Statistician, Epidemiologist (SD Band 3/SEO)

We have an exciting opportunity for two experienced and motivated statisticians to join the Epidemiology and Predictive Modelling team within the Science Division to help lead and support work providing the evidence needed to deliver HSE’s strategy of protecting people and places.

Please note that this role requires successful candidate to travel to our Buxton office once every 2 weeks, as well as attending their home office as part of a hybrid working pattern.

This is an opportunity to work at a crucial intersection between science and HSE’s policy and operational priorities, with the potential to work and engage with a wide range of stakeholders within HSE, industry and academia.

We are looking for candidates with a demonstrable track record of conducting epidemiological studies or  statistical analysis and modelling, for example, to support the delivery of scientific research, the production of official statistics, or other published evidence that relies on robust analyses of real-world data. We would expect to see experience of having worked effectively with others in such areas as part of a multidisciplinary team.

These posts require skills that can be adapted quickly to different types of analyses and to provide technical leadership in the application of appropriate techniques. We would expect candidates to show experience of handling and analysing large and complex datasets using statistical software such as STATA, R or MATLAB, as well as evidence of being able to effectively communicate and describe the results and implications of statistical analyses or research findings to both technical and non-technical partners and customers.

Please note that candidates must be able to supply current 3 years residency within the UK. If they do not hold 3 years residency, they will fail the check. 

Diverse Perspectives and experiences are critical to our success, and we welcome applications from all people from all backgrounds with the experience and skills needed to perform this role. We look forward to receiving your application.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

We will consider candidates with either statistical or epidemiological training and experience. The content of each post may be tailored to some extent depending on these backgrounds, but will include:

• Leading specific parts of the epidemiology work-programme, including specific work-strands within ongoing epidemiological studies on asbestos and pesticides. This will involve working with policy customers and other stakeholders to set appropriate research objectives, and then ensuring that research is carried out to required high technical and ethical standards, with appropriate statistical analysis and reporting.
• Playing a key role in the team’s statistical modelling work-programme,which includes analysis of high-hazard systems and workplace exposure to hazardous substances, such as dusts and chemicals, and data relating to the response in humans to such exposures, including adverse health outcomes. This may also include simulation studies to investigate the feasibility and impact of different exposure reduction strategies.
• Helping to design and lead occupational epidemiology studies to directly monitor the effects of workplace exposures such as pesticides and asbestos;
• Carrying out statistical modelling and analyses of occupational health and exposure data;
• Mathematical modelling and simulation studies of occupational diseases and high-hazard physical systems to support risk assessment;
• Producing National Statistics about the burden of occupational disease.

In either role you will present and describe the results of epidemiological and statistical work and its practical implications through appropriate oral and written means, for example, via presentations to policy or scientific audiences, research reports and peer reviewed scientific papers, or HSE’s published National Statistics outputs.

You will provide high-quality advice on the appropriate design and analysis of research projects to help ensure robust statistical methodological techniques, data collection and management principles are adopted within Science Division. This will include provision of statistical advice to a range of scientists working on a diverse set of research projects across the division. 

At HSE, we are proud to be able to offer our people the opportunity to work in a hybrid way which combines working from home and the office. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and your allocated office will be your contractual place of work. There will be a requirement to travel to the office for various activities e.g., collaborative working, supporting and training colleagues. If hybrid working is suitable for you and your role, the arrangements will be determined primarily by business need, but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be taken into account. Therefore, we would encourage candidates to consider if the commute from home to the office is a feasible distance to travel before making an application. Please note that if you are successful, hybrid working will be discussed prior to taking up the post.

Part time working hours are available for this role. We can accept part time applicants who can commit to working a minimum of 4 full days per week.

Essential Skills and Criteria

• You will have degree level training in statistics, epidemiology or a related numerate discipline. We are looking for candidates with substantial hands-on experience of statistical or epidemiological work gained, for example, through applied post graduate studies or from having worked in such areas for a number of years in a research setting.
• You will be able to demonstrate experience of successfully carrying out statistical analyses of real-world data using a range of methodological techniques and using software such as STATA, R or MATLAB, or other appropriate statistical packages.
• You will have hands on experience of effectively handling and maintaining large or complex datasets or databases.  
• You will be a confident communicator and networker, able to engage effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, including research partners, science division and policy colleagues, and research study participants. You will be adept in communicating technical information and the implications of scientific research findings to a non-technical audiences as well as to scientific peers.
• You will be experienced in working as part of a multidisciplinary team and be able to demonstrate that you have shown leadership in the way you have worked with others on statistical or epidemiological work.  
• You will be able to demonstrate the ability to adapt and innovate in the way you work, and to respond proactively to work demands, which may at times have conflicting priorities.

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Your experience of successfully carrying out statistical analyses of real-world data using a range of methodological techniques.
• Your ability to effectively work with large or complex datasets or databases.
• Your experience of successfully communicating technical information and the implications of scientific research findings to non-technical audiences as well as to scientific peers.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.

We invest in our people with;

•  Competitive rates of pay
• Access to the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme to which HSE contribute 27.1%, far more than the private sector.
• Family friendly policies and working hours to help balance your home life and career
• Carer friendly policies to help create a supportive working culture
• 25 days annual holiday increasing to 30 days after 5 years’ service, plus bank holidays and 1-day Civil Service privilege leave
• Parental leave benefits

This post is eligible for Excess Fares Allowance. A successful internal candidate currently based at another office may be entitled to Excess Fares Allowance in line with HSE policy (http://intranet/finance/expenses/excess-fares-allowance-policy.htm)

Job contact :

• Name : Lucy Darnton
• Email : lucy.darnton@hse.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : hr.resourcing-team@hse.gov.uk