Job summary

This permanent post is for an epidemiological modeller to work on developing models for vaccine preventable diseases to evaluate effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of vaccination programmes to support the requirements of JCVI (The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation) in the provision of national vaccination policy recommendations. The post-holder's role in the team will be to assist senior modellers in delivering scientific evaluations for new vaccines, reformulated vaccines, alternative vaccine schedules and will include literature reviews and analysis of complex data to obtain parameters for models, writing, checking and documenting model code, compilation of scientific reports and scientific publication.

UKHSA is a world leader in the use of infectious disease modelling and economic evaluation to inform public health decision making about vaccination. The post holder will liaise very closely with the Immunisation Department and the JCVI, to manage and deliver across the team and stakeholders, an agreed portfolio for work to inform national policy recommendations. The post involves considerable potential for original scientific work.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work in the Statistics, Modelling and Economics division at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). A dynamic and stimulating group comprising infectious disease modellers, biostatisticians, and health economists working on a wide range of strategically important projects relating to the burden of infectious disease, evaluation of control programmes, and modelling the impact of interventions against infections, both nationally and internationally. The work of the division is frequently used to inform policy, and close working with policy colleagues is often required. It is a world leader in its field and has numerous collaborative links with external academic and non-academic institutes and other public health agencies, WHO (World Health Organisation) and others.

The division sits within the Analysis and Intelligence Assessment and Data Science directorate in the Data, Analysis and Surveillance group of UKHSA.

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.

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Job description

Job responsibilities

Your key responsibilities will include:

To lead development of sophisticated infectious disease models related to the transmission and control of vaccine preventable infections with a focus on bacterial transmission To take the lead in the parameterisation of the models by analysis of appropriate data and literature review To identify, use and analyse complex datasets, synthesizing multiple evidence sources, and using a range of software To develop and use health economics and/or health outcomes models to further our understanding of vaccine preventable infections and their associated costs including understanding the burden of vaccine preventable infections from different perspectives. To develop models used to assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of national vaccination programmes To adapt and extend existing models (written in, for , R, Python) where necessary To develop and implement protocols/quality assurance plans and the like for managing the development of models To work and communicate effectively within a multidisciplinary team and coordinate research accordingly To liaise and collaborate effectively with UK and international colleagues To manage own programme of work and to use considerable initiative and independence To give presentations at national and international meetings, as appropriate To prepare papers for peer-reviewed scientific journals

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.

Essential Criteria:

Postgraduate degree in mathematics, statistics or other relevant quantitative subject Mathematical, or statistical, or economical modelling experience Relevant research experience in responsive and timely model development and analysis Strong skills in analysis and interpretation of data Strong knowledge and familiarity of programming with statistical packages and scientific programming (for example in R, Python) Scientific writing including peer review publications Demonstrate good interpersonal skills and ability to work as a team member (in a multi-disciplinary team) Demonstrated capability to take initiative and plan own work programme

For a full list of essential criteria, please refer to the attached Job Description.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours and Strengths.

Stage 1 - Application & Sift:

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the above listed 7essential criteria that have been selected from the job description, and this will be in the form of a:

Application form(Employer/ Activity history section on the application

750 word Statement of Suitability

This should outline how you consider your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.

The application form and statement of suitability will be marked together.

Please do not exceed750 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number. If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview. Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview (success profiles)

You will be invited to a (single) remote interview.

Behaviour's and strengths will be tested at interview.

The Behaviour's tested during the interview stage will be:

Working Together Communicating and Influencing Developing Self and Others Seeing the Big Picture

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 office working based at:

61 Colindale Ave,LondonNW9 5EQ

Please note Hybrid working is not an option for this role.

Eligibility Criteria

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

If based at one of our scientific locations you will be required to have a Counter TerrorismCheck security vetting check as a minimum. For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years as the role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance. In exceptional circumstances UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

Person Specification

Application form and Statement of Suitability

Essential

Application form and Statement of Suitability

Behaviours

Essential

Working Together Communicating and Influencing Developing Self and Others Seeing the Big Picture