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 Competencies
At sift stage you will be assessed against the essential criteria listed in the Job Description & Person Specification attached to this vacancy advert.
You will be required to complete an:
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Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
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1500 word Statement of Suitability/ behaviour statements / technical statements
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)
Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we may longlist into 3 piles of:
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Meets all essential criteria
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Meets some essential criteria
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Meets no essential criteria
Only those who meet ALL essential criteria will be taken through to the next stage
If we receive a large number of applications, an initial sift against the lead criteria will be conducted:
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Inclusion in the GMC Specialist Register/GDC Specialist List/UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) for Public Health Specialists.
We will only take through applications that meet all essential criteria.
Desirable criteria may be used if we receive a large number of applications.
Please note feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Stage 2: Interview stage (competency based):
You will be invited to a face to face interview.
Interviews will be held at 2 Rivergate, Temple Quay, Bristol, BS1 6EH, on 30 July 2026.
If face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.
This vacancy is being assessed using a competency based method. During the interview we will assess against the below:
Knowledge
Experience
Skills and Abilities
You will be asked to prepare and present a 5 minute presentation. The subject of this will be:
What do you think are the main health protection issues in the South West, and how will you work to address them?
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
The successful candidate will be appointed to the point of the Consultant salary scale appropriate to their years of seniority or if from a background other than medicine to NHS Agenda for Change Band 8d.
Inclusion in the GMC Full and Specialist Register with a license to practice (or be eligible for registration within six months of interview)
If included in the GMC Specialist Register/ in a specialty other than public health medicine, candidates must have equivalent training and/or appropriate experience of public health practice
Public Health Specialty Registrar applicants who are not yet on the GMC Specialist Register 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.
Inclusion in the UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) for Public Health Specialists (or eligibility within six months of interview).
Non‑medical applicants who are not yet fully registered with the UKPHR must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they are within six months of gaining specialist registration at the date of interview. All other non‑medical applicants must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they have applied for inclusion in the UKPHR Specialist Register (for example, confirmation that a UKPHR specialist portfolio has been submitted).
Hybrid working
This role is being offered as hybrid working based at either 2 Rivergate, Bristol or Follaton House, Totnes. 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)) in the office.
Security Clearance Level Requirement
Successful candidates for this role must pass an enhanced disclosure and barring security check before they can be appointed.
Internal Fraud Check
If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicants 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.
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 consider 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: Reasonable Adjustments , Civil Service Careers
Careers website
Please visit our careers site for more information UKHSA Hub , Civil Service Careers
NHS Pension
This role is offered under Agenda for Change (AFC) Terms and Conditions.
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If you are already on AFC T&Cs or accept the role on a fixed-term contract, you will be enrolled in the NHS Pension Scheme or keep your current AFC Pension.
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If you take the role on a loan or temporary promotion, you will retain your existing, substantive T&Cs.
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If the role is available under either AFC or Civil Service T&Cs depending on your registration, your pension scheme will align accordingly.
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.
UK Health Security Agency promoted diversity in the workplace and is an Equal Opportunities employer
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
