Environmental Public Health Scientist

UK Health Security Agency; Cardiff; Hybrid; GBP 37,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

UK Health Security Agency in Cardiff is seeking a Senior Executive Officer to lead environmental public health risk assessments related to chemical and environmental hazards. The role involves translating complex evidence into practical guidance for government, NHS, and public health stakeholders.

You will work in a hybrid setup, contributing to emergency preparedness and public health protection, with a focus on evidence-based decision making and stakeholder engagement across multiple agencies.

Qualifications

• Honours degree in a science-related discipline (or equivalent).
• Postgraduate or integrated Masters in a scientific subject or equivalent professional experience in environmental public health protection.
• Strong data analysis and interpretation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead environmental public health risk assessments for chemical and environmental hazard exposures to protect the public.
• Critically analyse and interpret complex data to inform risk assessments.
• Translate scientific evidence and policy into practical applications.
• Contribute to UKHSA emergency preparedness and response as a Category 1 responder.
• Collaborate with stakeholders and multi-agency partners for effective emergency response.
• Provide expert environmental public health advice to government departments and the public.
• Develop evidence to protect the population from chemical and environmental hazards.
• Communicate risk assessments clearly to diverse audiences.
• Deliver environmental public health training and teaching on chemicals and hazards.
• Build relationships with internal and external stakeholders across the UK.

Skills

Public health

Data analysis

Communication

Presentation skills

Stakeholder engagement

Microsoft Office

Education

Honours degree in science-related discipline

Postgraduate or integrated Masters degree in a scientific subject

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

The Environmental Hazards and Emergencies (EHE) Departmentprovidesauthoritative scientific advice to government, theNHSand other bodies.EHE's mission is to prepare for and prevent future health security hazards, strengthen capability and to respond to chemical and environmental emergencies, and build the UK's capacity on health security for new and long-term exposure to environmental hazards.

The EHE Departmentcomprisesof multidisciplinary teams of scientist working across geographically dispersed locations within England and Wales.The departmentis responsible forprovidingspecialist advice at local,nationaland international level on the public health impact of acute and chronic non-infectious environmental exposures. Scientists collaborate with academia on research and evidence reviews to underpin this advice, such as via the National Institute of Health Protection Research Units (HPRU).

The post holder, based within one of the chemical and environmental hazards teams, will respond to chemical and environmental hazard incidents and enquiries which threaten people's health, through provision of public health risk assessments. Such threats might involve chemical fires, chemical contamination of the environment, or deliberate release of chemicals. The postholder will contribute to development of evidence and provision of expert environmental public health advice to government, multi-agency stakeholders and members of the public

Main duties of the job

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Leadanenvironmental public health risk assessment for both acute and chronic chemical and environmental hazard exposures to prevent or mitigate risks to the public
• Critical analysis and interpretation of 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 service during emergencies
• Provide expert and authoritative advice in relation to chemical and environmental hazards to key stakeholders including Government departments, emergencyservicesand members of the public
• Collaborate with stakeholders and multi-agency partners to improve the evidence base to protect the population fromidentifiedchemical 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
• Develop working relationships and communicate regularly with a wide range of individuals, clinical and non-clinical,internaland external to UKHSA

Please Note: This list is not exhaustive

About us

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

Job responsibilities

Responsibilities will include but not be limited to:

Training

• Provide training on environmental public health training issues associated with area of expertise in support of EHE training development courses.Contribute and present formal lectures to professional level training courses
• Review any training materials and provide critical review to improve training outcomes.
• Participate and where necessary represent EHE at multi-agency training including emergency planning, chemical incidentexercisesand other technical workshops

Communication and publication

• Dissemination of information and knowledge gathered from participation at workshops, meetings,seminarsand conferences to colleagues
• The writing and editing of research papers for submission to peer reviewed journals and contract reports.
• Collaboration with other national and international experts to obtain relevant technical information, discuss ideas, describe work developments and progress etc.
• Participation in scientific meetings and conferences, presenting papers describing research activities
• Honours degree in a science-related discipline (or equivalent qualification), and relevant postgraduate or integratedMastersdegree in a scientific subject, or equivalent professional experience within environmental public health protection.
• Experience in research and development within relevant scientific disciplines (e.g., environmental hazards, public health protection), with the ability to manage risks and report outcomes effectively
• Communicate effectively with diverse audiences, including UKHSA staff, government representatives, and external organisations.Present complex technical information clearly to non-specialists and influence decisions through cohesive arguments.
• Demonstrate strong technical competence in data analysis and interpretation of complex, sometimes incomplete evidence. Apply scientific principles to assess novel situations,identifyhazards, and make informed decisions under pressure.
• Highly organised, self-motivated, and adaptable, with excellent time management skills to handle changing priorities. Proficient in Microsoft Office, able to build strong relationships, and willing to work irregular hours whenrequired
• Strong presentation skills with proven experience in developing and delivering engaging presentations to diverse audiences, including internal teams and external stakeholders.
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.
• In-depth understanding of relevant legislation and commitment to continuing professional development
• Proven ability to design, deliver, and evaluate effective training programs for diverse audiences, ensuring knowledge transfer and skill development.
• Proven ability to contribute to strategic business planning, ensuring effective process implementation and successful delivery of organisational objectives.

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our offices in Cardiff. We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce.

As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, averaged over a month) working at our office. Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport links and benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a basic disclosure and barring security check before they can be appointed. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Counter-Terrorist Check.

Eligibility Criteria

This vacancy is open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service as well as internal applicants.

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.

Senior Executive Officer (SEO)

Person Specification

Application Form & Supporting Statement

• Application Form & Supporting Statement

Behaviours

• Making Effective Decisions (Lead behaviour)
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Developing Self and Others
• Delivering at Pace

Strengths

• Strength Based Questions

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

£37,056 to £42,481 a yearPer annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time,Part-time,Job share,Flexible working

Reference number

919-VO-303067-EXT