The Environmental Hazards and Emergencies (EHE) Department provides authoritative scientific advice to government, the NHS and other bodies. EHE’s mission is to prepare for and prevent future health security hazards, strengthen capability and to respond to chemical and environmental emergencies, and build the UK’s capacity on health security for new and long-term exposure to environmental hazards.
The EHE Department comprises of multidisciplinary teams of scientists working across geographically dispersed locations within England and Wales. The department is responsible for providing specialist advice at local, national and international level on the public health impact of acute and chronic non-infectious environmental exposures. Scientists collaborate with academia on research and evidence reviews to underpin this advice, such as via the National Institute of Health Research Health Protection Research Units (HPRU). Many scientists also sit on cross government and multi-agency expert groups relevant to environmental public health. EHE also provides support to the Department of Health and Social care (DHSC) expert committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP).
The post is to head the EHE department leading RCCE’s agenda on air quality, noise and the acute and chronic national and frontline support for chemical and environmental hazards and responsibility for RCCE’s chemical emergency preparedness, as part of the wider UKHSA arrangements.

Taking full responsibility for: budgetary control, including a negotiated annual income target; the delivery of negotiated annual operational targets; and adherence to all statutory and UKHSA policy requirements
Ensure that authoritative, timely and consistent public health advice on matters related to chemical exposures (both acute and chronic) is provided to internal and external frontline stakeholders across England, and to work with the Devolved Administrations, when appropriate, to ensure co-ordination and consistent advice for the public during emergencies.
The early identification of emerging issues and public concerns in order to engage with appropriate expertise within RCCE and elsewhere to develop appropriate advice, the promotion of a culture in which experience and knowledge is shared and the dissemination of consistent advice to all those who need it.
Have a thorough understanding of, and be able to influence, legislation/regulations relating to environmental public health at National, European and International levels.
Have the expertise and standing to represent the UKHSA nationally, to advise policy makers and regulators on the environmental public health aspects of Government strategy and regulation, engage widely, including with UK Government/Devolved Administrations and international bodies, to contribute to the optimum regulation and management of activities/events that could pose an environmental public health risk to populations in the UK.
Support the work of UKHSA at high level in meetings pertaining to environmental public health, and in dealing with the media and special interest groups who can often be confrontational.
Develop and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Pro-actively manage stakeholders, respond to and resolve conflict between them when this arises through facilitation or other appropriate mechanisms.
Work with colleagues in RCCE to develop a robust evidence-based framework of national advice.
Influence funding bodies on the need for research to address the most pressing policy needs, develop a programme of applied scientific research in line with RCCE’s corporate strategy and the needs of the frontline.
Foster research initiatives with academic partners in particular translational research.
Promote a departmental culture for the publishing of scientific papers/articles/reports which are subject to peer review.
Take responsibility for developing and maintaining software and databases relevant to the work of the Department, particularly those for recording UKHSA response to acute and chronic environmental incidents and enquiries.
The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.