About this role
Job summary
As an economist in UKHSA, you will be building the economic evidence base for the agency as well as the organisation's economics capability. The role provides a great opportunity to develop and apply analytical skills, support evidence-based decision-making on critical health priorities and shape the organisation's culture around the use of economics.
You will work with other experts (epidemiologists, data scientists and public health experts) to assess current and future economic costs and benefits of preparing for and responding to health threats and hazards and to help build our understanding of how health security interacts with the wider economy.
You will develop these cost and benefit estimates often either through literature reviews or your own primary research, including research using large-scale data assets held by UKHSA such as hospital records or microbiology results. Where needed, you will be supported through formal learning opportunities to develop data analysis skills, including programming or use of AI.
You will then incorporate these into economic evaluations for potential interventions as well as other ad-hoc pieces of work to support decision-making. Depending on the project, you may apply data analysis methods (including econometrics) as well as professional Government analytical standards, such as Green Book or Aqua Book.
Main duties of the job
You will be open to learning more about public health from other experts while demonstrating the value that economics can bring to public health questions. You will need to develop clear high-quality analysis and communicate it to a senior audience. As a small team, there will be some flexibility in the work undertaken but this also comes with the ability for the post-holder to shape the role towards their interests. However, the type of work you can expect to lead and support on includes:
Leading thinking on how health interventions impact health security and the economy, how we should assess associated costs and benefits to society and developing the evidence base for informing policymaking. Producing cost-benefit, cost-effectiveness analysis and other economic outputs to guide UKHSA decision-making in policy-making, implementing interventions or supporting other bodies in their decision-making. Developing robust economic cases, using the latest evidence for key UKHSA projects and programmes. Developing the agency's economic capacity
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
Your main responsibilities will include:
Provide analysis and insight: You will apply economic techniques to estimate, analyse and communicate the costs of interventions or health threats to the UK. This includes carrying out cost-benefit, cost-of-illness and cost-effectiveness analysis, but may also extend to ad-hoc pieces of work to support decision-making. You are open to learning more about health security, climate threats and public health in general from other experts while demonstrating the value of economics. You will need to develop clear high-quality analysis, make recommendations and communicate effectively to a variety of audiences, including senior audiences. Lead a research programme. You will apply existing methods and identify new approaches to provide insight to difficult health questions. You will demonstrate an ability to manage projects and stakeholders across an organisation, and bring a strong intellectual curiosity with an interdisciplinary approach. There will be scope for the postholder to shape this work according to their interest, while also meeting the likely future demands of the organisation. It could include looking at how health security interacts with the wider economy or looking at new ways to value resilience. Build the Economic profession at UKHSA: All the while, you will be at the forefront of building the role and reputation of the economic profession within UKHSA in general, and providing leadership on economics. Working with experts across multiple fields, you will showcase the value of economics to all colleagues as well as contributing to building an inclusive and welcoming community of economics. Recent project examples for the team include:
Estimating the burden and cost of infections and infectious diseases on NHS hospitals from routine administrative data Supporting the Agency during Spending Review through developing evidence on the Agencys Value for Money Preparing a business case for pandemic preparedness to support allocation of resources. In addition, you will also be central to building our understanding of how infectious disease and other hazards interact with the wider healthcare system and economy. You will support the Agencys and Cabinet Offices Risk Assessments and planning by estimating the potential economic impact of different health threats. Finally, as UKHSA has a responsibility to respond to mitigate the impact of health security threats, you may also feed into responses in the event of major public health incidents.
This is not an exhaustive list.
Essential criteria
A first or second class honours degree in economics or related field (or equivalent qualification); or a postgraduate degree in a relevant numerate discipline (or equivalent qualification) Ability to effectively communicate the results of analysis to senior stakeholders and decision makers Good interpersonal skills and the ability to develop and maintain key stakeholder relationships Excellent presentation skills Desirable criteria
Knowledge of health economics and experience in applying it to provide insight into health problems. Ability to work at pace to deadlines across multiple projects Experience with developing Green Book-compliant business cases including knowledge of best practice. Experience in cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analysis, particularly relating to health interventions Selection process
This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your qualifications, knowledge and experience and / or skills and abilities outlined in the essential criteria.
Stage 1: Application & Sift
You willbe requiredto complete an application form. You will be assessed onthe listed4 essentialcriteria,and this will be in the form of:
an application form(Employer/ Activity history section on the application) a 1000 wordsupporting statement. This should outline how you consider your skills, experience and knowledgeprovide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.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 beadvisedyou will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible). Please do not email us your CV.
HealthjobsUK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 1000 words. We will not consider any words over1000words.
Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:
Meets all essential criteria Meets some essential criteria Meets no essential criteria If used, the pile Meets all essential criteria will proceed to shortlisting.Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on:
A first or second class honours degree in economics or related field (or equivalent qualification); or a postgraduate degree in a relevant numerate discipline (or equivalent qualification) Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications / large amount of successful candidates.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview and assessment.
Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Stage 2: Interview
You will be invited to a remote interview via MS Teams.
Knowledge, experience, skills and abilities will be tested at interview.
Interviews will be held week commencing 16th November 2026. Please note, these dates are subject to change.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Location
This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our Core HQ in London (Canary Wharf).
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) on-site.
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).
Eligibility criteria
Option 1 - External
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
Security clearance level requirement
Part 1
Successful candidates must pass a basic Disclosure and Barring Security (DBS) check before they can be appointed.
Part 2
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard.
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.
Please note: The Digital and Data Directorate, where this role sits, is reviewing its Target Operating Model. While the process is still in the planning stage, some roles may be affected by future changes. We are committed to keeping candidates informed and will share updates as they become available.
Person Specification
Application form and supporting statement Essential
Application form and supporting statement
Essential criteria Essential
Questions on knowledge, experience, skills & abilities
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).
Employer details Employer name UK Health Security Agency
Address Core HQ
London
E14 4PU
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency (Opens in a new tab)