under the government’s bio surveillance network as part of a new and expanding team charged with this work and, importantly, help set direction for the new team.

Main duties of the job

• To support setting the strategic direction of sustainable community surveillance to fulfil UKHSA’s remit.
• Work with the strategic partnership team to develop and lead collaborative relationships with relevant internal and external stakeholders to ensure the supports the delivery of UKHSA’s organisational priorities and strategic plan.
• To support monitoring and reporting of 26/27 and future related programme funding as appropriate.
• Build and maintain a network of close relationships with teams within UKHSA, across and key stakeholders through the current and future SR periods.
• Develop and maintain a clear understanding and timely escalation of the risks and issues.
• Contribute and lead on elements of parliamentary work (e.g. PQs, other correspondence, and executive and ministerial engagement, and requests for briefing for the public inquiry
• Proactively contribute to the provision of learning and improvement internally, and in national and international programmes relating to community surveillance.
• Maintain close working relationships with commercial and finance business partners, and central project management teams.
• To work as part of the team and respond positively and flexibly to any changing and/or emerging priorities in as the team’s function further develops and mature.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

We are looking to fill the existing post of Surveillance Advisor (Community Based Surveillance). The role offers the opportunity to play a key part in shaping UKHSA’s approach to large-scale pandemic preparedness surveillance to fitful UKHSA’s remit and our new strategy – taking account of the learning from the COVID-19 pandemic and pandemic and epidemic threat infections more widely. This role provides the opportunity to join the team on this important work through a period of transition in 26/27 as we develop and deploy critical assets identified through COVID-19 lessons learned exercises and tested in the 2025 National Pandemic Exercise. The role will require a candidate able to develop in public health policy, adapt to operations, continually act on lessons identified from the COVID-19 pandemic and other exercises, and able to work at pace in an ambiguous and ill-defined policy context.

The candidate should have practical experience in large scale programmes and should be able to understand their financial and operational governance, to authoritatively participate in cross-agency work about the future surveillance approaches and ensure UKHSA learns the lessons to date. As part of a team, you will work closely with senior public health leaders in UKHSA, including specialist, scientist and public health policy and operational teams, as well as key stakeholders from across government and academic advisors. This role requires the ability to help influence and shape an ill-defined policy context. Key to success will be an ability to build trusting relationships with key internal and external stakeholders using policy, delivery, engagement and communication skills.

This list is not exhaustive

Essential Criteria

• Demonstrable expertise in, or understanding of, the public health landscape or equivalent health-family discipline
• Demonstrate resilience and flexibility in delivering fast paced work in an ambiguous ill-defined context.
• Understand how to work across multidisciplinary teams, influence seniors beyond immediate area, and communicate with both technical and non-technical audiences
• Experience of collaborating with other government departments or external organisations on programme planning and delivery
• Have excellent presentation skills with ability to present complex concepts and communicate/influence senior management and subject experts
• Have demonstrable active interest in team and self-development
• Have a high level of competency with Microsoft Office 365 packages and business applications such MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc

Selection Process Details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours & Experience.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

Success Profiles - GOV.UK

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 7 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 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 C.V –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.

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 1000 words. We will not consider any words over 1000 words.

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(s that 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 the lead criteria of:

• Demonstrable expertise in, or understanding of, the public health landscape or equivalent health-family discipline

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

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview

Success profiles Success Profiles - GOV.UK

You will be invited to a single remote interview.

Behaviours will be tested at interview in the form of questions.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

• Lead Behaviour - Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

Interview dates are 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

External - This vacancy is open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service as well as internal applicants.

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at any of our Core HQs. 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 one of UKHSA's core HQs (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London). Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport links and benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Security Clearance Level Requirement 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

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. Please be aware that the salary is based on the office location.

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