Principal Environmental Public Health Scientist Air Quality Monitoring
| Posting date: | 21 January 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £56,185.00 to £70,566.00 per year |
| Additional salary information: | £56185.00 - £70566.00 a year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 03 February 2026 |
| Location: | Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Chilton, E14 4PU |
| Company: | NHS Jobs |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | K9919-26-0021 |
Summary
This role will include responding to chemical & environmental hazard incidents and enquiries which threaten people's health and supporting public health risk assessments. Such threats might involve chemical fires, chemical contamination of the environment, or the deliberate release of chemicals and poisons. The postholder will contribute to the development of evidence and provision of expert environmental public health advice to government, multi-agency stakeholders and members of the public. The purpose of this role is multifaceted: to develop a comprehensive ambient air mobile monitoring capability which will deliver state of the art field sampling resource for deployment in most situations where the best quality data is required in support of RCCE response and/or research and public health risk assessments as well as being able to enhance our capability around response and health security. It will require hands-on team leadership combined with field operations to deal with and develop monitoring strategies and solutions to complex scenarios. The postholder will be responsible for overseeing the strategic direction, operation, management and maintenance of the trailers (including all the monitoring equipment) and will effectively plan and execute deployment to support RCCE to undertake robust public health risk assessments during an acute or protracted public health response to environmental hazards. Essential criteria Relevant bachelors or masters degree level qualification in analytical chemistry, environmental chemistry, or other relevant qualification or significant experience of working in a relevant specialist area. Knowledge of computer operating systems and their communication, particularly with instrumentation. Basic programming knowledge and knowledge of scientific packages (or their equivalents) such as: MS Office, ArcGIS, MATLAB, Openair R, Airviro, Surfer, EnvistARM monitoring and data acquisition software. Demonstrated experience of coordinating and managing the operational analytical equipment / air quality related projects in complex and challenging environments Experience of designing, writing and manipulating scientific computer software and databases Experience of managing a team, approachable, open and able to form good working relationships with internal and external customers and staff Ability to observe and question to gather information and sift it to disregard the irrelevant and identify key issues and ability to analyse very complex issues where material is conflicting and drawn from multiple sources. Ability to communicate and influence effectively at all levels, formally, informally, orally and in writing to UKHSA staff, senior representatives from cross-Government Departments and networks and other key stakeholder organisations. This may require presenting technically complicated information across a diverse audience. Capable of working independently in accurately and consistently setting up projects and monitoring campaigns and appropriate equipment for the desired outcomes, and in analysing complex scientific analytical data. An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships. Desirable criteria Experience of operating in a politically sensitive environment and in depth understanding of appropriate legislation Experience of research and development in a relevant scientific discipline (to Masters level or equivalent) Experience of monitoring budgets and business planning processes Selection Process Details This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills. Stage 1: Application & Sift You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 9 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a: Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application) 1250 word supporting statement. This should outline how you consider your skills, experience and knowledge provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria. 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). Please do not email us your CV. Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 1250 words. We will not consider any words over 1250 words. Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of: Meets all essential criteria Meets some essential criteria Meets no essential criteria If used, the pile Meets all essential criteria will proceed to shortlisting. Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we may conduct an initial sift, on the lead criteria of: Capable of working independently in accurately and consistently setting up projects and monitoring campaigns and appropriate equipment for the desired outcomes, and in analysing complex scientific analytical data Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications/large amount of successful candidates. If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment. Feedback will not be provided at this stage. Stage 2: Interview You will be invited to a single face to face interview. If face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview. Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills will be tested at interview. There will be a Presentation. The Presentation question will be:What key criteria makes a successful air quality monitoring campaign? The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be: Leadership (Lead Behaviour) Making Effective Decisions Communicating and Influencing Developing Self and Others Managing a Quality Service Interviews dates to be confirmed. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. Location This role is being offered as hybrid working based at any of our Core HQs or our Scientific Campus in Chilton. 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) working at one of UKHSA's core HQs Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London) or our Scientific Campus in Chilton. Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport links and benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC). Security Clearance Level Requirement Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Security Clearance. Note: If based at one of the core HQs you are able to start employment with BPSS and work towards SC. Successful candidates will require Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) as a minimum, with a willingness and capability to work towards Security Check (SC). You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 5 years to obtain Security Check (SC) clearance. UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting at this higher level and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder / Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice. If based at our Chilton Scientific Campus you will be required to have a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum. For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years as the role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance. In exceptional circumstances UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice. You will then work towards Security Clearance (as outlined above). Eligibility Criteria External: Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including internal applicants). Salary Information If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms. Please be aware that the salary is based on the office location. Grade 7: £56,185- £66,581 (National) £58,340- £68,574 (Outer London) £60,494- £70,566 (Inner London)