Lead Analytical Epidemiologist

Posting date:	01 September 2025
Salary:	£59,900 per year
Additional salary information:	Salary is pro-rata for part time.
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	23 September 2025
Location:	Weybridge
Company:	Government Recruitment Service
Job type:	Permanent
Job reference:	424071/1

Summary

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, and works on behalf of the Scottish Government and Welsh Government. Our diverse teams of over 3,000 skilled and committed professionals come together to provide research, advice and support to UK Government for safeguarding animal, public and plant health for benefit of the environment and economy. APHA is a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, because it helps us be more innovative and make better decisions. We are dedicated to being an inclusive employer, offering equitable opportunities for all individuals. Our goal is to build a diverse workforce, and we hope to attract applications from all backgrounds and underrepresented groups. The Science Directorate (SD) delivers high quality, high impact and highly relevant multidisciplinary science. Our People are diverse, talented, engaged and inspired to deliver innovative outcomes.

We are responsible for identifying, managing, and controlling incidents and outbreaks of endemic and exotic diseases and pests in animals, plants and bees, as well as carrying out research. We provide unique capabilities and an evidence base for UK Government, together with international reference centre responsibilities.

We are seeking an experienced and motivated leader and epidemiologist to join our Department of Epidemiological Sciences. Epidemiological Sciences is a nationally important, multidisciplinary department with expert skills in epidemiology, statistics, risk analysis, modelling and data science.

The successful applicant will play a critical role leading and generating evidence to help tackle the most pressing animal health problems in GB livestock including endemic and exotic disease threats but with a primary focus on bovine tuberculosis.

You will be a lead analytical epidemiologist in the Epidemiology workgroup in the Department of Epidemiological Science (DES), providing high quality epidemiological consultancy and analytical project leadership. Networking with your own and other disciplines to share expertise and building capability in other staff. Leading and co-ordinating epidemiology research projects and provision of advice within the epidemiology workgroup. Promoting APHA science and epidemiology at national and international meetings and conferences by presenting and publishing in reports and peer reviewed journals.

Providing national and international consultancy, collaborating within APHA and outside APHA on areas of expertise as required at meetings and conferences. To support and deputise for the Epidemiology workgroup leader as required in management and capability building activities.

Key areas of responsibility will include:

• Apply your expertise to the current national and international policymaking and disease control issues, undertaking epidemiological analysis where the level of complexity requires the highest level of relevant expertise and knowledge.
• Positively represent Epidemiology and APHA, though contribution and engagement with strategic TB working groups, programme boards and stakeholder groups, as required.
• Build and maintain your own specialist profile and expertise in analytical epidemiology including writing and presenting scientific material in national and international journals and at meetings.
• Be a key member of the DES science leadership team and deputise for workgroup leader and G6 leaders (such as Head of National TB Epidemiology or Head of Department) as required.
• Effectively build and maintain key relationships such as other DES epidemiologists, Epidemiology discipline champion, Lead Scientists, Advice services and Field epidemiology to ensure appropriate application of analytical epidemiology across the agency.
• Epidemiology project leadership. This includes project design, planning, functional management of all those working on the projects, prioritising tasks, reviewing progress and managing and monitoring the project budget and resource allocations, and identifying and establishing links with collaborators with appropriate expertise.
• Support other epidemiologists by providing analytical epidemiology discipline expertise and relevant policy awareness including peer-review and challenge of epidemiological sciences outputs e.g. publications & proposals to ensure scientific integrity/robustness.
• Promote interdisciplinary working and pursue the development of effective collaborations within APHA and with partner organisations as appropriate.
• Line manages other epidemiologists. Functional management, mentoring and development support to other staff as required by specific projects and capability building requirements.
• Provide analytical epidemiology support in outbreak response.

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