Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Surveillance

Scientific leadership

1. Lead the AMR & HCAI Division’s Section covering Mandatory Surveillance of including Gram-negative, MRSA and MSSA bacteraemia and Clostridioides difficile infection, and other HCAIs through the following activities:

• provide strategic and managerial lead of scientific and administrative teams responsible for maintaining routine and enhanced surveillance activities
• guide epidemiological and statistical analyses conducted by scientific staff, and publications and presentations based on these data
• oversee all aspects of data management and administration, including the design, documentation and validation of data systems, ensuring full compliance with UKHSA quality standards
• ensure surveillance data are maintained to a high standard and analysed regularly as  appropriate
• ensure the capture, storage and transfer of data are performed in compliance with UKHSA standards based on Data Protection legislation
• establish and maintain working partnerships with national reference laboratory leads for all disease areas covered within the section, including the Laboratory of Healthcare Associated Infection and the UKHSA Antibiotic Resistance Monitoring Reference Laboratory
• keep up to date on key methodological and analytical developments of potential relevance to the section

2. Identify key public health questions of importance to this section. Lead on addressing these questions through the development of existing surveillance systems and/or through special surveys.
3. Provide strategic direction to data linkage projects, negotiate and renew data sharing agreements with relevant bodies, develop and ratify intellectual property agreements stipulating ownership of combined data where needed.

Epidemiological expertise

1. Provide national expertise on the epidemiology of HCAIs.
2. Provide epidemiological leadership to international networks, with particular focus on methodological aspects affecting future data analysis.
3. Act as a National Representative for the disease-specific networks, as required.
4. Develop and undertake complex statistical analyses appropriate to the work of the section and department.
5. Provide expert support and/or leadership for the control of major incidents or outbreaks of diseases covered within this section through incident management and outbreak control teams.
6. Interpret surveillance data and provide expert advice in response to Parliamentary Questions and requests from the media on healthcare-associated infection and antimicrobial resistance for the Communications Department.
7. Actively contribute to the process of critical review of evidence to support and direct the development of national guidelines and policies.
8. Represent the Division on national committees and working groups as appropriate.

Research

1. Design and submit research proposals and grant applications, including applications to ethics committees for approval to conduct specific research studies as appropriate.
2. Lead epidemiological research activities on mortality, in liaison with other section heads.
3. Disseminate key findings from section through peer-review publication and presentations at national and international level
4. Establish collaborative projects with leading researchers and specialists in academic, health service, public and voluntary sectors, including multi-centre and international projects and projects linking complex datasets across different sectors.
5. Negotiate with and provide feedback to research funding bodies over project specifications, budgets, milestones and progress.
6. Project manage scientific and administrative staff involved in grant funded research.
7. Take budgetary responsibility for grants obtained.
8. Write progress and final reports for externally funded projects

Management, Planning and Governance

Strategic and financial management

1. Serve on the AMR & HCAI Leadership & Management Group.
2. Participate in all aspects of strategic planning for the Division, including contributing to the Business Plan and identifying key targets for transfer to the Divisions Business Plans.
3. In liaison with the Divisions Head of Business Operations, monitor non-pay spending by the section, flagging any significant capital expenditure.
4. Act as budget holder and authorised signatory for section projects and Division-wide budgets, as appropriate.
5. Act as an authorised signatory for the Division non-pay budget.
6. Contribute to the Division’s risk management strategy by identifying and evaluating key threats within the Division Risk Register.
7. Contribute to the Division Business Continuity Plan, ensuring that essential section services/activities are appropriately flagged.

This is not an exhaustive list, please see attached Job Description document for full list of duties, which include: Government, Staff Management, Publications and Presentations, Teaching and Training

Essential criteria:

• Higher degree in Epidemiology or an allied subject (MSc or equivalent)
• PhD in appropriate subject (e.g. Epidemiology) or equivalent experience evidenced by large number of peer review publications in relevant field
• Evidence of continuous professional and academic development
• Substantial epidemiological research and/or surveillance experience at a senior level
• Preparing and managing collaborative and multidisciplinary research projects and grants
• Advanced epidemiological and statistical techniques including use of common packages (e.g. STATA, SPSS, SAS, GLIM, R)
• Managing staff, surveillance systems and complex databases
• Substantial publication record and presenting scientific papers at national and international conferences
• Training and teaching at postgraduate level
• Ability to work as an effective team member
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Excellent analytical, judgmental and decision-making skills
• Ability to work under pressure and to deadlines
• Excellent skills in diplomacy and negotiation

Desirable criteria:

• Microbiological/ virological experience
• Outbreak investigation
• Providing epidemiological information and advice to colleagues and external agencies.

Selection Process Details:

This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your qualifications, knowledge,  experience, 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 14 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 your skills, experience and knowledge provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria. 

The Application form and supporting statement will be marked together.

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

The pile 'meets all essential criteria' will be taken through to shortlisting.

Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on the lead criteria of:

• Substantial epidemiological research and/or surveillance experience at a senior level
• Preparing and managing collaborative and multidisciplinary research projects and grants
• Managing staff, surveillance systems and complex databases

Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications/large amount of successful candidates.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment.
 
Please do not exceed 1000 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, details to be confirmed to those applicants invited to interview.

Interview 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 by definition internal applicants).  
 
Location

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 on-site at Colindale.

Security Clearance Level Requirement  

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.  

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed.  If based at one of our scientific campuses, 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.