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. Job overview If successful in your application you will be joining the Epidemic & Emerging Infections Directorate working in the Tuberculosis (TB) Acute Respiratory, Zoonoses, Emerging infection, and Travel health division (TARZET). The mission of TARZET is to protect the public from respiratory, imported, emerging, and novel infections through specialist public health, microbiology and virology, outbreak response, surveillance, research and interventions. Your post will be split between the Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) unit and the Emerging Infections and Zoonoses (EIZ) unit. The ARI unit is a multidisciplinary team delivering surveillance, epidemiology, public health and clinical advice, microbiological and virological advice, incident and outbreak response, and advice to government. There are a number of areas of focus within the unit including but not limited to: avian and other zoonotic influenzas, coronaviruses (other than SARS-CoV2), legionella, mycoplasma and horizon scanning for respiratory pathogens. The work of the EIZ unit covers a range of activities including preparedness and response for emerging infections, horizon scanning for infectious disease threats and assessing any potential threats identified, coordinating activities related to and undertaking surveillance of emerging infections and zoonoses and working closely with animal health colleagues on the assessment, management and control of zoonoses. Advert The post-holder’s duties will be to develop a programme of work on the clinical countermeasures that might be required to respond to emerging situations, for example the emergence of a novel pox virus. The post holder will work closely with existing infection horizon scanning programmes, to understand the landscape of emerging infections to develop approaches for using existing and novel vaccines and therapeutics to respond to and control these infections. The role holder will need to work with academics, clinical trials units and modellers to understand the possible trajectory of infections and how vaccines and other therapeutics could modify these trends. The post holder will need to work with the NHS to plan the deployment of therapeutics and vaccines in emergency situations. Developing monitoring systems for adverse outcome detection will form part of this work (e.g., new variants of concern and resistance). The post holder will be embedded with the government advisory groups, including NERVTAG, ACDP and the JCVI. They will also need to work closely with UKHSA and Department of Health and Social Care policy and procurement experts to inform the thinking of these panels and government approaches to policy, procurement, stockpiling and deployment strategies for therapeutics and vaccinations in emergency situations, epidemics and pandemics. Please refer to the attached Job Description & Person Specification for full details. Working for our organisation 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 Detailed job description and main responsibilities Surveillance and assessment of the population’s health and well-being 1) Develop and integrate therapeutics and vaccines horizon scanning with wider divisional infections horizon scanning, to inform the work with advisory committees and advice given to policy and procurement leads. 2) Develop and lead surveillance programmes (including sleeper research projects) to monitor appropriate use of therapies and vaccines to minimise the development of resistance and variants of concern. 3) Lead on the production of therapeutics statistics and intelligence. 4) Collaborate and contribute to the development of national policy on therapeutics and vaccines. Assessing the evidence of effectiveness of health and healthcare interventions, programmes and services 5) Provide expert public health advice and leadership to support and inform an evidence-based approach to therapeutics and vaccinations, particularly in emergency situations. 6) Develop and lead research investigating novel and existing interventions and assess their effectiveness. 7) Develop and implement surveillance systems to detect therapeutics resistance and vaccines escape mutants. Policy and strategy development and implementation 8) Provide expert public health advice and leadership and support and inform the development of therapeutics and vaccination policy, including approaches to deployment for disease containment in emergency situations. 9) Provide membership and input to national and international expert advisory committees and programme teams convened by UKHSA, the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England and NHS Improvement, and others. Leadership and collaborative working for health 10) Develop leadership and management within the units and division. 11) Assist and provide specialist advice during outbreaks and incidents. Health improvement and health protection 12) Reduce inequalities and work with representatives of groups at high risk of illnesses targeted by the therapeutics and vaccines in remit. Service Improvement 13) Lead on the development of guidance related to the therapeutics agents and vaccinations in remit. 14) Work with the NHS to plan and advise on the delivery of therapeutics and vaccines to target populations in emergency situations and test with modellers the efficacy of the chosen approaches. Public Health Intelligence 15) Analyse and evaluate relevant data and research evidence to make recommendations and inform decisions. 16) Provide expert advice on needs, inequalities and intervention impact assessments and identify areas for action. Research, development and training 17) Lead the development of the research evidence base for the novel and existing therapeutics and vaccinations within remit including evaluating outcomes, and for emerging antiviral resistance and variants or mutations of concern. 18) Collaborate with the research programme of the NIHR HPRU. 19) Assist with education, training and competency development and assessment in the workforce. 20) Supervise research activities. 21) Communicate with a wide audience including the public to change practice and influence behaviours, often in challenging circumstances. Please refer to the attached Job Description & Person Specification for full details. External Open 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 attached Job Description & Person Specification. You will be required to complete an: • Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application) • a 1500 word Statement of Suitability 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) Your statement of suitability must be no more than 1500 words. If we receive a large number of applications an initial sift will be conducted against the criteria of: • Inclusion in the GMC Full and Specialist Register with a license to practice/GDC Specialist List (or be eligible for registration within six months of interview) or UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) for Public Health Specialists or be eligible within 6 months • If included in the GMC Specialist Register/GDC Specialist List in a specialty other than public health medicine/dental public health, microbiology, virology or infectious diseases, candidates must have equivalent training and/or appropriate experience of public health practice • If an applicant is UK trained in Public Health, Microbiology, Virology or Infectious Diseases, they must ALSO be a holder of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) • 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 (i.e. be up to date) in accordance with Faculty of Public Health, Royal College of Physicians or Royal College of Pathologists requirements or other recognised body • Professional examinations as appropriate: MFPH, FRCPath or MRCP. If an applicant is non-UK trained, they will be required to show evidence of equivalent examinations Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we may longlist into 3 piles of: Meets all essential criteria Meets some essential criteria Meets no essential criteria Please note feedback will not be provided at this stage. Interview stage (competency based): You will be invited to a remote interview. Interviews will be held 9th March 2026, please note these dates are subject to change. This vacancy is being assessed using Civil Service Competency framework. During the interview we will assess against your knowledge, experience, and skills. You will be asked to prepare and present a 5-10 minute presentation at the start of your interview, around the subject of novel therapeutics. The specific details of the required presentation will be sent to you prior to interview. Slides are permitted. 