Consultant in Public Health

Expires: Expiring in less than 3 weeks

Healthcare

Communities & Skills

Collaborative, open, inclusive and fair - we work with and through partners to ensure Londoners can shape healthy, empowered and productive lives. Communities and Skills is led by Executive Director, Tunde Olayinka and is comprised of the following units: Health; Young London and Communities; Social and Economic Inclusion; and Skills and Employment.

About the team

This post is based in the GLA Group public health team, which operates as a shared service for GLA Group organisations. The team is structured around consultant –led portfolios of work – in this case Transport and air quality – as well as cross cutting work on health resilience. The public health team work closely with the health and wellbeing team who focus on partnerships, strategy, and programmes.

About the role

The mayor wants all Londoners to have the best opportunities to live a long life in good health. If we are to achieve this, we all need to play our part in tackling the causes of poor health to make London a healthier, fairer city, where nobody’s health suffers because of who they are, or where they live. Join the GLA Group Public Health team, and you can help London to become the world’s healthiest global city.

We are looking for a highly motivated specialist in public health to lead a strategic portfolio of work focused on transport and air quality. Shaping work to improve the health and wellbeing of Londoners, working closely with the GLA Group Director of Public Health and wider team, the Mayor’s Office and deputy Mayors, Transport for London as well as senior leaders and managers.

You will have strong analytical and influencing skills, be able to support the design and development of long-term strategies through multiple partnerships and systems and work effectively in a complex political and partnership environment.

The GLA Group Public Health team has city-wide public health responsibilities, working to ensure the GLA Group plays its part in full in improving the health and wellbeing of Londoners by protecting Londoners from health threats, preventing ill health, and tackling health inequalities.

We focus on implementation of the mayor’s statutory health inequalities strategy for London and delivery of a health in all policies approach across the GLA Group; GLA, LFC, MOPAC, OPDC and TfL. Our work helps to build a better London for everyone – a safer, fairer, greener, and more prosperous city for all Londoners.

What your day will look like

In this one-year fixed term strategic role you will work closely with the GLA Group Director of Public Health and the wider team to:

lead and take forward the transport and air quality portfolio of work within the Unit
use and build evidence and data to support the work of the mayor’s strategies and strategic programmes with a focus on the Health Inequalities Strategy implementation plan (2018-2028), the Transport Strategy and related TfL strategies, London health improvement plan, and the London Plan.
Work closely with the GLA Environment and Transport Teams, TfL, OHID London and with London public health teams to identify and progress strategic priorities to improve health and reduce health inequalities
Take responsibility for a range of public health issues and work across organisational and professional boundaries, acting as a change agent, and managing complexity to deliver improvements in health and wellbeing
Take a key role in the GLA Group Public Health team programme to embed a Health in Policies approach across the group.

Skills, knowledge and experience

To be considered for the role you must meet the following essential criteria:

Education/Qualifications

In line with legislation, inclusion in the GMC Full and Specialist Register with a license to practice/GDC Specialist List or inclusion in the UK Public Health Register for Public Health Specialists at the point of application.
If included in the GMC Specialist Register/GDC Specialist List in a specialty other than public health medicine/dental public health, candidates must have equivalent training and/or appropriate experience of public health practice.
Any public health speciality registrar applicants who are currently on the UK public health training programme and not yet on either the GMC, GDC or UKPHR specialist register must provide verifiable signed documentary evidence that they are within 6 months of gaining entry to a register at the date of interview.
Applicants going through the portfolio registration routes (GMC or UKPHR) are not eligible to be shortlisted for interview until they are included on the register.
The six-month rule does not apply to these portfolio route applicants.
If an applicant is UK trained in Public Health, they 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.
If an applicant is non-UK trained, they will be required to show evidence of equivalence to the UK CCT.
Applicants must meet minimum CPD requirements (i.e., be up to date) in accordance with Faculty of Public Health requirements or other recognised body.
Master’s in Public Health or equivalent

Personal qualities

Ability to work with different organisational cultures, environments, governance, and finance systems.
Ability to cope with multiple and changing demands, meeting tight deadlines.
Ability to act with a high level of tact and diplomacy, maintaining the ability to challenge and advocate on public health outcomes, whilst maintaining credibility and relationships.

Experience

Delivery of successful change management programmes across organizational boundaries.
Experience of successfully working in a political environment and commitment to work within a political system irrespective of personal political affiliations.
Experience of leading teams, and delivering in partnership working across a range of organisations.
Experience of influencing senior members including directors and CEOs.
Media experience demonstrating delivery of effective health behaviour or health promotion messages.
Experience of using complex information to explain public health issues to a range of audiences, with credibility and conviction leading to change.

Skills

Strategic thinker with proven leadership skills and operational nous.
Able to demonstrate and motivate organisations to contribute to improving the public’s health and wellbeing through mainstream activities and within resources.
Ability to lead and manage the response successfully in unplanned and unforeseen circumstances.
Analytical skills able to utilize both qualitative (including health economics) and quantitative information.
Ability to design, develop, interpret, and implement strategies and policies.

