About this role
Job summary
This is a senior role within the health protection team and provides leadership, management and oversight of the health protection function, including the response to incidents and outbreaks and responsibility for the day to day operational delivery.
The post holder will play a key role in developing, shaping and assuring the health protection function, which may include managing individuals and teams, working closely with partners, and ensuring delivery of high-quality surveillance, response and support systems. The post holder will have responsibility for developing and maintaining close working relationships both internally and with partner organisations. In addition, they will contribute and lead on regional and national priorities, including contribution to wider public health initiatives consistent with the regional delivery model and integrated working.
Main duties of the job
RESPONSE1. Will be expected, when required, to assume overall responsibility for the management of incidents and outbreaks of infectious diseases, lead the local Health Protection team response to non-infectious environmental hazards and chemical incidents and assume overall responsibility for the day to day running of the acute response function.2. To utilise an evidence-based approach to manage clinical/professional advice and discussions within the team and support and participate in the team's formal case review process.3. To ensure the monitoring of standards, ensuring quality and consistency and to take action where any shortfall occurs.4. May be responsible for any ongoing longer-term management of issues relevant to a defined geography area within their area.5. May perform Proper Officer duties in relation to Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 and the Public Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 2010 as agreed with Local Authorities.6. Will be expected to contribute, and where required, lead the UKHSA response during incidents in line with UKHSAs Emergency Planning Resilience and Response (EPRR) arrangements as part of the region's responsibilities under the Civil Contingencies Act.7. Will contribute, support and where necessary lead the UKHSA regional centre input into Emergency Planning arrangements.8. May be required to participate in an on call rota at local, regional or national level as required.
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 description Job responsibilities
SURVEILLANCE1. Contribute strategically to the development and maintenance of effective systems for the surveillance of communicable disease and environmental hazards.2. Proactively use surveillance outputs to inform and influence local and national Public Health actions, policies and strategies.3. Lead, plan and design agreed initiatives to address health needs, health inequalities and health impact assessment, with a particular focus on health protection
PARTNERSHIP WORKING1. Take a lead in the proactive development and contribution to key relationships with a wide range of individuals and stakeholders and take responsibility for the maintenance of professional networks relevant to role.2. Influence, and where appropriate, lead the development and implementation of system wide priorities and programmes for public health action or improvement.3. Employ highly effective communication, negotiation and influencing skills to enable stakeholder relationships to deliver objectives with:a. External organisations and wider NHS stakeholders to ensure collaboration in the strategy in the Sectorb. Internal leaders and staff to gain input to the development of systems, processes and activities4. Deal with complex and conflicting subject matter problems or in day work load in workshops, meetings, one to one communications and other events, comprising various parts of the organisation.5. Contribute actively to the development and implementation of system wide priorities and programmes for public health action or improvement.
RESEARCH, TEACHING AND TRAINING1. Contribute to research activity to complement the health protection evidence base and where agreed, to lead research projects.2. Deliver appropriate teaching activities across a range of audiences.3. Contribute to training programmes (including supervision) for Foundation Year Doctors and Specialist Trainees in the Faculty of Public Health training scheme as appropriate, and to the training of health and care professionals and practitioners within the locality.4. Ensure appropriate clinical supervision and mentorship systems are in place for staff within scope of responsibility.5. Provide clinical/professional supervision and mentorship as appropriate.
MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP1. To be a visible, positive leader and role model. Meeting and demonstrating high professional standards.2. Oversee the development and implementation of policies and protocols for a wide range of health protection issues.3. Lead and coordinate defined areas of work as agreed with the Deputy Director for Health Protection e.g. specific communicable disease and non-infectious environmental hazards, quality and training.4. Where agreed, lead the locality/patch based health protection team.5. May undertake line management responsibilities including budgetary responsibilities as agreed with the Deputy Director Health Protection or Regional Director. 6. Actively identify, lead and contribute to quality improvement and governance initiatives in line with strategic direction of the region.7. Actively assist in the development of joint plans and system wide priorities for public health action or improvement.8. Ensure compliance with all confidentiality and governance requirements at all times.9. Lead and contribute to proactive and responsive media issues.10. Proactively contribute to wider organisational development.11. Contribute to the strategic work of the locality/patch based health protection team and deputise where appropriate, using systems leadership approaches and skills.12. Contribute strategically to the development and the testing of the regions business continuity plan.
PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT1. Participate in organisational and professional appraisal and revalidation as appropriate.2. Pursue a programme of Continuing Professional Development, including mandatory training, in accordance with the requirements of a recognised Professional body e.g. Faculty of Public Health, Royal College of Pathologists.3. On the occasions when a medical qualification and GMC specialist registration are required, medically qualified members may be asked to undertake specific duties such as in the development of Patient Group Direction or Medical Officer functions in the Regulations of the Public Health Act. Such occasions may be based on legislative or organisational requirements.4. Where appropriate, contribute to and support the development of individuals and the team through appraisal, personal development planning, coaching and mentoring.
OTHER DUTIES1. 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.2. The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of UKHSA Places and regions.
For full details, please see the attached Job Description & Person Specification.
