Senior Epidemiologist - SARI and Seroepidemiology

We are excited to offer an opening for an epidemiologist / public health surveillance scientist to work on high profile areas of infectious disease surveillance.
The post is based in the Public Health Programmes Directorate of UKHSA, working between the Immunisation & Vaccine Preventable Diseases Division and the COVID Vaccines and Epidemiology Division.
The post holder will be a core member of the SARI (Severe Acute Respiratory Infection) Watch team monitoring hospitalisation for COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and be the epidemiologist responsible for serosurveillance of COVID-19 and other vaccine preventable diseases, including the coordination of data collection, analysis and reporting of population SARS-CoV-2 immunity. You will work closely with the full-time senior SARI surveillance scientist.
The role will include.
+ Taking a lead in serosurveillance across COVID-19 and other vaccine-preventable diseases,
+ Liaison with NHS Trusts participating in the SARI Watch hospitalisations surveillance programme,
+ Surveillance of SARI Watch critical care admissions, cross-covering other areas of ARI surveillance.
Location
This role is based at the UKHSA Colindale office, 61 Colindale Ave, London NW9 5EQ.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) operates 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 at of the above UKHSA locations (Colindale) as this is considered a specialist role.

• Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available., As a Senior Epidemiologist your main responsibilities will include:

+ Lead sero-epidemiological surveillance across COVID-19 and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
+ Contribute to surveillance of SARI Watch critical care admissions and other aspects of SARI surveillance.
+ Contribute to regular routine and ad-hoc reports and peer reviewed publications on the surveillance and epidemiology of vaccine preventable diseases.
+ Create and review surveillance system standard operating procedures and protocols and identify and support further developments (where appropriate).
+ Respond to complex or sensitive data requests.
+ Conduct complex statistical analyses of surveillance data.
+ Interpret surveillance data and make appropriate recommendations.
+ Manage/supervise and train scientific and information staff in the development of outputs and statistical analysis.
+ Liaise with a wide range of external collaborators, including NHS Trusts participating in the SARI Watch hospitalisations surveillance programme.
+ Develop automated routines and solutions for surveillance data reports.
The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.
Please review the job description for a full list of roles and responsibilities., Please note these dates could be subject to change.
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. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard. This role also requires full UK security clearance, and you should have resided in the UK for the past 5 years. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed.
For posts on UKHSA Civil Service terms and conditions, new entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. For existing Civil Servants and roles advertised across government, the rules of transfer apply, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive a 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.
Please Note
This role is to be appointed under Civil Service Terms & Conditions. Full details on the T&C’s are found https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/
Are you already a civil servant, or employed by a Civil Service Commission accredited public body? Please state home department on your application form.
Do you meet the nationality requirements for this post? https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/
Complaint process:
The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: Complaints1@ukhsa.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
+ UK nationals
+ nationals of the Republic of Ireland
+ nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
+ individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
+ Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

+ Undergraduate degree in science
+ MSc or PhD in epidemiology, public health or an allied discipline
+ Understanding of infectious disease surveillance and able to interpret surveillance data.
+ Understanding of serology as applied to epidemiology.
+ Proficiency in using epidemiological and statistical software packages for data analysis.
+ Knowledge and experience of data management and information governance
+ Able to build and maintain effective working relationships with people in partner organisations.
+ Able to convey surveillance and scientific information clearly and concisely in writing and orally.
+ Experience of successfully managing projects
+ Able to prioritise competing demands.
+ Able to work independently and as part of a team.
+ An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships
Desirable
+ Experience of preparing written reports and scientific publishing.

+ 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 average employer contribution of 27%
+ Range of health and wellbeing support.
Any move to UKHSA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at Childcare Choices , 30 Hours Free Childcare, Tax-Free Childcare and More , Help with Costs , GOV.UK