Job summary This post is for a senior epidemiologist within the Immunisation and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Division. This is an opportunity for a scientist with excellent data management, programming, and data analytical skills with a keen interest in vaccines and vaccine preventable diseases. The postholder will work with other epidemiologists, scientists, statisticians, and consultants in the departments and will be managed by the head of vaccines analysis. Whilst the job will cover work in many different areas in the evaluation of vaccine preventable diseases, a focus will be on sero-epidemiology (analysing laboratory results on antibodies in blood samples taken from population groups) and also vaccine safety assessment using large linked databases. Main duties of the job Designing and analysing sero-epidemiological studies and serum collections to assess population risk to a disease, understand disease epidemiology, and complement estimates of vaccine coverage. Developing systems for vaccines safety assessment and assisting with performing vaccine safety studies. Where appropriate, leading and managing the technical and analytical (including data management) aspects of enhanced surveillance on vaccine preventable diseases. For example, writing protocols for analytical studies, obtaining permissions for data access, contributing to data collection and developing questionnaires. Supporting the data collection, validation, and production of reports for routine surveillance data. Analysing and interpreting surveillance data and developing automated routines and solutions as well as overseeing and responding to more complex or sensitive data requests. This will be through application of, and expertise in, analytical, statistical, database, mapping and web tools, underpinned by knowledge of information and data science approaches. Carrying out the epidemiological investigation of incidents and outbreaks of infectious diseases, supporting others across the directorate. This will include the design, implementation, analysis and interpretation of analytical studies in a variety of settings and supporting team members in carrying out these tasks. Continued below About us We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce. UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all. Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers Date posted 25 February 2025 Pay scheme Other Salary £44,852 to £50,472 a year per annum, pro rata Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working Reference number 919-LT-310601-EXT Job locations Colindale London NW9 5EQ Job description Job responsibilities Main duties continued Contributing to public health scientific analyses and writing reports on specific projects, regular and ad hoc publications, and peer reviewed publications. Contributing to the work and professional development of other staff in the department. Liaising with colleagues across the Clinical and Public Health Group, wider UKHSA and NHS colleagues at regional/local level. You will become familiar with the surveillance systems for vaccine preventable diseases and understand their purpose, strengths and limitations. In particular you will become an expert in sero-epidemiology and vaccine safety assessment through performing studies and wider study (reading papers, attending conferences). You will be able to communicate results of complex analyses to a wide audience. You will fulfil the main analytical duties of the job through the use of common statistical/database/mapping/web tools such as Stata, R, SQL and SharePoint. These will be applied to the production of routine reports as well as more bespoke surveillance activities. You will need to develop solutions and undertake complex analytical and programming tasks using these tools to support data extractions, analysis, linkage and validation. You will become proficient in undertaking analyses in the EDaP data environment (a new UKHSA secure data environment) and help others learn to do this using the various tools available in this environment. You will work with the Head of Vaccines Analysis, statisticians, epidemiologists, consultants and laboratory staff. This will require team working, such as producing datasets for statisticians to do further analysis and liaising with data providers to obtain data access. As an expert in dealing with large databases you will assist with requests for data linkage and extraction from team members. Vaccine safety work can include the need to do urgent rapid analyses. You will need to be able to prioritise the urgent requests and assist with data extraction analysis and presentation. Other incidents or outbreaks of a vaccine preventable disease may also require you to be part of the team responding to the incident and to help as needed. As a member of the scientific staff you will maintain professional development through training and on the job learning and help other scientific staff do the same (e.g. teaching, mentoring, attending meetings). This is not an exhaustive list please see Job description document for full list of duties. Please be aware that we will assess on the 7 essential criteria stated on the advert rather than the full list on the job description document. Selection Process Details Stage 1: Application & Sift Competency-based This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your qualifications, knowledge and experience, skills and abilities outlined in the essential criteria. You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 7 essential criteria, which have been selected from the job description, and this will be in the form of a: Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application) 500 word Statement of Suitability. 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 Statement of Suitability 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 Piles 'meets all essential criteria' and 'meets some essential criteria' will be moved to shortlisting. Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on: Having a first degree in a science subject and a masters or PhD in epidemiology / public health / similar subject or equivalent education / work experience. If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview and assessment Please do not exceed 500 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 face to face interview. In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview. Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview There will be a Technical Test- more details will be confirmed to those successful at securing an interview. Interviews are planned to take place week beginning 7th April. These dates may be subject to change. 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 tospend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata averaged over a month). 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 Counter-terrorist Check. If based at one of our scientific campuses, you will be required to have a minimum of a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check. 