Principal Scientist HIV

UK Health Security Agency; City Of London; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A national health security agency is seeking a Principal HIV/STI Surveillance and Prevention Scientist to lead research and implementation efforts. Responsibilities include managing a team, conducting data analyses, and overseeing important national surveys. The ideal candidate holds a relevant degree and a PhD, with experience in public health and HIV epidemiology. This position offers flexible working arrangements and valuable benefits including public holidays and a generous pension scheme.

Benefits

Public holidays

Defined Benefit pension scheme

Cycle-to-work scheme

Flexible working patterns

Generous parental leave

Qualifications

• Significant experience in HIV/sexual health field.
• Training in research methods.
• Experience leading multiple projects.

Responsibilities

• Manage a team of senior scientists and executive officers.
• Lead the development and design of surveys.
• Communicate findings in various formats.

Skills

Team management

Data analysis

Report writing

Research design

Communication

Education

Degree in a relevant scientific subject

PhD or equivalent experience

Tools

Stata

Microsoft ACCESS

Excel

Job description

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.

Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.

Job Overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic, energetic and capable Principal HIV/STI Surveillance and Prevention Scientist to join the Blood Safety, Hepatitis, Sexually Transmitted Infection and HIV Division of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Post holder will be based in HIV Section and will oversee implementation, data collection, analyses and dissemination of findings for Positive Voices national survey conducted in 2022 and planned for 2026. These findings are crucial for informing delivery and implementation of the HIV Action Plan. A specialism in mixed methodology research and behavioural science would be an asset. The post holder will develop and implement statistical analyses and metrics and use mixed methodologies to lead on research, evaluate the impact of responsive health protection measures, and will prepare surveillance outputs, scientific reports and articles. Additional responsibilities in overseeing HIV testing can be considered.

Responsibilities

• Manage a team of senior scientists and executive officers.
• Conduct day‑to‑day activities including data analyses, report writing, research design and implementation, ensuring resources are available to conduct the survey, liaise with academic partners, etc.
• Lead on behalf of the department on developing and designing survey, managing the collation and validation of data, and the timely production of outputs (e.g. reports and articles).
• Work with a range of stakeholders on a daily basis, chair multi‑stakeholder meetings and communicate findings using presentations, reports, briefings and conference abstracts, etc.
• Contribute to the teaching activities of the department.

Qualifications

• Degree in a relevant scientific subject (e.g. public health, behavioural science, data science) or significant experience working at a similar level in HIV/sexual health field.
• PhD or equivalent experience in public health, epidemiology, health promotion, health‑care research or similar.
• Training in research methods, infectious disease epidemiology, surveillance, behavioural surveys, prevention and/or public health.

Knowledge & Experience

• Leading, developing, designing and implementing new scientific initiatives including behavioural surveys.
• Knowledge of HIV/STI/BBV surveillance and epidemiology.
• Experience working at a senior level with responsibility for multiple projects.
• Proficiency with computers and database software packages, particularly Stata, Microsoft ACCESS and Excel.
• Advanced epidemiological and statistical research and qualitative methods (post‑doctoral level).
• Project management – planning, monitoring and controlling single or multi‑disciplinary project groups.
• Preparing scientific reports and presentations.
• Understanding of the background to and aims of current healthcare policy and its implications for engagement.
• Staff management experience.

Skills & Behaviours

• Ability to make decisions autonomously on difficult issues, working to tight and often changing timescales.
• Ability to liaise with a wide range of external collaborators including international partners, health service and academic professionals.
• Ability to analyse complex facts and situations and develop a range of options.
• Demonstrated capability to plan over short, medium and long‑term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly.
• Ability to prioritise own work effectively and to direct activities of others.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of obtaining external research funds through grant applications.
• Understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.
• Knowledge and work experience of communicable disease epidemiology, surveillance and prevention including STIs and BBVs.
• PhD or equivalent experience in public health, epidemiology, health promotion, health‑care research or similar.
• Experience of working at a senior level with responsibility for multiple projects.

Benefits

• Plus public holidays and one privilege day for the King's birthday.
• Access to a generous Defined Benefit pension scheme with employer contributions.
• Access to a cycle‑to‑work salary sacrifice scheme, season ticket advances and payroll giving.
• Access to a retail discounts and cashback site.
• Flexible working patterns (part‑time, job‑share, condensed hours).
• Generous maternity, paternity and adoption leave package.