Advanced Epidemiologist

Job Description

Advanced Epidemiologist

Public Health Scotland launched 1st April 2020 as a national health board, employing around 1200 people, and with an annual budget of around £101 million. Public Health Scotland wants to see a Scotland where everybody thrives, a Scotland where life expectancy improves and the difference in life expectancy between our poorest and wealthiest areas gets smaller.

The Post

An excellent opportunity has arisen within the epidemiology team in PHS’s Clinical, Health Intelligence, and Research (CHIR) division for the post of advanced epidemiologist. The CHIR division sits within the CPH directorate, and provides clinical, public health, and academic leadership for the organisation on all aspects of population health improvement, reduction of health inequalities, and healthcare public health (excluding communicable disease and environmental health).

This post will be assigned to the Maternal and Child Health cross organisational programme, focusing on maternal and child outcomes in Scotland and their determinants, and also support priority work on Mental Health Inequalities.

As an Advanced Epidemiologist you will work with Consultants in Public Health to plan and deliver quantitative analyses to monitor health, identify for whom and where health needs are greatest and evaluate public health actions. You will synthesise multiple and sometimes conflicting sources of evidence to produced balanced recommendations for national and local policy makers and inform delivery of high-quality, needs based services. You will be working at a senior level, using a range of communication methods to develop and implement impactful epidemiology, including the production of official statistics, reports, peer-reviewed publications and presentations at national and international meetings and conferences.

Roles may evolve over time in line with national public health priorities.

The Candidate

We are seeking people with excellent quantitative analytical and communication skills, and the ability to lead implementation of complex and evolving projects.

Essential attributes will include:

• A relevant primary degree and demonstrable training/experience in epidemiology or equivalent
• Highly developed skills in quantitative data analysis and interpretation, and highly developed skills in the use of relevant statistical analysis tools such as R
• Excellent planning and organisational skills
• Highly developed communication skills, written and verbal, with ability to lead production of high-quality outputs and to present complex information clearly to a variety of stakeholders
• Flexibility, commitment, and an ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with colleagues and stakeholders

Desirable attributes include:

• Knowledge of the specific topic to which the post is assigned
• Knowledge and experience of epidemiological study design and an understanding of current epidemiological advances
• Knowledge of data protection, freedom of information, and confidentiality principles

Location and Working Pattern

Successful applicants could be based in Public Health Scotland’s offices in either Gyle Square, Edinburgh or Bothwell Street, Glasgow.

Hybrid working (with remote/from home working for part of the week) is available.

The standard working pattern is 36 hours per week over Monday to Friday, however PHS supports flexible working, and we are happy to discuss requests for alternative working patterns.

PHS is a flexible employer, and we are happy to discuss requests for alternative working patterns.

During times of public health emergency, or other urgent business need, you may be required on a temporary basis to work your normal contracted working hours over 7 days including weekends, in order to meet the needs of the service.

It is a condition of this employment that you must live and remain a resident within the UK for the post in which you will be employed with PHS.

Benefits

• Pension scheme
• Comprehensive range of work life balance policies
• Occupational health services
• Learning resource centresDiscounted leisure
• Financial and shopping benefits

Inclusion

Public Health Scotland (PHS) is a national NHS board committed to being a diverse, inclusive and welcoming employer. We support a range of flexible working options to help colleagues balance work and personal responsibilities. As an Established Carer Positive employer, we are committed to supporting staff with caring responsibilities and fostering a flexible, understanding workplace culture.

We offer a wide range of learning and development opportunities to support colleagues to grow and thrive. Staff are also welcome to join our active equality networks.

As an equal opportunities and Disability Confident Employer, we aim to guarantee an interview to disabled applicants who meet the minimum shortlisting criteria, and we are committed to providing an accessible and inclusive recruitment experience.

PHS is working towards becoming a trauma informed organisation and recognises that trauma may affect people in different ways, including during the recruitment process.

If you need reasonable adjustments or support, please contact the Recruitment Team on .

Further Information

For an informal discussion on the post, please contact Debbie Sigerson, Service Manager via email ,

Closing date for completed applications is Friday 28th August 2026.

Further information on PHS is available from: .

Pleasenote that the majority of correspondence is sent by e-mail only, so please check your e-mail regularly (including junk folders).

We are an equal opportunities employer and as committed participant in the disability confident scheme, guarantees to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies however, where exceptionally high application volumes make this impracticable, a fair and proportionate shortlisting approach will be applied in line with Disability Confident guidance.