Principal Public Health Practitioner

Public Health Wales

Job summary

The Health Improvement Division is seeking a highly motivated and experienced public health professional to join the Drug and Alcohol Team as a Principal Public Health Practitioner. Working at a national level, you will play a central role in supporting delivery of the Drug and Alcohol Programme Plan, contributing to efforts to reduce the harm from drug and alcohol use across Wales.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone with expertise in public health, evidence-informed programme and policy development, who is committed to reducing health inequalities and improving outcomes for the people of Wales. You will work collaboratively across systems, including health, local government, the third sector and national partners, to strengthen prevention and early intervention and drive quality improvement.

If you are an analytical, creative thinker with strong communication skills and experience in leading programmes, developing partnerships, and translating evidence into practice, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Experience and skills in using SharePoint, Copilot and other project management based tools would also be a desirable.

This role is based within Public Health Wales, with agile working supported.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.

Main duties of the job

Provide strategic leadership and specialist public health expertise on tackling the harm from drugs and alcohol at a national level.

Lead and contribute to the development and delivery of actions within the PHW Drug and Alcohol Programme Plan

Develop, coordinate, and evaluate national programmes, policies and interventions to strengthen action on prevention and early intervention for drugs and alcohol

Work collaboratively with a wide range of partners – including health, education, local authorities, criminal justice, the third sector – to strengthen cross-system action and ensure consistent, high-quality approaches across Wales.

Lead the use of evidence, behavioural insights, and co-production to inform the design and improvement of programmes and resources to reduce harm from drugs and alcohol across Wales

Provide expert advice to internal and external stakeholders, including policy teams, regional public health teams, and Welsh Government.

Monitor progress against project plans and contribute to sections of the Public Health Wales Annual Plan related to drugs and alcohol

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Master’s in Public Health to include a module in health promotion theory and practice or equivalent level of knowledge
  • Evidence of continuing professional development.

Experience

Essential

  • Responsibility for leading aspects of development and delivery of health promotion programmes within a complex environment
  • Extensive experience of staff, stakeholder and public engagement and / or involvement

Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge relating to the determinants of health and the methods and approaches for addressing health inequalities at a population level
  • Understanding of current policy relevant to public health

Skills

Essential

  • Ability to translate complex issues for a variety of audiences
  • Ability to analyse and assess complex information, application of qualitative and quantitative research an analysis skills

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).

Closing Date: 26 July 2026

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.