HIV/STI Surveillance and Prevention Scientist

About this role

Details

per annum, pro rata

A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

GBP

Job grade

Higher Executive Officer

Loan

Secondment

Length of employment

Fixed Term Appointment/Loan/Secondment until 28/09/2028

Type of role

Science

Other

Working pattern

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

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

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

About the job

Job summary

This post is within the Department of STIs and HIV within the Blood Safety, Hepatitis, STI & HIV Division. The primary function of this post is to coordinate and develop the collation and epidemiological analysis of STI surveillance datasets. Under the supervision of senior scientific staff, the postholder will regularly extract, collate and validate surveillance data-sets and carry out epidemiological analyses to monitor trends, geographic distribution and risk factors. There may be an opportunity to undertake some qualitative work. The postholder will contribute to the delivery of surveillance and policy reports and to peer-reviewed publications.

The postholder will adopt a variety of public health and surveillance portfolios, develop and implement standardised data collection and analysis protocols, will identify data quality issues and will facilitate their resolution. The postholder will ensure that data are collected and processed in accordance with relevant policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs) and will undertake regular assessments of data quality and completeness.

Job description

The postholder will support public health surveillance, data management and epidemiological analysis of STI and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance datasets within UKHSA, primarily the Gonococcal Resistance to Antimicrobials Surveillance Programme (GRASP). Ensuring data is collected, processed, validated and analysed in line with relevant legislation, organisational policies and SOPs, including data quality assessment, cleaning, analysis and reporting.

The role involves quantitative and epidemiological analyses, interpreting statistical evidence, identifying trends, risks and emerging issues. Communicating findings to stakeholders including NHS organisations, DHSC, academics and public health partners. The postholder will contribute to research, evaluation and knowledge-sharing activities through literature reviews, surveys, audits and studies, and support dissemination through reports, publications, conferences, presentations and training.

They will also provide administrative support by managing enquiries, responding to information requests, organising meetings, preparing documentation and recording minutes. The postholder will help develop and improve information and intelligence systems that support surveillance and public health decision-making. The postholder will ensure confidentiality and security of sensitive information through compliance with data protection legislation, Caldicott principles and UKHSA governance requirements.

This list is not exhaustive.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• A bachelor’s degree in public health**(or equivalent qualification), epidemiology, biological sciences or a related field.
• Scientific research work experience, particularly in public health
• Data management, cleaning, handling, analysis and reporting skills, as well as ability to interpret and evaluate epidemiological data, and prepare scientific reports and presentations
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft packages, including Access, Word, PowerPoint and Excel and use of statistical software (e.g. STATA, SPSS, SAS, or R) and graphics software
• Communicate and negotiate accurately, succinctly and in a friendly manner with a wide range of health, academic professionals, as well as the general public. Work well on own initiative as well as in a team, with an understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships
• Prioritise and co-ordinate own workload in order to meet tight deadlines, and identify and deal with problems in a calm, efficient and timely manner
• Communicate and document methods clearly and succinctly, and have a clear and organised approach to produce accurate and consistent work

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of communicable disease epidemiology, surveillance and prevention
• Qualitative research experience

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,749, UK Health Security Agency contributes £10,935 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%

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.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

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.

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

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 ‘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:

• Data management, cleaning, handling, analysis and reporting skills, as well as ability to interpret and evaluate epidemiological data, and prepare scientific reports and presentations
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft packages, including Access, Word, PowerPoint and Excel and use of statistical software (e.g.