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Job summary

Main area
Clinical Public Health
Grade
Civil Service: Senior Executive Officer (SEO)
Contract
Permanent
Hours
  • Full time
  • Part time
  • Job share
  • Flexible working
37.5 hours per week
Job ref
919-LT-308160-EXT
Employer
UK Health Security Agency
Employer type
Public (Non NHS)
Site
Colindale, Canary Wharf
Town
London
Salary
£42,716 - £48,068 per annum, pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
04/11/2024 23:59

Employer heading

UK Health Security Agency logo

Health Economist and Infectious Disease Modeller

Civil Service: Senior Executive Officer (SEO)

The United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is a system leader for health security; taking action internationally to strengthen global health security, providing trusted advice to government and the public and reducing inequalities in the way different communities experience and are impacted by infectious disease, environmental hazards, and other threats to health.

UKHSA’s remit, as an agency with a global-to-local reach, is to protect the health of the nation from infectious diseases and other external threats to health. As the nation’s expert national health security agency UKHSA will:

  • Prevent: anticipate threats to health and help build the nation’s readiness, defences and health security
  • Detect: use cutting edge environmental and biological surveillance to proactively detect and monitor infectious diseases and threats to health
  • Analyse: use world-class science and data analytics to assess and continually monitor threats to health, identifying how best to control and mitigate the risks
  • Respond: take rapid, collaborative and effective actions nationally and locally to mitigate threats to health when they materialise
  • Lead: lead strong and sustainable global, national, regional and local partnerships designed to save lives, protect the nation from public health threats and reduce inequalities.

Job overview

This post sits within the Healthcare Associated Infection, Fungal, Antimicrobial Resistance, Antimicrobial Utilisation & Sepsis Division (Clinical & Public Health group) of UKHSA. The post-holder will develop health economic models of healthcare associated infections (HCAI) and antimicrobial resistant (AMR) infections. They will analyse epidemiological, cost and healthcare data to inform such models; and use these models to gain insight for public health decision-making and evaluate the potential cost-effectiveness of interventions and control strategies. The post-holder should contribute to advancement of knowledge of HCAI and AMR control. The post-holder will be expected to develop and maintain effective collaborations and co-ordinate the research to meet objectives. Research undertaken by the post holder will respond to policy needs and is expected to provide practical insight for policy makers, epidemiologists and clinicians.

Main duties of the job

  • Lead development of health economic models related to the transmission and control of healthcare associated infections and antimicrobial resistant infections
  • Take the lead in the parameterisation of the models by analysis of appropriate data and literature review
  • Identify, use and analyse complex datasets, synthesizing multiple evidence sources, and using a range of software 
  • Develop and use mathematical and/or statistical (health economics and/or health outcomes) models to further our understanding of HCAI and AMR infections and their associated costs including understanding the burden of HCAI & AMR from different perspectives.
  • Develop models used to assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of infection prevention and control measures and other intervention strategies  
  • Adapt and extend existing models (written in, for e.g., R) where necessary
  • Develop and implement protocols for managing the development of models
  • Work and communicate effectively within a multidisciplinary team and coordinate research accordingly
  • Liaise and collaborate effectively with UK and international colleagues
  • Manage own programme of work and to use considerable initiative and independence
  • Give presentations at national and international meetings, as appropriate
  • Prepare papers for peer-reviewed scientific journals

Working for our 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.  

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will work in the HCAI & AMR Modelling and Evaluations Unit at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). A dynamic and stimulating group comprising infectious disease modellers and health economists working on diverse projects relating to the burden of infectious disease and modelling the impact of interventions against infections, both nationally and internationally. The work of the Modelling and Evaluations Unit is frequently used to inform policy, and close working with policy colleagues is often required. It is a world leader in its field and has numerous collaborative links with external academic and non-academic institutes and other public health agencies, World Health Organisation (WHO) and others. 

The Unit sits within the Healthcare Associated Infection (HCAI), Fungal, Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), Antimicrobial Usage (AMU) and Sepsis Division, (in the Clinical and Public Health group) of UKHSA. The mission of the division is to protect people from healthcare-associated and antimicrobial resistant infections, through world-leading public health microbiology, outbreak response, surveillance, antimicrobial stewardship, modelling, research and evidence-based interventions.

You will be assessed on the below 8 essential criteria, which have been selected from the Job Description.

Essential criteria
•    Masters degree in economics, mathematics, statistics or other relevant field
•    Relevant research experience
•    Economic, mathematical, or statistical modelling experience
•    Strong skills in analysis and interpretation of data
•    Knowledge and familiarity of programming with statistical packages and scientific programming (for example in R)
•    Scientific writing including peer review publications
•    Demonstrate good interpersonal skills and ability to work as a team member (in a multi-disciplinary team) 
•    Demonstrated capability to take initiative and plan own work programme

Desirable criteria
•    Knowledge and experience of the application of health economics in the field of infectious diseases
•    Management, analysis, interpretation and reporting of complex datasets
•    Experience in critical appraisal and synthesis of evidence sources
•    Experience of working on collaborative projects
•    Communication of complex ideas and methods clearly and succinctly to a wide range of audiences with differing technical backgrounds
•    Understanding of data validity, reliability and confidentiality issues
•    Demonstrated capability to act upon incomplete information, using experience to make inferences and decision making 

Selection Process Details:

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Experience, Behaviours and Technical skills.

Stage 1: Application & Sift 

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the above 8 listed essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

•    Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
•   750 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.

In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on: Economic, mathematical, or statistical modelling experience 

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview and assessment 

Please do not exceed 750 words.  We will not consider any words over and above this number.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview 

You will be invited to a (single) remote interview.

Knowledge, Experience, Technical skills and Behaviours will be tested at interview

There will be a 5 minute presentation on a relevant research project.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

  • Working Together (lead behaviour)
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Developing Self and Others
  • Seeing the Big Picture

Planned interview date- 15th November- please note that this date 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.

Eligibility Criteria

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).  
 
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 (if based at Canary Wharf) or Counter-terrorist Check (if based at Colindale)

(If based at Colindale) 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). 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. 

Person specification

Application form and Statement of Suitability

Essential criteria
  • Application form and Statement of Suitability

Behaviours

Essential criteria
  • Working Together (lead behaviour)
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Developing Self and Others
  • Seeing the Big Picture

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Purple SpaceApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyAge positiveImproving working livesMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerThe Employers Network for Equality & Inclusion (enei) is the UK's leading employer network covering all aspects of equality and inclusion issues in the workplace.Carer Confident -AccomplishedHappy to Talk Flexible Working

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Lisa Tweedie
Job title
Resourcing Support Officer
Email address
[email protected]
Additional information

For information relating to the role, please contact 
Edwin VanLeeuwen, Principal Infectious Disease Modeller, [email protected]

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