Description
The Gastrointestinal Infections, Food Safety & One Health Division (GIFSOH) is located within UKHSA's Epidemic and Emerging Infections Directorate (EEI) at Colindale.
The postholder will work on the surveillance, epidemiology and investigation of gastrointestinal infections by providing specialist scientific support for a range of national surveillance programmes, outbreak investigations and research projects.
Main Duties of the Job:
- Develop, manage and maintain gastrointestinal pathogen surveillance systems (including surveillance databases) and produce comprehensive surveillance data outputs for both internal and external stakeholders, incorporating whole genome sequencing and epidemiological data.
- Develop automated analytical solutions, respond to complex or sensitive data requests, and contribute to public health scientific reports and peer reviewed publications.
- Undertake and coordinate routine analysis of national surveillance data to support the wider GIFSOH team, such as the detection, investigation and management of national outbreaks of GI illness.
The Post Holder will:
- Manage existing national surveillance systems and co-ordinate the development of new surveillance systems for gastrointestinal pathogens and to supervise and advise junior scientific and administrative staff in the maintenance and development of integrated or enhanced surveillance datasets.
- Conduct complex statistical analyses of data on gastrointestinal pathogens drawn from a variety of surveillance sources in response to enquiries from external stakeholders.
- Apply a broad range of statistical methods, translating analytical processes into automated, reproducible solutions where appropriate, alongside use of statistical, database, mapping and web tools such as STATA, R, ArcGIS, SQL and SharePoint in routine surveillance and reporting.
- Advise and support scientific and administrative staff in conducting routine analyses of surveillance datasets for standardised outputs and ad hoc enquiries.
- Supervise junior scientific colleagues and the administrative team in the production of standard GI pathogen surveillance and outbreak reports and publications.
- Coordinate the activities of scientists in partner institutes involved in collaborative surveillance and/or research programmes.
- Provide technical advice and assistance on the design, maintenance, analysis and interpretation of surveillance database outputs.
- Assist in the design and development of new surveillance and data management systems in response to developments in the application of microbiological typing methods.
- Write or contribute to the drafting of scientific papers for publication in peer reviewed journals and detailed reports for UKHSA or Government departments.
Other responsibilities
- 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 GIFSOH Division.
- The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation.
Professional Development
- Identify, discuss and action own professional performance and training/development needs with your line manager through appraisal/individual development plan.
- Attend internal/external training events.
- Participate in mandatory training as required.
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £46,310, UK Health Security Agency contributes £13,416 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
- 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%