Porton
Job Summary
The Medical Entomology & Zoonoses Ecology (MEZE) group assess, prepare, and respond to current and emerging vector-borne disease threats in the UK. The team provide entomological expertise on vector issues through research and surveillance activities (e.g. ticks, mosquitoes, midges and sandflies). The team also work internationally on vectors and vector-borne diseases to deliver European funded projects and to support the development and delivery of surveillance systems in the UK Overseas Territories. Research and surveillance activities are translated into expert advice for UKHSA, the Department of Health and related sister agencies and departments, contributing to policy, contingency planning, and public health preparedness on vector-borne diseases.
We are seeking an additional team member with experience in medical entomology to support the delivery of our expanding research and surveillance portfolio on vectors and vector-borne diseases.
The post holder will be a member of the senior management team in MEZE, working directly with the team leader to shape and deliver business goals, with line management responsibility for a range of staff. They will provide leadership and expertise to oversee the delivery of a wide range of projects, both internally and externally funded. The post holder will be experienced in literature ecological field/laboratory-based research and surveillance activities and writing peer-reviewed publications, as evidence by a significant publication record.
The Post Holder Will
- May be required to travel overseas and may also require security clearance.
- Will be expected to train less experienced members of staff/students.
- Will be required to hold a valid driving licence for use in the UK
Working for your organisation
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.
Job Description
Scientific research and surveillance
- Working with the Head of MEZE, provide subject matter expertise and leadership to staff delivering complex scientific studies, ensuring high quality contribution to core funded research and national vector surveillance activities as well as externally funded/international contract work.
- Lead team members to investigate specialist worldwide epidemiological and infectious disease literature on emerging and re-emerging vector-borne diseases, to coordinate national vector surveillance systems and to deliver research programmes to generate robust evidence for advice to policy.
- Guide the team on the analysis and interpretation of scientific and surveillance data, to generate robust metrics and research outcomes for informing local and national policy
- Provide leadership to the development of collaborative research proposals, managing staff, milestones, and budgets to deliver successful bids
Publication and communication
- Communicate clearly to construct and deliver clear ideas and concepts to a diverse range of audiences consisting of internal and external stakeholders
- Liaise with local and national stakeholders and networks to gain and maintain local data sources and provide insights from the MEZE team, including independent visits to stakeholders to develop and maintain good working relationships/collaboration
- Working with Head of MEZE, coordinate the rapid production of scientific reports, briefings, and publications on vector-borne disease risks, for presentation at national or international meetings and for publication in peer reviewed journals.
- Working with Head of MEZE, provide leadership for the team to provide expert advice and guidance materials on vector-borne disease risks for dissemination to local authorities or other government agencies responsible for health and wellbeing in their area.
- Be a point of contact expert on vector related issues for internal and external stakeholders, representing MEZE nationally and internationally.
Leadership and Management
- Lead, manage and develop staff to maintain high levels of staff moral and to create a team culture that exemplifies the Civil Service competency framework.
- Take responsibility for recruitment, selection, and induction of staff, provide direct line management of staff, including objective setting, performance conversations and encouragement/support for training and development.
- Deputise for Head of Medical Entomology as required e.g. to cover policy meetings, external media engagements etc.
Scientific research and surveillance
- Working with the Head of MEZE, provide subject matter expertise and leadership to staff delivering complex scientific studies, ensuring high quality contribution to core funded research and national vector surveillance activities as well as externally funded/international contract work.
- Lead team members to investigate specialist worldwide epidemiological and infectious disease literature on emerging and re-emerging vector-borne diseases, to coordinate national vector surveillance systems and to deliver research programmes to generate robust evidence for advice to policy.
- Guide the team on the analysis and interpretation of scientific and surveillance data, to generate robust metrics and research outcomes for informing local and national policy
- Provide leadership to the development of collaborative research proposals, managing staff, milestones, and budgets to deliver successful bids
Publication and communication
- Communicate clearly to construct and deliver clear ideas and concepts to a diverse range of audiences consisting of internal and external stakeholders
- Liaise with local and national stakeholders and networks to gain and maintain local data sources and provide insights from the MEZE team, including independent visits to stakeholders to develop and maintain good working relationships/collaboration
- Working with Head of MEZE, coordinate the rapid production of scientific reports, briefings, and publications on vector-borne disease risks, for presentation at national or international meetings and for publication in peer reviewed journals.
