Salary circa £149,500.

Birmingham, Bristol, Horsham, Leeds, London, Manchester, Newcastle or Nottingham

A unique opportunity to shape national and international health protection and health security, impacting the lives of millions of people

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has been set up to provide health security and health protection for the nation by protecting from infectious diseases and external hazards. We will act like no other organisation previously to mitigate threats to health before they materialise.   

UKHSA will build the nation’s health resilience and security, strengthening our ability to detect and monitor infectious diseases and external threats to health. Using robust evidence and world-leading expertise, we will go deeper to analyse threats to health, and how best prevent and control them. UKHSA will ensure a system-wide response in partnership with local authorities, NHS, academia, global professional institutes and industry.

Science is core to delivering our mission; research priorities will be systematically selected for maximum impact; research outputs will underpin actions and decisions across the system; UKHSA will be a global scientific leader, a central part of the nation’s life sciences infrastructure and a career destination of choice.

The Opportunity

The Chief Scientific Officer role is a fantastic opportunity to join and support a new organisation that will have a profound impact on the public we serve. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive, Dr Jenny Harries you will be an integral part of the Executive Committee, responsible for ensuring that the UKHSA provides health security for the nation.

Your focus will be on identifying the evidence that underpins UKHSA’s services and products to people and the government and leading the UKHSA’s agreed approach to high quality science and research ,and in particular, understanding its impact on delivery and health outcomes. You will also develop a compelling Science and Research Strategy for UKHSA, including determining the scientific priorities which will deliver health protection policy, ensuring prioritisation remains ‘live’ so that critical new topics are accounted for as they emerge.  We are looking for someone who can provide professional leadership for the Science and Research profession within UKHSA, ensuring UKHSA offers a brilliant place for professionals to develop their career, establishing science and evidence as the nerve-centre of UKHSA.

This is one of the most exciting scientific leadership roles in the country. If you are up for the challenge of a lifetime and have a passion for science that translates evidence into health protection delivery interventions, then please visit www.saxbam.com/appointments using reference AYYOA or telephone +44 (0)20 7227 0880 (during office hours) to find out more. 

Diversity at UKHSA is about reflecting the communities we serve, holding the principles of equality and inclusion at the heart of everything we do and all that we stand for, embracing differences, creating possibilities, and growing together.  We aim to foster a culture where individuals of all backgrounds feel confident in bringing their whole selves to work, feel included and their talents are nurtured, empowering them to contribute fully to our purpose.

Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency adviser to the UKHSA on this appointment.  Applications should be received by 23:59 on 27 June 2022.

The Civil Service Commission provides assurance that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition.