Senior Evidence Reviewer

Job summary

As a Senior Evidence Reviewer your role will be to support the use of evidence for public health advice and guidance. You will work on rapid evidence reviews using systematic and rapid review methodologies, involving screening of studies, data extraction, critical appraisal and evidence synthesis. You will work within a review team, using software such as Endnote, Eppi Reviewer and Microsoft Teams, across a range of review topics and timeframes for completing reviews will vary from several days to several weeks. You will also work on methodological developments and on translation of evidence, for example providing tailored evidence messages, producing evidence summaries, and / or developing critical appraisal tools.

You will work matrix style with colleagues working on the provision of advice and guidance, both nationally and locally and may work with external partners. You will also support others wishing to produce or commission evidence reviews, and may support the delivery of training and capacity building.

Your core role will be to support the use of evidence within public health advice and guidance through working as part of a team working as part of an evidence synthesis and knowledge mobilisation team.

Working for your organisation

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.

UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

Job description

• Work with Advice and Guidance colleagues to develop answerable review questions and protocols
• Use appropriate tools to undertake rapid evidence reviews including development of the search strategy, literature screening, quality appraisal, literature synthesis and write up
• Ensure that full, accurate documentation is kept and be responsible for the accuracy and security of all data related to projects that the post holder manages or is involved in
• Quality assure the work of other team members
• Contribute to the ongoing development of rapid evidence review work and other professional activity procedures and standards, including training activities and working groups
• Make decisions in relation to the work of the evidence team and actively contribute to collaborative decision-making in relation to methods and outputs
• Support the commissioning of systematic or rapid evidence reviews, through development of review specifications and oversight of commissioned work
• Support the development and delivery of capacity building for evidence synthesis and utilisation
• Prepare papers for presentation at local, regional or national meetings, workshops and/or conferences
• Line management and / or supervision of team members at HEO or EO level
• Plan, prioritise and organise own work and resources to meet agreed objective and deadlines
• Be committed to UKHSA values and policies, including the Equal Opportunities Polic
• Other duties as specified by the Principal Evidence Reviewer

This list is not exhaustive.

Person specification

Essential criteria:

• Educated to first degree level in a science related subject or equivalent relevant experience in an appropriate scientific or technical specialist area
• Post-graduate degree or equivalent experience in epidemiology or related field
• Knowledge of review methodologies, including systematic and rapid reviews
• Experience of conducting systematic or rapid evidence reviews in public health or relevant field
• Experience in critical appraisal or risk of bias assessments
• Experience of writing reports
• Experience of presenting and interpreting public health evidence in a usable way
• Knowledge of review methodologies, including systematic and rapid reviews
• Good oral and written communication and presentation skills
• Comprehensive skills in the use spreadsheets or databases and reference management software
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team and maintain relationships with colleagues
• Ability to work to instruction and independently, and to use initiative
• Demonstrated capabilities to manage own workload and make informed decisions in the absence of required information, working to tight and often changing timescales
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Good oral and written communication and presentation skills

Desirable role criteria

• Experience of working within a policy or practice environment
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £41,983, UK Health Security Agency contributes

£12,162 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your qualifications, knowledge and experience and skills and abilities outlined in the essential criteria.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

Competency Based

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 15 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 may 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:

• Experience of conducting systematic or rapid evidence reviews in public health or relevant field

Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications or 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

Competency Based

You will be invited to a single remote interview.

Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview

You will be asked to prepare and deliver a 5-minute presentation at the start of your interview. The topic will be:

• Present a challenging issue you have addressed in a systematic review you've worked on, including how you addressed the challenge

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 HQ’s. 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 HQ’s (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London).

Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport link and benefit from 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 basic disclosure and barring security check before they can be appointed.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Baseline Personnel Security Standard.

Eligibility Criteria

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including internal applicants).

Qualifications and Registrations

For roles where specific qualifications or registrations are required, successful applicants will be asked to provide appropriate evidence. Employment cannot commence until satisfactory documentation has been received and verified.

Incident Response Activity

From time to time, the role holder may be required to support UKHSA’s incident response activity by contributing their appropriate expertise within an Incident Cell; during such periods, supported by the line manager, this work will take priority over normal day-to-day responsibilities, commensurate with their grade, skills and experience.

F uture lo cation

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.

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: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjust