Environmental Public Health Practitioner

UKHSA Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards (RCE) is part of the UKHSA Science Group. RCE provides advice, research and services to protect the public from hazards resulting from exposure to chemicals and poisons, ionising and non-ionising radiation, and other environmental hazards.
RCE’s Environmental Hazards and Emergencies (EHE) Department provides authoritative scientific advice to government, the NHS and other bodies about the public health effects of acute and chronic chemicals exposures and the impact of other environmental hazards., Three geographically dispersed teams (North, Midlands, South) operating from nine locations providing specialist advice at local and national level on the public health impact of acute and chronic non-infectious environmental exposures; and
Two specialist groups (Air Quality & Public Health, Noise & Health). Key activities include the provision of highly specialist advice on the health impacts of noise and air pollution nationally and internationally; research in these areas, including, but not exclusively, through the National Institute of Health Research Health Protection Research Units. For the Air Quality & Public Health Group, provision of support to the Department of Health and Social care (DHSC) expert committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP).
The post holder, based within the dispersed chemical and environmental hazards teams, will contribute to the response respond to chemical & environmental hazard incidents and enquiries which threaten people's health, through the provision of public health risk assessments. Such threats might involve chemical fires, chemical contamination of the environment, or the deliberate release of chemicals and poisons. The postholder will contribute to the development of evidence and provision of expert environmental public health advice to government, multi-agency stakeholders and members of the public.
Main duties and responsibilities:
In collaboration with others:
+ Liaise and collaborate with other UKHSA Groups and Directorates; relevant regulators and others to promote an effective environmental public health response service by providing advice on the protection of the public following acute and chronic chemical incidents.
+ Provide information to the public and stakeholders on environmental public health issues as appropriate.
+ Plan and carry out, with support, complex scientific studies of high quality to formulate robust evidence-based advice for environmental public health.
+ Contribute to externally funded contract work and core research activities including critical analysis of data; collation of results; and development of recommendations or advice.
+ Undertake or review risk assessments for the protection of members of the public from environmental media such as contaminated land risk assessments.
+ Review environmental permit applications; health impact or environmental impact assessments or planning applications and provide advice on threats to public health.
+ Undertake statistical analysis of data and contribute to the environmental surveillance function of the UKHSA including surveillance of environmental insult and related diseases
+ Keep under review and raise awareness of the risks to population health of chemical, radiological and other environmental threats.
For a full list of the main duties and responsibilities of the role, please refer to the attached Job Description., You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the above listed essential criteria, and this will be in the form of
+ a CV/ Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
+ a 1250 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 CV / Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together
Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on Relevant science Degree or equivalent qualifications or equivalent experience
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment
Please do not exceed 1250 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.
Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Stage 2: Interview
You will be invited to a (single) remote interview.
Behaviours and experience will be tested at interview.
There will be a 10-minute presentation to the panel. This will be followed by a question-and-answer segment. The presentation will be designed to assess each candidate’s experience in line with the requirements of the role. Full details will be provided prior to the interview.
The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be
+ Working Together
+ Communicating and Influencing
+ Making effective decisions
+ Delivering at Pace
Interview dates to be confirmed.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Location information
UKHSA operates 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 UKHSA's Bristol site.
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.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard.
Disability Confident scheme
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Reserve List clause
Candidates who pass the interview criteria but are not offered a post will be kept on a reserve list for 12 months and may be contacted if similar roles become available.
If you are interviewed for the post and do not meet the required threshold for the specified grade, your application may be assessed against a similar, lower grade role and you may be offered the post should one be available.
Starting salary
New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.
The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase.
Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.
For further details please refer to the Information Sheet- Starting Salaries & Benefits attachment
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
+ UK nationals
+ nationals of the Republic of Ireland
+ nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
+ individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
+ Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

+ Relevant science Degree or equivalent qualifications or equivalent experience
+ Experience of scientific project work.
+ Analysis of scientific and technical data
+ Experience of scientific research and development
+ Microsoft office packages, especially word, excel and access databases
+ Ability to communicate technical and sensitive information effectively both orally and in writing at all levels from members of the public through to professionals, internally and externally to other organisations.
+ Ability to observe and question when gathering information, disregarding irrelevant and identifying key issues
+ Technical competence in data analysis
+ Ability to assess complex situations and interpret detailed documents that may include guidance and legislation
+ Excellent organisational skills and ability to work unsupervised
+ Ability to work well under pressure and to deadlines, and able to prioritise workload
+ Ability to ‘think on feet’
+ Good interpersonal skills. Able to work as part of a team or alone.
+ Ability to identify scientific issues and undertake comprehensive literature reviews
+ An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.
Please see the full job description for the full list of essential and desirable criteria

Alongside your salary of £30,473, UK Health Security Agency contributes £8,228 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
+ Learning and development tailored to your role
+ An environment with flexible working options
+ A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
+ A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%