The UKHSA’s Science Group are looking to appoint its Deputy Director, Vaccine Development, Evaluation and Preparedness.

This Deputy Director is responsible for establishment and leadership of the Vaccine Development, Evaluation and Preparedness Division (VDEP) including the Vaccine Development and Evaluation Centre. The Deputy Director will provide leadership to deliver all operational running of the Division which encompasses all laboratory components of vaccines activities including Research and Discovery, Pre-Clinical & Clinical Evaluations and translation functions in UKHSA. The new Division is a one stop shop to support UKHSA and HMG’s policy decisions and priorities including the 100 days mission.

The Deputy Director will deliver UKHSA strategic priorities on vaccines working across UKHSA and with HMG providing evidence to support policy decisions on vaccine procurement and deployment. The Deputy Director will also work with Academia, Industry and non-profit organisations including CEPI and WHO to support the introduction of vaccines and therapeutics.

This will be delivered by horizon scanning leading to the analysis and characterisation of new and emerging pathogens, development and evaluation of vaccines and therapeutics for them and supporting the procurement and deployment of vaccines to meet the needs of HMG and the UK populations.

This includes conducting scientific research in collaboration with partners (Academia, Industry and non-profit organisations) on infectious diseases and the discovery and assessment of potential new vaccine candidates and formulations. The Deputy Director will also take leadership in ensuring pre-clinical model of pathogenesis are developed and applied to study disease pathogenesis and support pre-clinical evaluation of vaccine candidates and formulations. Working with national and international vaccine developers to establish GCLP and cGMP compliant facilities and assays to provide immunology support to clinical trial studies and product release and stability testing.

The function requires development and maintenance of staffing, expertise and capabilities to deliver these activities as well as working with other groups in the directorate, across Science Group and within UKHSA. Externally the function will work with HMG, academia, vaccine developers, pharmaceutical Industry, CEPI, WHO, BMGF, USG and other bodies to support the development, regulatory approval and deployment of vaccines and therapeutics.

The Division brings together the development of people, equipment, facilities and ways of working that use scientific knowledge to identify future challenges and opportunities and to generation innovations in meeting health security challenges.

Closing date: 26 March 2023.

We expect to hold interviews week beginning 17 April 2023. Please note, this may be subject to change.