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. Face to Face interviews In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview. Job description Job responsibilities Main duties continued Contributing to public health scientific analyses and writing reports on specific projects, regular and ad hoc publications, and peer reviewed publications. Contributing to the work and professional development of other staff in the department. Liaising with colleagues across the Clinical and Public Health Group, wider UKHSA and NHS colleagues at regional/local level. You will become familiar with the surveillance systems for vaccine preventable diseases and understand their purpose, strengths and limitations. In particular you will become an expert in sero-epidemiology and vaccine safety assessment through performing studies and wider study (reading papers, attending conferences). You will be able to communicate results of complex analyses to a wide audience. You will fulfil the main analytical duties of the job through the use of common statistical/database/mapping/web tools such as Stata, R, SQL and SharePoint. These will be applied to the production of routine reports as well as more bespoke surveillance activities. You will need to develop solutions and undertake complex analytical and programming tasks using these tools to support data extractions, analysis, linkage and validation. You will become proficient in undertaking analyses in the EDaP data environment (a new UKHSA secure data environment) and help others learn to do this using the various tools available in this environment. You will work with the Head of Vaccines Analysis, statisticians, epidemiologists, consultants and laboratory staff. This will require team working, such as producing datasets for statisticians to do further analysis and liaising with data providers to obtain data access. As an expert in dealing with large databases you will assist with requests for data linkage and extraction from team members. Vaccine safety work can include the need to do urgent rapid analyses. You will need to be able to prioritise the urgent requests and assist with data extraction analysis and presentation. Other incidents or outbreaks of a vaccine preventable disease may also require you to be part of the team responding to the incident and to help as needed. As a member of the scientific staff you will maintain professional development through training and on the job learning and help other scientific staff do the same (e.g. teaching, mentoring, attending meetings). This is not an exhaustive list please see Job description document for full list of duties. Please be aware that we will assess on the 7 essential criteria stated on the advert rather than the full list on the job description document. Selection Process Details Stage 1: Application & Sift Competency-based This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your qualifications, knowledge and experience, skills and abilities outlined in the essential criteria. You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 7 essential criteria, which have been selected from the job description, and this will be in the form of a: Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application) 500 word Statement of Suitability. 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 Statement of Suitability 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 Piles 'meets all essential criteria' and 'meets some essential criteria' will be moved to shortlisting. Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on: Having a first degree in a science subject and a masters or PhD in epidemiology / public health / similar subject or equivalent education / work experience. If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview and assessment Please do not exceed 500 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 face to face interview. In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview. Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview There will be a Technical Test- more details will be confirmed to those successful at securing an interview. Interviews are planned to take place week beginning 7th April. These dates may be subject to change. 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 tospend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata averaged over a month). 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 Counter-terrorist Check. If based at one of our scientific campuses, you will be required to have a minimum of a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check. 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. Face to Face interviews In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview. Person Specification Qualifications Essential First degree in a science subject. Also, a Masters or PhD in epidemiology / public health / similar subject or equivalent education / work experience Knowledge and Experience 1 Essential Knowledge of principles and practice of surveillance, including study design, data management, data transmission, data security, information governance, data quality, data analysis (descriptive statistics, statistical modelling, graphics), and producing reports Knowledge and Experience 2 Essential Experience developing / using relational databases (including Access and SQL programming), spreadsheets, statistical and graphics packages (e.g. Stata or R) to an advanced level Knowledge and Experience 3 Essential Writing/evaluating scientific work including publications in peer reviewed journals Knowledge and Experience 4 Essential Interpreting and evaluating microbiological or epidemiological data on vaccine preventable diseases and numerate with deep analytical skills Knowledge and Experience 5 Essential Teaching or training others formally or informally Skills/Capabilities/Behaviours Essential Ability to prepare and deliver concise yet insightful communications/presentations to a broad range of stakeholders Person Specification Qualifications Essential First degree in a science subject. Also, a Masters or PhD in epidemiology / public health / similar subject or equivalent education / work experience Knowledge and Experience 1 Essential Knowledge of principles and practice of surveillance, including study design, data management, data transmission, data security, information governance, data quality, data analysis (descriptive statistics, statistical modelling, graphics), and producing reports Knowledge and Experience 2 Essential Experience developing / using relational databases (including Access and SQL programming), spreadsheets, statistical and graphics packages (e.g. Stata or R) to an advanced level Knowledge and Experience 3 Essential Writing/evaluating scientific work including publications in peer reviewed journals Knowledge and Experience 4 Essential Interpreting and evaluating microbiological or epidemiological data on vaccine preventable diseases and numerate with deep analytical skills Knowledge and Experience 5 Essential Teaching or training others formally or informally Skills/Capabilities/Behaviours Essential Ability to prepare and deliver concise yet insightful communications/presentations to a broad range of stakeholders Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). Additional information Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). Employer details Employer name UK Health Security Agency Address Colindale London NW9 5EQ Employer's website https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency (Opens in a new tab)