- Working with Head of MEZE, provide leadership for the team to provide expert advice and guidance materials on vector-borne disease risks for dissemination to local authorities or other government agencies responsible for health and wellbeing in their area.
- Be a point of contact expert on vector related issues for internal and external stakeholders, representing MEZE nationally and internationally.
Leadership and Management
- Lead, manage and develop staff to maintain high levels of staff moral and to create a team culture that exemplifies the Civil Service competency framework.
- Take responsibility for recruitment, selection, and induction of staff, provide direct line management of staff, including objective setting, performance conversations and encouragement/support for training and development.
- Deputise for Head of Medical Entomology as required e.g. to cover policy meetings, external media engagements etc.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
- PhD or MSc in Vector-borne diseases or equivalent experience of working in the Medical Entomology and/or vector borne disease field in a research or surveillance capacity.
- Substantial experience in medical entomology and vector-borne diseases, having an awareness of the current/emerging issues and demonstrable evidence of responding to VBD events, particularly in relation to UK specific issues.
- Substantial experience of coordinating and facilitating vector surveillance and research projects delivered by partnerships, both within the UK and with overseas partners
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, with substantial publication record of scientific work and attendance at national and international meetings/conferences.
- Experience of providing, receiving, and analysing complex ecological datasets with the ability to translate this to policy makers to deliver public health outcomes
- Experience of effective people management and of leading and managing teams in a changing environment
- Experience of working as part of an integrated team with multidisciplinary stakeholders across a range of interfaces
- Ability to prepare and produce concise yet insightful communications for dissemination to senior stakeholders and a broad range of stakeholders as required
- Ability to analyse and interpret information, pre-empt and evaluate issues, and recommend an appropriate course of action to address the issues
- Ability to work in an environment with frequent interruptions, and within stressful, unpredictable situations including responding to and solving urgent and emerging situations day to day.
- Attention to detail combined with the ability to extract key messages from complex analysis
- Plan strategically and work to a consistently high standard and to deadlines
Desirable Criteria
- Experience of monitoring budgets and procurement processes
- Evidence of continued professional development
Alongside your salary of £56,185, UK Health Security Agency contributes £16,276 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
- 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 employer contribution of 28.97%
Selection process details
This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your qualifications, knowledge and experience and / or skills and abilities outlined in the essential criteria.
Stage 1: Application & Sift
Required
You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed (11) essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:
- Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
- 1200 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.
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.
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 following will be taken through to the next stage:
- Meets all essential criteria
Shortlisting
In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on the following:
- PhD or MSc in Vector-borne diseases or equivalent experience of working in the Medical Entomology and/or vector borne disease field in a research or surveillance capacity.
- Substantial experience in medical entomology and vector-borne diseases, having an awareness of the current/emerging issues and demonstrable evidence of responding to VBD events, particularly in relation to UK specific issues.
- Substantial experience of coordinating and facilitating vector surveillance and research projects delivered by partnerships, both within the UK and with overseas partners
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 1200 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 at UKHSA Porton Down.
Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview.
There will be a 10 minute presentation on vector-borne diseases and climate change. Further details will be sent to you at interview stage.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Location
This role is being offered as office/lab based at our Scientific Campus in Porton.
Please note that hybrid working is not available for this role.
If based at one of our scientific campuses, you will be required to have 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.
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.
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 5 / 10 years as the role requires / Security Check (SC) / Developed Vetting (DV) clearance.(delete as appropriate) 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.
Future location
UKHSA is investing in a new state-of-the-art National Biosecurity Centre in Harlow, Essex, which will eventually bring together teams currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale and Porton Down. For more details, please see: Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection - GOV.UK.
The new facilities will start becoming operational in the mid-2030s, with full completion by 2038. Staff will move in phases as facilities become available. If you're appointed to a role currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale or Porton Down, please note that we'll continue investing in these sites for the next decade. As we get closer to the transition, we'll provide full information about relocation support available to staff.
Reasonable Adjustments
The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone. To help you during the recruitment process, we will consider any reasonable adjustments that could help you. An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work. This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme. If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs.
You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/
International Police check
If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and it could be time accrued over that period.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Link Below
Artificial intelligence and recruitment , Civil Service Careers
Internal Fraud check
If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant’s personal details – name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional circumstances. Currently this is only for External candidates to the Civil Service.
Careers website
Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers
Salary Information
If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
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)
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact
- Name : Gurkamal Bhambra
- Email : gurkamal.bhambra@ukhsa.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk
Further information
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: Complaints@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: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk
