The post holder will provide managerial leadership and scientific oversight of the field epidemiology team (around 5-7 people) within the Clinical and Protecting Health Directorate of Public Health Scotland (PHS). The Field Epidemiology team as a unit is a new development within PHS, primarily to support the investigation of a new SARS-CoV-2 variant or mutation but the team will also be available, working with topic-area expert teams in PHS and Health Boards, to quickly identify, respond and support other infectious disease or environmental threats across Scotland.

The post holder will lead on the epidemiologic analyses of the data, coordinating advice and guidance on specialist aspects of the analyses from topic area teams where relevant. The post holder will have overall responsibility for interpreting and preparing timely internal communications about the status of the investigations as well as scientific reports and published articles of the results.

The post holder will be required to manage projects, budgets in the region of £50-75k and staff (5-7 people). They will be expected to contribute to PHS’s workforce training activities at a local, national and international level.

Stakeholders will include organisations such as: Scottish Government (SG), Health Boards and other NHS Organisations, Local Authorities; professional bodies such as Royal Colleges, the Scottish Parliament, third sector organisations, other partner organisations, the media, the public, commercial organisations and research bodies.

The post holder will be expected to contribute fully to the work of the Clinical and Protecting Health Directorate. They will be expected to establish and maintain positive relationships and collaborations internally and with key external stakeholders, and positively affect the behaviour and attitudes of team members and colleagues.