Epidemiology and Information Scientist in London

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) prevents, prepares for and responds to infectious diseases, and environmental hazards, to keep all our communities safe, save lives and protect livelihoods. We provide scientific and operational leadership, working with local, national and international partners to protect the public’s health and build the nation’s health security capability. UKHSA is an executive agency, sponsored by the Department of Health and Social Care.

The Science, Strategy and Evidence Directorate leads on the development and strengthening of evaluation, epidemiological methods and behavioural sciences including research methods and evaluation of interventions for UKHSA. The Directorate provides expert support in ethics and research governance and ensures UKHSA has access to essential scientific evidence. It also implements and monitors UKHSA’s Science Strategy.

The Evaluation & Epidemiological Sciences (EES) Division delivers core functions across UKHSA aligned to the following areas:

• Identify evaluation and epidemiology science priorities which are focused on scientific, research or public health needs & co-ordinate activities to address those
• Lead and collaborate on responsive and high impact evaluations
• Provide a rapid evaluation and epidemiology science advice function to support standard & enhanced response Incident Management Teams (IMTs) as appropriate
• Provide evaluation & epidemiology science advice to the Centres for Climate and Health Security and Pandemic Preparedness
• Establish strategic links with key internal & external stakeholders including the Evaluation and Behavioural Science HPRU leading to delivery of joint priorities and external funding applications for discrete activities
• Support the translation of scientific evidence into policy and practice as appropriate, working closely with the Behavioural Science & Insights Division and the Research Management & Knowledge Division.

The Epidemiology and Information Scientist will support colleagues in the provision of a range of activities including contributing to evaluation and epidemiological science priorities including investigations through designing questionnaires and databases, contributing to analyses and the production of scientific reports, and preparing descriptive epidemiology. The interface with local, regional and national colleagues, as well as with external stakeholders, will be an important feature of this role.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities:

• Epidemiological Investigations: Where appropriate, undertake specific steps of an epidemiological study under direction including to design and develop questionnaires e.g. using Select Survey, design and administer databases, prepare descriptive epidemiology, contribute to the production of scientific reports, and interview cases and controls. Undertake complex analytical tasks and use common statistical, database and mapping software and tools to support analysis such as producing tables, graphs, maps etc and developing advanced queries.
• Data & Epidemiological Analyses: Maintain and improve databases, test functionality of new systems, validate the quality of data including use of automated routines and through audit and produce and update Standard Operating Procedures. Have knowledge of, apply and interpret basic statistical tests, conduct statistical analyses of surveillance data, produce reports and outputs using common statistical/database/mapping tools such as Stata, R, ArcGIS, network analysis, SQL, etc, respond to routine and more complex data requests and produce routine surveillance reports, including basic descriptive analysis and interpretation of results. Contribute to evaluation and epidemiological science activities through assuring data quality, undertaking complex data analyses and seeking to improve and enhance databases and systems.
• Research: Support research through contribution to scientific papers and projects on public health surveillance, incidents and other activities as well as through designing study databases and sharing findings at conferences and meetings. Design a study database, and develop queries to analyse data, create automated reports, import/export data from a variety of sources, participate in the interpretation and analysis of research findings and the application of findings to practice and present internally or to local partners, present work/posters at scientific meetings and conferences.
• Management and Leadership: To act as role model adhering to team professional standards, actively engage in meetings, identify potential problems and seek to resolve and undertake a lead role for a specific topic or function area, on behalf of the Division as a whole. Support the development of policies and protocols for use within the Division. Contribute to specified quality improvement and governance initiatives as agreed. Support/lead projects and support defined areas of work as agreed with line manager. Learn and maintain up-to-date scientific knowledge regarding epidemiology, surveillance and relevant public health interventions and contribute to the supervision and training colleagues and others as requested. Contribute to teaching/training programmes and activities (including to the development of teaching material and courses) on surveillance, epidemiology information science, data management, information governance and quality and support ongoing training activities within the team and Division.
• Quality and governance: Ensure that data transfer, extraction and storage of data are appropriate and identify data quality issues through audit and ensure analysis and outputs are clearly presented in an appropriate context.

Essential criteria:

• Educated to degree level in Public Health, Information Science, with a Master's qualification in public health or related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• Demonstrable knowledge of epidemiological investigation, surveillance principles, and public health data management, including data quality, security, transmission, analysis, and reporting.
• Strong analytical skills with experience applying descriptive epidemiology, basic statistical methods with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Proficient in the use of epidemiological, statistical, database, and mapping software packages, including tools such as Stata, R, GIS, network analysis, SQL, or similar platforms.
• Sound understanding of information governance requirements, including data protection and confidentiality.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues and key stakeholders.
• Strong organisational, prioritisation, and time management skills, with the ability to work independently, and demonstrate a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Desirable criteria:

• Training or experience in validating data including automated routines.
• Knowledge of health and social care environment, and an awareness of surveillance and epidemiology and information flows in the NHS and allied services.
• Line management experience including appraising staff and managing performance.
• Proven scientific report writing skills.

Location: This role is being offered as hybrid working based at any of our Core HQ’s Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool or London (Canary Wharf) or our Scientific Campus in Porton Down. We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow.

Benefits of working at UKHSA include:

• Generous annual leave: 26 days for the first 5 years of continuous service, 28 days after 5 years of continuous service, 32 days after 10 years of continuous service, plus public holidays and one privilege day for the King’s birthday.
• Access to a generous Defined Benefit pension scheme with employer contributions.
• Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme, season ticket advances and payroll giving.
• Access to a retail discounts and cashback site.
• Flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours).
• A generous maternity/paternity and adoption leave package.