Consultant in Public Health Global - IHR Strengthening Project

UK Health Security Agency; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 91,000 - 146,000; Full time

Job summary

A national health security organization in Greater London is seeking a highly skilled professional to manage and deliver an ODA funded project aimed at strengthening public health systems in low and middle-income countries. As Deputy Head, you will provide strategic direction and lead a large team to ensure high-quality delivery in collaboration with international partners. This role offers a competitive salary and hybrid working arrangements.

Benefits

Hybrid working

Defined Benefit pension scheme

Retail discounts

Generous parental leave

Qualifications

• Previous experience at a strategic level in low and middle income countries.
• Significant experience managing and leading a large team.
• Willingness to pass security checks.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to coordination and delivery of ODA funded project.
• Provide strategic and operational direction as Deputy Head.
• Deliver project updates, reports, and briefings.

Skills

Public health skills

Excellent communication

Leadership

Project management

Job description

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 is located within UKHSA's Global Health Protection Directorate, led by the Director of Global Health Protection, and sits within the Chief Medical Advisor (CMA) Group which provides trusted clinical and public health leadership through expert advice, guidance, epidemiological insights and evidence. The group leads and delivers services protecting the population from hazards locally, nationally and globally. The Directorate supports the delivery of UKHSA's Global Health Strategy and provides a corporate service to UKHSA supporting the oversight, coordination, and delivery of UKHSA's international activity.

International Health Regulations Strengthening Project (IHR‑S Project)

The International Health Regulations (IHR) Strengthening Project is a DHSC Official Development Assistance (ODA) funded project designed to improve IHR capability in selected countries and regions with medium and long‑term activities through partnerships with National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) in several countries in Africa and Asia. The project has a triple remit to strengthen technical capability, strengthen leadership and develop sustainable public health systems. It operates at national level in partnership with NPHIs and Ministries and at a regional level with bodies such as the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and EMPHNET as well as regional WHO.

Responsibilities

• Use your public health skills to contribute to the coordination and delivery of this ODA funded project to strengthen public health systems and support the implementation of the WHO International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005) in low and middle‑income countries.
• Contribute to day‑to‑day delivery of the project, including line management of project staff, business management and regular monitoring and reporting of progress in support of the Head of the Project.
• As the Deputy Head of Project, provide strategic and operational direction and contribute to the leadership and management of the project, with a particular focus on driving high quality delivery.
• Deputise as required for the Head of IHR‑S Project.
• Require excellent communication skills to deliver project updates, reports and briefings. Use your public health expertise to problem‑solve, discuss issues with senior leadership and ensure that measures to mitigate any risks to the delivery of the project are implemented.
• Be a highly motivated self‑starter able to work independently in a complex, changing environment.
• Be based at UKHSA 10SC London or core HQs, with short international travel (up to two weeks at a time).
• Coordinate some of the activities of the wider project team including Programme managers, project managers and project support officers and work closely with the Head and Country & Regional Leads (UKHSA Public Health Consultants) for the IHR‑SP responsible for delivery of the project. The postholder will also be expected to lead some technical aspects of the project.
• Perform any other reasonable duties as required to deliver the project.

Eligibility & Nationality

• UK nationals
• Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• National of Commonwealth countries entitled to work in the UK
• National of EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members with settled or pre‑settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• National of EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members who have applied for settled or pre‑settled status under EUSS
• Individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals and certain family members with the right to work in the Civil Service

Qualifications & Experience

• Previous experience working at a strategic level in low and middle income countries, engaging with directors and senior politicians.
• Significant experience managing and leading a large team.
• Willingness to pass a basic disclosure and barring security check before appointment.
• Requirement to meet security clearance (normally resident in the UK for the last five years).

Key Information

Salary: £91,342 – £145,478 per annum (Full time, Contract). The role is a Non‑Reserved post under the Civil Service Nationality Rules.

Benefits & Working Arrangements

• Hybrid working – a minimum of 60% of hours at a core HQ.
• Flexible working options: part‑time, job‑share, compressed hours.
• Access to a generous Defined Benefit pension scheme with employer contributions.
• Cycle‑to‑work salary sacrifice scheme.
• Season ticket advances and payroll giving.
• Retail discounts and cashback.
• Generous maternity, paternity and adoption leave package.
• Access to a new National Biosecurity Centre that will bring together teams currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale and Porton Down.

Equal Opportunities

UKHSA promotes equality of opportunity and is an Equal Opportunities Employer. Everyone Matters – we encourage applications from all groups, including those under‑represented in our workforce. All communications regarding your application will be made via email, and applications that do not meet the Recruitment Principles can be complained about as outlined in the Civil Service Code.