We're excited to be recruiting two permanent Public Health Programme Advisors to join our Public Health team. The posts share the same job description and person specification, they will have a different focus, but this context statement covers the potential criteria that will be involved. What's in it for you These are roles where you can see your work make a real difference - not just in a report, but in communities, in services, and in people's lives. You'll be trusted to get on with things, supported by colleagues who genuinely know their stuff, and given the space to develop your career in public health. Joining us means: Working somewhere that genuinely cares about what it does - and does it well. We're proud of the work we deliver across Dorset and we're ambitious to do more Being part of a small, collaborative team where your contribution is visible and valued Flexibility in how and where you work - hybrid working with a minimum of one day a week in our Dorchester office Real variety in your day-to-day work - from data analysis and stakeholder engagement to contract oversight and community partnership Career development support, including CPD and the opportunity to progress to Grade 11 (Level 2) as your skills and experience grow The chance to work across the Dorset Integrated Care System, building relationships with NHS colleagues, local authorities, Primary Care Networks, and voluntary organisations Public health work isn't always straightforward, the problems are complex and the systems you'll be working within are too. But that's what makes it rewarding. If you want a job where every day brings something different and where doing good work actually matters, this could be it. Unable to show this video due to your cookie preferences What you'll be doing We're advertising two distinct posts. Both sit within our Public Health team and involve working across a wide network of partners - but each has its own specific focus. Post 1: Public Health Programme Adviser: Programmes In this role you will work across one or more public health programmes subject to where your skills align with priorities in the team. This means you could be working on: Children and young people’s public health services, health improvement services e.g. health checks, smoking cessation, Health protection or other programmes. We are seeking applications from individuals who: Can demonstrate knowledge and understanding relevant to public health e.g. health Protection, Behavioural Insight / Change; Commissioning, community development; Substance misuse; Sexual health; Children and Young People’s Public Health; project management; intelligence or healthcare public health Have a strong track record of building trusted relationships with a range of partner organisations and effective partnership working. Knowledge and experience of working with public sector bodies will be an advantage. Have great communication skills, both written and verbal and the confidence and motivation to work proactively while collaborating with others. The ability to think strategically, assessing evidence and consider system-wide solutions to population health improvement. Have experience of managing contracts, commercial negotiating and handling challenging situations Post 2: Public Health Programme Adviser: Localities (North Dorset)/Programmes Ideal if you're passionate about community-based health improvement and have experience of partnership working across multi-agency environments Spending time in North Dorset - getting to know the communities, understanding local needs, and building trusted relationships with Primary Care Networks, NHS colleagues, local authority teams, and voluntary and community organisations Using local intelligence to drive prevention work and embed meaningful health improvement activity where it's most needed Supporting designated programme areas in the wider Public Health team, covering areas such as sexual health services, children's nursing, drug and alcohol treatment, and community health improvement Evaluating what's working and sharing learning across the system Whichever post you're applying for, you'll be working as part of our wider team of Health Programme Advisors, contributing to shared goals and picking up cross-team work where needed. The job description and person specification (attached) set out the full picture. About you You don't need a formal public health qualification or background to apply. The team has a genuinely diverse range of experience - what matters most is having the right skills and the right approach. We're looking for someone who reflects the following attributes: Builds strong, trusted relationships and knows how to work effectively across complex, multi-agency partnerships Communicates clearly and confidently with a wide range of audiences - in writing, in meetings, and in presentations Is organised, self-motivated, and able to manage their own workload without needing to be chased Can make sense of data and use it to inform decisions and challenge where things aren't going the right way The ability to think strategically, assessing evidence and considering system-wide solutions The ability to travel and have own transport as this role will involve occasional travel to meetings Enjoy collaborating with others but able to work on your own initiative Is flexible and comfortable dealing with competing priorities Genuinely cares about reducing health inequalities and improving outcomes for local communities And may include the following: Can demonstrate knowledge of key public health domains e.g. health protection, behavioural insight / change; commissioning, community development; substance misuse; sexual health; children and young people’s public health; project management; intelligence or healthcare public health Are confident with data management, analysis and being able to communicate complex information. Have experience of managing contracts, commercial negotiating and handling challenging situations Both posts require a degree or equivalent experience in a relevant subject. Appointment at Grade 11 (Level 2) will be subject to meeting the additional criteria in the person specification, including specialist knowledge, experience of leading projects and change, and coaching skills. Further Information Please read the context statement before applying - it will give you a much clearer picture of each post. In your supporting statement, use the person specification to guide what you include and give us clear, specific examples of how you meet the criteria. If you'd like to find out more before you apply, get in touch - we're happy to have a conversation. For further information please contact Rupert Lloyd (senior Health Programme Advisor) [email protected] or Naomi Mason (senior Health Programme Advisor) [email protected] Provisional interview dates for these posts are 9/6/2026 and 10/06/2026, a presentation will be required at interview. Working Pattern Flexible working hours Monday to Friday, occasional evenings may be required You will need to spend a minimum of 1 day a week in our office in Dorchester and have a valid UK driver’s license as occasional visits to providers/partners in locations across Dorset will be required. Please note : We are unable to offer Visa Sponsorship. This post requires you to have access to sensitive information. It will be subject to a Basic Criminal Records Check. See our policy on the employment of ex-offenders. See our adult safeguarding policy. About Us At Dorset Council, it's not just about the work we do, it's about how we do it. Hear directly from our employees about what makes Dorset Council special in this short video: Unable to show this video due to your cookie preferences At Dorset Council, we are working together to create a fairer, more prosperous, and more sustainable Dorset for everyone, now and in the future. We: provide essential services that support over 300,000 residents work in partnership to make a real difference value every role and the impact it has on our communities support our employees to grow, develop, and thrive You will: be part of a team that works together for a better Dorset have access to a range of benefits and support receive training and development opportunities to help your career progress We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation where different skills, perspectives, and backgrounds strengthen both our council and the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. We also want our recruitment process to be accessible, if you need any reasonable adjustments, just let us know on your application. This role is UK-based, and we will need to confirm your Right to Work as part of the appointment process. We use generic job descriptions and person specifications, so the job title in any attachments may differ from the advert. If needed, we will provide additional details in a context statement. If you’re passionate about making a difference, we’d love you to join us. Find out more about how to apply.