Public Health Consultant

May sponsor Reigate Full-time Posted 1 day ago

Job summary

We have an opportunity to join Surrey County Council's Public Health Team as a Consultant in Public Health. You will join a supportive and ambitious team that is committed to improving health outcomes, reducing inequalities and delivering high-quality services for Surrey residents. We support hybrid working with the right balance. We come together in person for 2 days per week on average (40% of the working week) and support working from home the rest of the time.

Main duties of the job

Working closely with elected members, senior officers, NHS partners, providers and communities, you will provide strategic leadership across a broad and influential portfolio focused on improving health outcomes, reducing inequalities and delivering evidence-based public health programmes. You will lead work on the public health agenda across all three domains of public health practice: health improvement, health protection and healthcare public health. You will also play a significant leadership role in place-based working and partnership development, reporting to the Director of Public Health.

About us

Surrey is home to approximately 1.2 million residents and contains a diverse mix of urban, rural and market town communities. While Surrey is often perceived as an affluent county, significant inequalities exist between and within communities. Public health plays a vital role in working with partners to address these inequalities and help residents live healthier, longer and more independent lives.

Our Public Health team is nationally recognised for its ambition, innovation and partnership working. We are committed to creating the conditions for good health and wellbeing, supporting prevention, and ensuring that all residents have the opportunity to thrive. This is a particularly exciting time to join Surrey.

Alongside the continued delivery of ambitious public health programmes, the forthcoming Local Government Reorganisation presents opportunities to shape future public health arrangements and strengthen our impact on population health, prevention and reducing inequalities. We are a committed, passionate and progressive and friendly team committed to improving the health of the population and reducing health inequalities.

Job responsibilities

This role has a salary of £84,496 - £92,910 plus £10,000 market supplement, working 36 hours per week. This position is full time, however part-time applications are also welcomed. We have an opportunity to join Surrey County Council's Public Health Team as a Consultant in Public Health.

You will join a supportive and ambitious team that is committed to improving health outcomes, reducing inequalities and delivering high-quality services for Surrey residents. We support hybrid working with the right balance. We come together in person for 2 days per week on average (40% of the working week) and support working from home the rest of the time.

Our Offer to You 26 days holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years service Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave A generous local government salary related pension Up to 5 days of carers leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year Paternity, adoption and dependents leave An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents.

About the role This is an exciting opportunity to join a high-performing public health leadership team and help shape the future of population health in Surrey. Working closely with elected members, senior officers, NHS partners, providers and communities, you will provide strategic leadership across a broad and influential portfolio focused on improving health outcomes, reducing inequalities and delivering evidence-based public health programmes.

You will lead work on the public health agenda across all three domains of public health practice: health improvement, health protection and healthcare public health. You will also play a significant leadership role in place-based working and partnership development, reporting to the Director of Public Health. This is a particularly exciting time to join Surrey.

We strive to provide a stimulating environment within which to work, providing opportunities for personal development through training, education, shadowing and on-the-job learning and reflective sessions. About You You will be an experienced public health specialist with: A proven track record of strategic leadership and partnership working. Experience of influencing across complex systems and organisations.

Strong analytical and evidence-based decision-making skills. Experience of leading programmes that improve population health and reduce health inequalities. Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the credibility to work effectively with senior leaders across local government, the NHS and wider partners.

You will be motivated by improving health outcomes, tackling inequalities and delivering meaningful change at population level. Medical and dental applicants All medical/dental applicants must have Full and Specialist registration (with a license to practice) with the General Medical Council or General Dental Council (GMC/GDC) or be eligible for registration within six months of interview.

Once a candidate is a holder of the Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT), registration with the relevant register is guaranteed. Applicants that are UK trained must ALSO be a holder of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) or be within six months of award of CCT by date of interview demonstrated by a letter from their Training Programme Director (TPD).

Non-Medical Applicants in training programme All non-medical applicants must be registered with the UKPHR or be within six months of registration at the date of the interview. Applicants must provide proof (letter of confirmation from their TPD or the CCT) at interview. About Us Surrey is home to approximately 1.2 million residents and contains a diverse mix of urban, rural and market town communities.

While Surrey is often perceived as an affluent county, significant inequalities exist between and within communities. Public health plays a vital role in working with partners to address these inequalities and help residents live healthier, longer and more independent lives. Our Public Health team is nationally recognised for its ambition, innovation and partnership working.

We are committed to creating the conditions for good health and wellbeing, supporting prevention, and ensuring that all residents have the opportunity to thrive. Your Application In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence how you meet the essential requirements of the role and align with our behaviours.

In particular we would welcome evidence of: Your experience as a registered public health specialist operating at consultant level. Leadership of complex programmes, partnerships or systems that have delivered measurable improvements in health outcomes or reduced health inequalities. Experience of influencing strategic decision making across local government, the NHS and wider partners.

Your ability to apply public health intelligence, evidence and insight to shape policy, commissioning and service improvement. Your approach to leading through organisational change and working in politically complex environments.

To apply, we request that you complete an on-line application and submit a CV and you will be asked the following 4 questions: Describe an occasion when you exercised strategic public health leadership to influence decisions, policies or services across a complex system.

Please describe an example where you have used public health evidence, intelligence and insight to influence action to reduce health inequalities or improve outcomes for a disadvantaged population. Please describe an example where you have led a significant change programme or service transformation involving multiple organisations or stakeholders.

Describe a situation where you worked across multiple organisations or sectors to achieve a public health objective. How did you build consensus, manage differing priorities and secure delivery? Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description & Our Life at Surrey handbook to get an insight into working at Surrey. The job advert closes at 23:59 on 01/11/2026 with interviews planned to follow.

Contact Us Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment. Please contact Jack Bedeman, Director of Public Health, via email at jack.bedeman@surreycc.gov.uk. Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation and will move to new authorities in April 2027.

This role is currently employed by Surrey County Council and will remain so until then. If you are employed by Surrey County Council on 1st April 2027, your employment will transfer under TUPE arrangements to one of the new councils, with your current terms and conditions protected. The provisional allocation for this post is West Surrey Council, subject to final confirmation through the wider transition process later this year.

Our Commitment We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum shortlisting criteria, as displayed on the advert, we guarantee you an interview. Your skills and experience truly matter to us.

From application to your first day, we are committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.

Person Specification

Qualifications · Essential

A degree in Public Health or another related discipline Experience Essential - A proven track record of strategic leadership and partnership working. - Experience of influencing across complex systems and organisations. - Experience of leading programmes that improve population health and reduce health inequalities.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab) . From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab) .

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).