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. This role is being offered as hybrid working based at any of our Core HQs or at our scientific campus site at Colindale. 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 one of UKHSA's core HQ’s (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London) or at one of our scientific campus sites (Colindale). 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). If based at one of our scientific campuses, you will be required to have a minimum of a Counter Terrorism Check 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. 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. Medical and Dental. £109,725 - £145,478 (National) AfC band 8D £91,342 - £105,337 (National) IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ Artificial Intelligence (AI) Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use. Link below: Artificial intelligence and recruitment | Civil Service Careers This is a Non-Reserved post under the Civil Service Nationality Rules. To be eligible for employment in the UK Civil Service applicants must meet the Civil Service Nationality Rules (CSNRs) which operate independently of and additionally to the Immigration Rules. Applicants must also meet necessary security and vetting requirements, along with any other relevant pre-employment checks. 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 For more information on job nationality requirements and the right to work in the UK, see the Civil Service Nationality rules (opens in a new window) and the UK Visas and Immigration rules (opens in a new window) For posts on UKHSA Civil Service terms and conditions, new entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. For existing Civil Servants and roles advertised across government, the rules of transfer apply, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive a 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest. The Civil Service pay structure and progression is different from NHS Agenda for Change (AfC), most local authority pay grades and other systems that have annual pay increments. For further details, please refer to the Information Sheet- Starting Salaries & Benefits attachment. For AfC or Medical/Dental posts, you must have the correct professional registration to be appointed. The pay will follow the AfC or Medical & Dental terms & conditions. You may be asked to provide evidence of previous service whilst we are conducting pre-employment checks to determine your starting salary. For Temporary Appointments, if you are not currently a civil servant, you will take up the post on a Fixed Term appointment. You may be able to take this role up as a Secondment. If you are an existing Civil Servant, based outside of the UKHSA, you will take up the post as a loan which you will need your department to agree. You cannot take the post up as a fixed term. If you are an existing UKHSA member of staff, you will take up the post as either a level transfer or a temporary promotion as per the UKHSA’s Pay policy. Given the nature of the work of the UKHSA, as a Category 1 responder under the Civil Contingencies Act, you may be required in an emergency, if deemed a necessity, to redeploy to another role at short notice. You may also be required to work at any other location, within reasonable travelling distance of your permanent home address, in line with the provisions set out in your contract of employment. Late Applications will unfortunately not be considered. Working for the Civil Service The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: [email protected] If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website here. Reserve List - If more than the required number of suitable candidates pass the interview criteria, you may be kept on a reserve list for 12 months subject to your agreement. You may be contacted, in merit-order, if similar roles with closely matching essential criteria become available and the department choose to appoint from a reserve list. The panel will assess if candidates meet the requirement of the role first, using a specific benchmark system. 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. Interview expenses will not be reimbursed. UKHSA is required to check employment and/or education history covering three consecutive years. Please ensure you give details of at least two different referees, even if you were employed in one company for three years or more. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system. Please note, all communication regarding your application will be made via email, please ensure you check your junk/spam folders as emails are sometimes filtered there. Any move to UKHSA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/. Benefits of working at UKHSA include: Generous annual leave: -26 days for the first 5 years of continuous service -28 days after 5 years of continuous service -32 days after 10 years of continuous service -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. We also promote flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours). UKHSA views flexible working as essential in enabling us to recruit and retain talented people, ensuring that they are able to enjoy a long-lasting career with us. All employees have the right to apply for flexible working and there are a range of options available including working from home, compressed hours and job sharing. We also offer a generous maternity/ paternity and adoption leave package. Hybrid Working 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 usually spend a minimum of 60% of your contracted hours (averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's locations (approximately 3 days a week pro rata) and the rest of your time working from home. Disability Confident Scheme The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria at sift to ensure these candidates are invited to interview. If you wish to be included in this scheme please tick the box on your application form. Reasonable Adjustments The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone. To help you during the recruitment process, we will take into account any reasonable adjustments that could help you. An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work. This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme. If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should: Contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs. You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/ International Police Check If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and could be time accrued over that period. Internal Fraud check If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant’s personal details – name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional circumstances. Currently this is only for External candidates to the Civil Service. Security Vetting Please check the Security Clearance needed for the role and follow the link for more information: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels Future location 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.