Job responsibilities
Key Responsibilities:
- Undertaking environmental public health risk assessments for both acute and chronic chemical and environmental hazard exposures to prevent or mitigate risks to the public
- Critically analyse and interpret complex data to inform the public health risk assessment
- Translate scientific evidence and policy into practical applications
- Contribute to the UKHSA Emergency Preparedness Resilience and Response arrangements as a Category 1 responder
- Collaborate with stakeholders and multi-agency partners to ensure an effective and efficient public health response during emergencies
- Provide expert and authoritative advice in relation to chemical and environmental hazards to key stakeholders including Government departments, emergency services and members of the public
- Collaborate with stakeholders and multi-agency partners to improve the evidence base in order to protect the population from identified chemical and environmental hazards
- Effective communication of public health risk assessment and advice to stakeholders and members of the public
- Provide environmental public health training and teaching in relation to chemicals and environmental hazards
Publication and Communication:
- The writing and editing of research papers for submission to peer reviewed journals and contract reports.
- Collaboration with other national and international experts in order to obtain relevant technical information, discuss ideas, describe work developments and progress etc.
- Participation in scientific meetings and conferences, presenting papers describing research activities. These may be at internal (UKHSA), national, European or international events.
- Dissemination of information and knowledge gathered from participation at workshops, meetings, seminars and conferences to colleagues.
Training:
- Provide training on environmental public health issues for a range of stakeholders, in support of RCE (Wales) and UKHSA training courses, in particular:
- Provide lectures on scheduled training courses.
- Review any training materials and provide critical review to improve training outcomes.
- Develop and train other UKHSA staff.
Health Protection:
- Provide written and verbal advice on protection of patients, the public and chemical users from environmental hazards and provide information to the public and others on environmental issues as appropriate.
- Participate in emergency response to incidents where UKHSA has a response role, in particular:
- Participate in UKHSAs response to chemical and environmental incidents as appropriate, in support of other specialist teams
Other:
- 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 your line manager.
- The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the division and UKHSA.
- It should be noted that the work of the division is of a confidential nature and must not be communicated to other persons except where required for authorised purposes.
Professional Development:
- Identify, discuss and action own professional performance and training / development needs with your line manager through appraisal / individual development plan. Attending internal / external training events
- To participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e. fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training.
Location:
UKHSA offers hybrid working for its employees this means that whilst the role will be based in one of our UKHSA offices, there will be opportunities for an element of working from home. The balance between home and workplace working is to be agreed with the line manager, determined primarily by business need and in line with departmental policy. Some business travel will be required to other UKHSA offices. Business travel between base location and any other UKHSA offices will be covered under the UKHSA Travel and Expenses policy. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available.
Eligibility Criteria:
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
Security Clearance Level Requirement:
People working with government assets must complete Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks which include disclosure and barring security check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed for this role is BPSS
Pay:
New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.
The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.
For further details, please refer to the Information Sheet- Starting Salaries & Benefits attachment. Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security:
Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check. People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.
Nationality requirements:
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
- certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
Further information on nationality requirements
Selection Process:
You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on essential criteria, and this will be in the form of:
- A CV/ Application form
- Suitability Statement (up to 1250 words)
This should outline how you consider your skills, experience and achievements, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria outlined. The CV and Statement of Suitability will be marked separately, and you must pass both to move forward to interview. If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment
Stage 2 – Interview
You will be invited to a face to face interview at the Cardiff Location and the following will be inlcuded:
- 10 min technical presentation.The presentation topic will be circulated prior to interview to shortlisted candidates.
- 45 min interview, to assess the candidateagainst a mixture ofBehaviours and Technical skills.
The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:
- Making effective decisions,
- Communicating and influencing
- Working together
- Delivering at a pace
- Developing self and others.
This role will close on 27th January 2023 at 23:55
Applicants will not be considered after this date and time.
Reserves List:
Candidates who pass the interview criteria but are not offered a post will be kept on a reserve list for 12 months and may be contacted if similar roles become available. f you are interviewed for the post and do not meet the required threshold for the specified grade, your application may be assessed against a similar, lower grade role and you may be offered the post should one be available.