Recently formed UK Health Security Agency seeks senior manager to lead use of ‘cutting-edge’ technology and methods

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The UK’s newly formed public health agency is offering a salary of £110,000 a year for a director of analytics and data sciences.

The position at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) comes with a remit to promote the use of information and analysis – which the job advert said will be crucial in informing policy and response to future health emergencies. The agency characterised the vacancy as “unique opportunity to shape national and international health protection service delivery and impact the lives of millions of people”.

Duties can be performed remotely, in the main, and applications are open until 11.55pm on 10 October.

“This is a high-profile, challenging and rewarding leadership role with the ability to make a significant impact on UKHSA’s future direction,” the advert added. “Science, data and analytics will be at the heart of our future response; integrating our capabilities and big data to better anticipate, prevent and respond to global health crises that can affect everyone.”

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The postholder will be expected to drive the creation of a high-grade analytics function that can provide information to colleagues in an accessible way.

“The director analytics and data sciences is responsible for building and providing a world-class analytics capability that informs health protection activities, decision-making, actions and/or interventions and outcomes, including production of advanced analytics in consumable forms for end users,” the advert said.

UKHSA is seeking applicants that have “led teams at the cutting-edge of complex analytics and visualisation, thinking differently about how to deliver policy relevant health capabilities”.

The organisation said: “You will have the ability to connect strategy, operational planning and complex capabilities to enable National outcomes; delivering continuous improvement in the way that we think and operate, for both our long-term efficiency and effectiveness.”

UKHSA was formed earlier this year and supersedes Public Health England. The newly created entity also incorporates the NHS Test and Trace programme, as well as the Joint Biosecurity Centre – a body created by the government at the start of the coronavirus crisis to help drive pandemic response.