Knowledge

In depth understanding of the health and care system and the relationships with both local national government.
In depth knowledge of methods of developing clinical quality assurance, quality improvement, evaluations and evidence based public health practice.
Understanding of the public sector duty and the inequality duty and their application to public health practice.

Using public health competencies to achieve impact

Demonstrable experience with examples of taking responsibility for resolving operational issues and achieving impact.
Experience of informing decision making on policy, strategy and programmes including briefing politicians and senior officers.
Where required the postholder will provide verbal or written briefing to politicians, senior officers, colleagues and stakeholders (partners and public) including in person and at short notice.

This is a politically restricted role under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

Principal accountabilities

The strategic responsibility of the postholder is to the mayor’s health advisers, with professional accountability to the GLA Group Director of Public Health.
In delivering that responsibility the postholder is expected to demonstrate expertise across the full range of relevant competencies as set out by the Faculty of Public Health (as outlined in appendix one) and where required, take responsibility for resolving operational issues.
In negotiation with the GLA Group Director of Public Health (and/or the wider organisation), the postholder may be asked to take on responsibilities that are underpinned by any of the FPH competencies.
Postholders will be expected to maintain both the general expertise as well as develop topic-based expertise as required by the portfolio.

The GLA Competency Framework Guidelines further detailing each competency and the different level indicators can be found here: GLA Competency Framework

How to apply

If you would like to apply for the role you will need to submit the following:

Up to date CV
Personal statement with a maximum of 1500 words. Please ensure you address how you demonstrate the essential criteria outlined above in the advert.

Please ensure your CV and Personal Statement have a maximum file size of 1.5MB each and upload your Personal Statement to the ‘CV and Cover Letters’ section’ of the form, ensuring you address the technical requirements and competencies in your Personal Statement.

Word or PDF format preferred and do not include any photographs or images. Please ensure your CV and Personal Statement are saved with the job reference number as part of the naming convention (E.g., “CV – applicant name - 012345)

As part of GLA’s continuing commitment to be an inclusive and equal opportunity employer we will be removing personal identifiable information from CVs and Personal Statements that could cause discrimination.

We may close this advert early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

If you have questions about the role

If you would like to discuss the role please contact alyse.carney@london.gov.uk to make an appointment with Vicky Hobart, GLA Group Director of Public Health.

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, contact the glaopdcrecruitment@tfl.gov.uk who support the GLA with recruitment.

Assessment process

Once you have submitted an application, your details will be reviewed by a panel.

If shortlisted, you’ll be invited to an interview/assessment.

Assessment details will be sent out the week of the interviews and presented at the interview. .

The interview/assessment date is: Week beginning 12 October 2026

Equality, diversity and inclusion

London's diversity is its biggest asset, and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects London's diversity at all levels. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability.

We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements. We would welcome applications from candidates who are seeking part time work as this role is open to job share.

Please note we are a Disability Confident Employer so for candidates who wish to be considered under the scheme and meet the essential criteria, they will automatically be invited to interview. Please note, should you require any adjustments through the process, we will accommodate as much as possible. Please contact the recruitment team for further information if required.

Benefits

GLA staff are hybrid working up to 3 days a week in our offices and remotely depending on their role. As part of this, you will need to split your time between home working and coming into the office.

In addition to a good salary package, you will be paid every four weeks, providing frequent salary payments. We also offer an attractive range of benefits including 30 days’ annual leave, interest free season ticket loan, interest free bicycle loan and a career average pension scheme.

Additional Information

Please note, all candidates will need to confirm that the information provided in this application form is true and correct. Should a candidate deliberately give false information, including the use of AI software, they understand that this would disqualify them from consideration.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record (DBS) check but some roles may require additional security screening.

Secondment Opportunity

If you are a GLA employee applying for an internal fixed-term position, as an internal secondment opportunity, you must ensure you satisfy the following secondment policy criteria listed below before applying

On a permanent contract or a fixed term contract where the time left on the contract at the point at which you apply for secondment is longer than the secondment period;
successfully completed your probation period and are performing to the required standard for your current role; and
at least 18 months service with the GLA

If you do meet the criteria listed above, you will need to complete the Approval for secondment application form and gain line manager approval, before emailing the fully completed form to the Resourcing Assistant who is managing the vacancy. This form must be received by the closing date of the vacancy. Failure to provide this form will mean your application cannot be progressed.

If you are unable to satisfy all of the criteria, unfortunately, you are not eligible to apply for this vacancy as an internal secondment. For further information, please see Secondment Policy and Procedure.

IMPORTANT: If you are a current GLA employee on a fixed-term contract, which is due to end BEFORE the end date of this vacancy, you DO NOT NEED to complete the Approval for secondment application form as it is not a secondment.

If you are successful in securing this secondment opportunity, you will need to be released from your existing role, so please ensure that you make your line manager aware of your application

More Support

If you have a disability which makes submitting an online application form difficult, please contact resourcingteam@london.gov.uk.