Consultant Epidemiologist – Emerging Infections: Sponsorship Available

Job summary

This post is located within the UKHSA Epidemic and Emerging Infections (EEI) Directorate within the Chief Medical Adviser (CMA) Group providing clinical and public health leadership through expert advice, guidance, epidemiological insights and evidence. The Emerging Infections and Zoonoses team is part of TARZET division (TB, respiratory, zoonoses, emerging infections, travel health, rare and imported pathogens genomics public health analysis) within the EEI directorate and is responsible for public health expertise in emerging infections, high consequence infectious diseases, zoonoses and epidemic intelligence. EIZ collaborate with various teams across UKHSA, work closely with the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens, the NHS, APHA academic and other cross-government colleagues on national systems for the preparedness, detection and response to emerging infections, zoonoses and high consequence infectious diseases, and provide a secretariat function for the Human Animal Infection Risk Surveillance Group (HAIRS)

This post will provide expert leadership across the emerging infections and zoonoses portfolio at a national level with a focus on epidemic intelligence and emerging infections. They will be responsible for proactive and reactive national and international level epidemiology, horizon scanning and risk assessment for novel, emerging, zoonotic and high consequence pathogens.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will be responsible for strengthening UKHSA’s epidemic intelligence capability through the development of rapid risk assessment methodologies, and the application of artificial intelligence and advanced analytics to horizon scanning and early warning systems in collaboration with UKHSA data and analytics teams. Within this role the postholder will routinely collaborate with teams within UKHSA and across Government and with other key partners, including academic and international organisations to support preparedness and response activities. The postholder will have strong technical knowledge and skills and be able to operate effectively across the system at a senior level.

Surveillance and Prevention Monitoring

• Develop and utilise information and intelligence systems to underpin public health action across disciplines and organisations.
• Lead the development and implementation of innovative approaches to epidemic intelligence, including artificial intelligence, machine learning and advanced analytics methods for horizon scanning, signal detection and risk assessment in partnership with the Chief Data Officer Group.
• Provide strategic leadership for the evaluation, validation and operational implementation of AI-enabled tools within epidemic intelligence workflows.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• The National Health Service (Appointment of Consultants) Regulations 1996 (legislation.gov.uk) In line with legislation, inclusion in the GMC Full and Specialist Register with a license to practice/GDC Specialist List or inclusion in the UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) for Public Health Specialists at the point of application.
• If included in the GMC Specialist Register/GDC Specialist List in a specialty other than public health medicine/dental public health, candidates must have equivalent training and/or appropriate experience of public health practice
• Any public health speciality registrar applicants who are currently on the UK public health training programme and not yet on either the GMC, GDC or UKPHR specialist register must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they are within 6 months of gaining entry to a register at the date of interviewApplicants going through the portfolio registration routes (GMC or UKPHR) are not eligible to be shortlisted for interview until they are included on the register. The six-month rule does not apply to these portfolio route
• If an applicant is UK trained in Public Health, they must ALSO be a holder of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) or be within six months of award of CCT by date of interview. 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 requirements or other recognised body? A/I/C
• MFPH by examination, by exemption or by assessment, or equivalent
• Postgraduate qualification in Public Health or a related field (e.g. MPH) or equivalent training or experience

Knowledge and experience

Essential

• Understanding of epidemiology and statistics and public health practice
• Understanding of key agencies involved in health protection and an understanding of laboratory microbiology and clinical infectious disease services.
• Experience of providing information and advice to those at a senior level, e.g., for parliamentary questions, or to NHS or UKHSA senior teams
• Extensive experience of communicable disease control including outbreak management in a wide variety of settings, including out of hours on call

Skills / capabilities/ behaviours

Essential

• Strategic thinker with proven leadership skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills (including dealing with the media)
• Proven and effective interpersonal, motivational, and influencing skills
• Ability to respond appropriately in unplanned and unforeseen circumstances
• Substantially numerate, with highly developed analytical skills using qualitative and quantitative data
• Ability to design, develop, interpret, and implement policies

Desirable

• Scientific publications or presentation of papers at international conferences
• Experience of staff management and training

Equality and diversity

Essential

• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, and in relation to management systems

Closing Date: 5 October 2026