ExternalOpen to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
Stage 1: Application & Sift
This vacancy is using Competency.
At sift stage you will be assessed against the essential criteria listed in the job advert and the attached Job Description & Person Specification.
You will be required to complete an:
Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application) 1500 word Statement of Suitability
Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, your statement of suitability must be no more than 1500.
This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role.
You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. (The application form is the kind of information you would put into your C.V please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible)
If we receive a large number of applications an initial sift will be conducted against the lead criterion of: Inclusion in the GMC Specialist Register or UK Public Health (Specialist) Register (Special Inclusion in the GMC full and specialist register with a license to practice (or be eligible for registration within six months of interview); UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) for Public Health Specialists or be eligible within 6 months.
Please note feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Stage 2: Interview (competency based)
You will be invited to a face to face interview. If face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.
Interviews will be held Thurs 8th October 2026, please note these dates are subject to change.
This vacancy is being assessed using competancy. During the interview we will assess against the below:
KnowledgeExperienceSkills and Abilities
You will be asked to prepare and present a 510 minute presentation. The subject of this will be sent to you prior to interview.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.
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.
NHS Medical and Dental Consultant: £115,565 - £150,569 per annum, pro rataAgenda for Change band 8d: £94,356 - £108,814 per annum, pro rata
This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our sites at either Ashford, Kent or Horsham , West Sussex. 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 your contractual base.
Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport link and benefit from benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).
UKHSA is investing in a new state-of-the-art National Biosecurity Centre in Harlow, Essex, which will eventually bring together teams currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale and Porton Down. For more details, please see: Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection - GOV.UK.The new facilities will start becoming operational in the mid-2030s, with full completion by 2038. Staff will move in phases as facilities become available. If you're appointed to a role currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale or Porton Down, please note that we'll continue investing in these sites for the next decade. As we get closer to the transition, we'll provide full information about relocation support available to staff.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Inclusion in the GMC Specialist Register or UK Public Health (Specialist) Register (Special Inclusion in the GMC full and specialist register with a license to practice (or be eligible for registration within six months of interview); UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) for Public Health Specialists or be eligible within 6 months If included in the GMC Specialist Register in a specialty other than public health medicine, infectious diseases medicine or medical microbiology, candidates must have equivalent training and/or appropriate experience of public health medicine, infectious diseases medicine or medical microbiology practice Public health specialist registrar and specialist trainee applicants who are not yet on the GMC Register/UKPHR must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they are within 6 months of gaining entry at the date of interview; all other applicants must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they have applied for inclusion in the GMC/UKPHR If an applicant is non-UK trained, they will be required to show evidence of equivalence to the UK CCT Applicants must meet minimum CPD requirements in accordance with the requirements of the Faculty of Public Health/Royal College of Pathologists/Royal College of Physicians or other recognised body MFPH, or MRCPath, or MRCP MFPH by examination or evidence of equivalent qualification; FRC Path or evidence of equivalent qualification; MRCP or evidence of equivalent qualification
Knowledge and experience Essential
Minimum 6 months experience in Health Protection practice Practical experience in leading and facilitating change Experience of communicable disease control in a wide variety of settings including out of hours on call Experience of working with other agencies Experience of emergency planning Understanding of key agencies involved in health protection Knowledge of methods of developing clinical quality assurance, audit, quality improvement and evidence based clinical and/or public health practice Understanding of social and political environment Understanding of laboratory microbiology services Understanding of clinical infectious diseases services Understanding of clinical toxicology services Understanding of the principles of radiological protection
Desirable
Experience of budget management and financial processes Experience and demonstrable competency in dealing with environmental hazards / chemical incidents Ability to undertake prophylaxis, diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases of public health importance Peer reviewed scientific publications, presentation of papers at conferences, seminars, etc
Skills and capabilities Essential
Strategic thinker with proven leadership skills, including management of change Able to prioritise work, and work well against a background of change and uncertainty Adaptable to situations, can communicate with people of all capabilities and attitudes Project management Understanding of epidemiology and statistics, public health practice, health promotion, health economics and health care evaluation Excellent oral and written communication skills (including dealing with the public and the media) Effective interpersonal, motivational and influencing skills Ability to respond appropriately in unplanned and unforeseen circumstances Sensible negotiator with practical expectation of what can be achieved Substantially numerate, with highly developed analytical skills using qualitative and quantitative data Computer literate Ability to design, develop, interpret and implement policies Ability to concentrate for long periods (e.g. analyses, media presentations) Resource management skills
Desirable
People management and training Training and mentoring Have an awareness of and be working towards the key core competencies set out in Civil Service Competency Framework 2010-2017 and KSF for those on AfC terms and conditions
Behaviours and Attitudes Essential
Strong commitment to public health principles Commitment to team-working and respect and consideration for the skills of others Self-motivated, pro-active, and innovative High standards of professional probity
Equality and diversity Essential
An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, and in relation to management systems
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name UK Health Security Agency
Address Ashford, Kent or Horsham, West Sussex
Ashford
TN23 1PP
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency (Opens in a new tab)