Job vacancy: Research & Evaluation Fellow, Public Health Wales NHS Trust, Cardiff

Job summary

Main area

Research & Evaluation

Grade

Band 7

Contract

Permanent

Hours

Full time
Flexible working
Home or remote working

37.5 hours per week (Post holder will need to be able to attend Cardiff office occasionally)

Job ref

028-AC127-0525

Employer: Public Health Wales NHS Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: Capital Quarter 2
Town: Cardiff
Salary: £46,840 - £53,602 per annum
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 16/06/2025 23:59
Interview date: 01/07/2025

Research & Evaluation Fellow

Band 7

Welcome to Public Health Wales, the national public health organisation for Wales

Our vision is Working to achieve a healthier future for Wales

To find out more visit Public Health Wales and watch this video about our Strategic Plan

Working together, with trust and respect, to make a difference

Applicants are invited to apply in Welsh, any application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application made in English. To support our all Wales service, we particularly welcome applications from Welsh speakers.

Please be advised that there is a temporary top up for Bands 2 and 3 to reflect the incorporation of the top up to the living wage of £12.60 per hour - £24,638 per annum.

This temporary top up will be in place until the annual pay uplift for 2025/26 is confirmed.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

You will develop impactful research proposals based on public health priorities and current evidence gaps, and complete robust research and evaluations of public health policy and practice, including use of appropriate, highly complex quantitative methods, data collection/management, analysis, and interpretation

You will undertake robust data management and analysis of complex and linked data gathered for research and evaluation purposes, using specialist software and methodology (including open source statistical software e.g. R, data management and linkage software e.g. SQL) and ensure reproducible and transparent ways of working to support open analytical approaches and collaboration.

You will work independently to project manage research programmes contributing to the delivery of the PHW Research and Evaluation Strategy; working collaboratively with peers and senior colleagues from across the organisation

You will write and lead on the production of research reports, appropriately targeted at different audiences; producing a range of published outputs that will be accessible to policy-makers and practitioners and contributing to the development and production of journal articles. You will support the team to identify external grant funding opportunities to support research and evaluation activity with external partners.

You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click "Apply now" to view on Trac.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.

Person specification

QUALIFICATIONS & KNOWLEDGE

Essential criteria

Educated to degree Level or equivalent in a mathematical, statistical, health, operational research, social science related subject with a strong research and/or evaluation component. Post graduate diploma or Masters degree in health, social science or public health research. Evidence of knowledge of core Public Health competencies at masters level, or equivalent. Knowledge of a range of quantitative and qualitative methods for evaluation. Knowledge of methods to develop, implement, and analyse complex interventions. Understanding and application of NHS research, ethics, data and information governance processes, policies and procedures.

Desirable criteria

PhD in a Public Health related subject, or equivalent level of experience Evidence of an ongoing commitment to professional development (CPD) Knowledge of Public Health policies and strategies in Wales. Knowledge of health inequalities. Knowledge of issues related to public health.

Experience

Essential criteria

Demonstrable experience leading to highly developed specialist knowledge in research or evaluation applied to public health. Experience of leading, developing and implementing applied evaluations in public health policy and / or practice. Experience of developing and implementing quantitative and qualitative research projects or evaluations, including analysing and writing up findings. Experience of implementing a range of qualitative and/or quantitative data collection methods in relation to health and/or environment. Experience of manipulating large and complex datasets. Experience of project management. Experience of obtaining ethical, research and data governance (as required) approvals.

Desirable criteria

Experience of patient and public involvement in research, particularly of working with diverse ethnic and social communities Previous experience of developing research proposals and funding applications An academic track record of peer-reviewed publications

Aptitude & Abilities (SKILLS)

Essential criteria

Data management (new and routinely collected data) and analytical skills. Advanced skills a range of analytical software packages (eg R, python, SQL), and/or qualitative (CAQDAS) software. Advanced IT skills including Microsoft office. Excellent written and presentation communication skills. Effective stakeholder management and interpersonal skills. Ability to translate complexity into operational plans and actions. Excellent organisational skills with an ability to plan, manage time and prioritise own work and that of others effectively.

Desirable criteria

Demonstrated facilitative and negotiating skills. Skills in achieving open data science

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES & VALUES (Demonstrable)

Essential criteria

Attention to detail Demonstrated ability to work under pressure, plan and manage own workload. Proactive, ability to motivate self and others. Show personal commitment to public health through healthy and sustainable life style choices wherever possible

Desirable criteria

Demonstrated ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team. Commitment and experience of the development of others.

Other

Essential criteria

Ability to travel Ability to work flexible hours when needed

Desirable criteria

Welsh Speaker

Public Health Wales, reserves the right to close this vacancy early. We therefore encourage early applications.

Priority is given to staff awaiting redeployment. We therefore reserve the right to withdraw this advert at any stage.

If you have a disability and have any particular requirements to enable you to participate in the application process, please contact [email protected]

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR APPLICANTS: Applications for our roles are carefully reviewed and shortlisted based on specific criteria, which varies from job to job. Using a generic application to apply for multiple roles or relying on automated AI application services, such as Lazy Apply or AI Apply, may not provide the necessary information, leading to your application being overlooked. To ensure your application is given full consideration, we recommend submitting a tailored application that directly addresses the criteria listed in the Person Specification section of the advert.

If you are successful and short listed for interview you will be contacted by email using the address with which you registered. Please ensure you check your email account regularly.

We are committed to fair, transparent recruitment and believe in equality of opportunity in our workplace and will not tolerate discrimination on grounds of age, disability, gender identity, religion or belief, race or nationality, marriage or civil partnership status, sex, sexual orientation, working pattern, caring responsibilities, trade union activity or political beliefs – or on any other grounds. We welcome applications from individuals seeking flexible working arrangements.

To work in the UK, all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship to obtain either a Health and Care visa or Skilled Worker visa, unless you have permission to work via another route. Non UK / RoI candidates wishing to apply should self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship by visiting Work in the UK. If you are eligible for the Health and Care visa, application costs are lower and you do not need to pay the annual Immigration Health Surcharge.

The salary scale shown is for a full-time member of staff, with the amount being adjusted pro rata for those working less than 37.5 hours per week.

In general, anyone joining our Trust who has not previously worked in the NHS will, by default, start on the first point of the advertised pay band. Pay progression will then be determined by annual Performance and Development Reviews in accordance with the NHS Wales Pay Progression Policy. An application for Incremental Credit may be considered, but can only be awarded based on evidenced, reckonable service and/or equivalent, relevant experience.