Vacancy: Environmental Public Health Scientist-Behavioural Science (SEO)
30 August 2022
Location : Chilton / Birmingham / Bristol / Leeds / London / Manchester / Nottingham / Newcastle, depending on the successful candidate’s location.
The post holder, based in the Air Quality and Public Health (AQPH) Group, will work with the team to support the objectives of UKHSA’s Cleaner Air Programme to develop and share the evidence base on air quality, improve how information on the health impacts of air pollution are communicated; and encourage and support behaviour change at every level. The post holder will lead the behavioural science aspects of air quality for UKHSA with guidance and support from UKHSA’s behavioural science experts.
Using behavioural science to support the development of evidence and provision of expert advice on how best to communicate information about the health impacts associated with both indoor and outdoor air pollution and the health impacts of interventions aiming to improve air quality, taking into account ancillary public health benefits, working with internal and external partners. This is a technical role that is both internally and externally-facing. This primarily includes behavioural analyses, intervention and evaluation design, evidence synthesis, report writing, training, presentations and policy briefings.
Main duties of the job
- Develop and review the evidence base on the behavioural drivers of air pollution.
- Communication of the behavioural scientific evidence to support UKHSA’s cleaner air programme, ensuring evidence based advice on indoor and outdoor air quality issues.
- Review and/or undertake public insight research to inform communication on air quality and to encourage behavioural change.
- Contribute to capacity building, communication and training, both internally and externally for developing and disseminating the evidence base for reducing the health impacts of air pollution
- Contribute to research projects on indoor and outdoor air quality as required and in collaboration with other UKHSA directorates and external partners. Writing of, and contribution to, peer-reviewed publications related to the post holder’s area of scientific work. Providing input to and reviewing appropriate consultation documents on government policy, issued by other agencies and govt departments, on an ad hoc basis
- Respond to requests from the Department of Health and Social Care, other Government departments, the public and other stakeholders for advice on the effects of effects of indoor and outdoor air quality. This will encompass contributions for letters to the public, briefings and responses to Parliamentary Questions.
The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. The post holder may carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by the directorate.
If you have any questions please contact Dr Stuart Aldridge, Principal Environmental Public Health Scientist Stuart.Aldridge@UKHSA.gov.uk.