Senior Scientist

Job summary

The Senior Scientist works closely with senior epidemiologist colleagues to provide epidemiological and data management support across a number of topic areas; and to the epidemiological investigation of incidents and outbreaks of infectious diseases and routine, supporting local Health Protection Teams and in collaboration with other partners.� This will include supporting and managing the technical and analytical aspects of epidemiological outbreak investigations and supporting a team in carrying out these tasks.

The interface with local, regional and national colleagues, as well as with external stakeholders, will be an important feature of this role.

Job description

Specific duties of the role may vary depending on the site and teams/functions.

Surveillance and Data Analysis

Identify surveillance needs within given lead areas, create surveillance system specifications, conduct complex statistical analyses and interpret surveillance data, making appropriate recommendations, develop automated routines and solutions and supervise / assure on the preparation, quality and delivery of routine and ad hoc surveillance reports.Respond to complex or sensitive data requests.

�Outbreak Support and Epidemiological Investigations

Where appropriate, lead and manage the technical and analytical (including data management) aspects of epidemiological outbreak investigations, including the supervision of the investigation of exceedances, write protocol of analytical studies, contribute to the production of outbreak control team reports and train interviewers.

Statistical and Software Skills

Apply a range of common statistical tests and algorithms including time trend analysis and translate statistical processes into automated solutions where appropriateUse common statistical/database/mapping/web tools such as Stata, R, ArcGIS, network analysis, SQL and SharePoint in routine reports, surveillance activities and the development of solutions and undertake complex analytical and programming tasks using common and specialist software packages to support data extractions, analysis and validation

Audit, Quality and Governance

Advise on quality and governance issues including information security for all aspects of Field Service work, evaluating existing systems and acute response to incidents and outbreak, and use to improve standards and consistency across the team.Contribute to the Field Service quality programme such as through audit and be responsible for the quality of data collected, stored and extracted and transferred.

Research and project management

Support/lead and facilitate the delivery of projects using a framework to ensure they are well planned, efficiently implemented, predetermined benefits are realised and associated risks mitigatedProject manage research studies, analysing datasets with appropriate methodology to answer research questions, supported by the systematic review of literature and with knowledge of how to develop a grant proposal, and apply for ethical approval.Present at scientific conferences, programme area meetings and other for a and publish and present scientific papers on public health surveillance, outbreaks and infectious disease control in collaboration with health, public health, academic and other partners

Management and Leadership

Contribute to specified quality improvement and governance initiatives as agreed.Actively engage in meetings with internal and external colleagues, identify potential problems and seek to resolve and undertake a lead role for a specific topic or function area, on behalf of the service as a wholeSupport defined areas of work as agreed with line manager as well as the development of policies and protocols for use within the team/departmentsUndertake line management responsibilities as agreed, contribute to the supervision and training of junior staff allocated to the team and act as a role model adhering to UKHSA Values and Behaviours.Contribute to teaching/training programmes and activities (including to the development of teachingmaterial and courses) on surveillance, epidemiology information science, data management, information governance and quality and support ongoing training activities within the team and Service.Deal with at times, challenging and/or conflicting subject matter problems in day to day workload referring/escalating to line management as appropriate.

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The post holder will identify, discuss and action own professional performance and training / development needs with their line manager through appraisal / individual development plan. Attending internal / external training events.To participate in all mandatory training as required, safeguarding, fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training.

OTHER DUTIES

The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by the directorate.The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation.

COMMUNICATION AND KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

The post holder will build and maintain effective working relationships and communicate regularly with a wide range of individuals, clinical and non-clinical, internal and external to UKHSA.� This may include:

UKHSA NICC CellsField Service and Field Services staffHealth Protection Ops Group staff including:PAN RegionalEmergency Preparedness and ResponseScience Group staff including: Centre for Radiation, Chemicals and Environmental HazardsICT and Digital staffNHS EnglandNHS ImprovementNHS DigitalOffice for Health Improvement and Disparities staff (OHID)Test and Trace Programme including Joint Biosecurity CentreScientific and academic staff in national, regional and local institutionsAgencies contributing to environmental hazards surveillance and members of the public.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

Education and Qualifications

Educated to degree level in relevant subject or equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level in specialist area (in the maintenance, analysis of data)MSc in Epidemiology, public health or allied discipline or equivalent level of experience/education�Completion of the Field Epidemiology Training Programme or equivalent training and experience

Knowledge and Experience

Knowledge of principles and practice of surveillance, including data management, data transmission, data security, data quality, data analysis including descriptive statistics and graphics and data reportingExperience of interpreting and evaluating epidemiological data, sensitive health data analyses and performing analytical epidemiologyDemonstrable experience of public health, health protection or epidemiologyKnowledge and experience of common statistical tests, modelling and analyses and interpret results appropriately, including for research purposesExperience of using epidemiological and statistical software packagesKnowledge of health and social care environment, and roles and responsibilities within it including information flows in the NHS and allied servicesExperience of effective line management.

Skills and Capabilities�

Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with co-workers and key stakeholders�Understanding of information governance including data protection and confidentiality requirements�Excellent oral and written communication skills with proven presentation and scientific report writing skillsUnderstand of information governance including data protection and confidentiality requirementsProficient in common statistical/database/mapping tools such as STATA, R, GIS, network analysis, SQL, etc.Able to work under own initiative, seek out new information and new ways to develop yourself as well as to respond to sudden unexpected demands whilst maintaining a professional calm and efficient manner

Equality and Diversity

An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.

Desirable Criteria:

Experience of research activities with one or more first author publications in peer reviewed journalsExperience of teaching epidemiology and/or surveillance.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of �38,724, UK Health Security Agency contributes �10,455 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Learning and development tailored to your roleAn environment with flexible working optionsA culture encouraging inclusion and diversityA with an average employer contribution of 27%

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