About Us

Interim Public Health Lead (Health Protection)

£49,939 - £58,752

Fixed Term – 1 year

Full Time

Wandsworth / Richmond

Our Public Health team is part of an excellent partnership offering better services across the London Boroughs of Richmond and Wandsworth. 

We are seeking to appoint an Interim Public Health Lead for Health Protection to support Richmond and Wandsworth Councils to protect residents from health hazards arising from infectious disease and the environment. The two boroughs have different and dynamic populations presenting a fantastic opportunity address a wide range of population health challenges. The interim Public Health Lead role is based in the Health Protection team, which covers infection prevention and control, national immunisation and screening programmes, weather preparedness, air quality, climate change and sustainability. 

You will be part of a dedicated and friendly team that is embedded across all council departments and serving over half a million residents. We have an excellent track record of developing our public health staff, and many have gone on to take more senior roles in future careers. This is a 12 month fixed term contract.

About the role 

This role will lead on the immunisation area of the Health Protection portfolio, applying specialist knowledge and public health skills to enhance resident protection against preventable diseases by supporting the uptake of childhood and adult immunisations. This is an exciting opportunity to work in a multi-disciplinary team, where you will learn and gain new experiences. You will be skilled in data analysis and robust communication, as well as effective stakeholder engagement and strategic problem-solving. 

The role involves a number of key activities including: 

Collating, analysing, interpreting and communicating epidemiological and statistical information from a variety of sources to understand population health needs and design evidence-based solutions to Public Health problems.

Managing multi-agency and multi-disciplinary partnerships with Council and NHS officers, local stakeholders, and regional and national bodies, such as NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). 

Supporting the development and delivery of Health Protection sections of long-term strategic plans and projects, such as the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategies 2024-2029. Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy - Wandsworth Borough Council Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy - London Borough of Richmond upon Thames 

Creating written reports and delivering presentations on behalf of the Public Health department to Council, NHS and partnership groups. 

The Public Health team have a hybrid-working arrangement, and are expected to attend some working days in person on a weekly basis in either the Wandsworth Town Hall or Twickenham Civic Centre office.

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience

You will:

• Have substantial experience in public health or health-related posts
• Be able to analyse and interpret information for effective decision-making
• Be an excellent communicator in oral, written and presentation skills 
• Be able to think strategically, creatively, analyse manage problems, and develop solutions. 
• Be an Effective team member with strong interpersonal, influencing and facilitation skills. 
• Be flexible, pro-active and use initiative to prioritise and manage their own workload, working well under pressure and to tight timeframes with minimal supervision

Closing Date:  28/04/2025

Shortlisting Date: 6/05/2025

Interview Date: 13/05/2025

Test: 13/05/2025

For an informal conversation please contact Melissa Barker Interim Senior Public Health Lead, Heath Protection Team via melissa.barker@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk

We may close this vacancy early once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Please submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Richmond & Wandsworth Better Service Partnership are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services. 

We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer. If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, please let us know. 

We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts may be exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to these posts will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to attract, develop, and reward our employees such as 40 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays), flexible working and a generous pension plan. 

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils