Public Health Specialist

• Full time position.
• Hybrid working model with a balance of home, locality and office working.
• 30 days’ annual leave.
• Fixed Term to September 2026 (to cover maternity leave).
• Masters level qualification or equivalent and 5 years’ experience of implementing public health programmes. 

The shared vision for health and wellbeing in Somerset is for people to live healthy and independent lives, supported by thriving and connected communities with timely and easy access to high-quality and efficient public services when they need them.

Somerset Council is looking to appoint an enthusiastic and innovative Specialist in Public Health. We are looking for a Specialist to adopt a generic approach to the use of their knowledge and skills (critical appraisal, analysis and evaluation of data, identifying need, addressing inequalities and following the evidence base) initially against the priority areas of children and young people, Best Start in Life and Public Mental Health. As a core part of our wider team we would expect that your work will also cut across other wider public health priorities as well.

You will work within our welcoming, supportive and dynamic public health team which has an excellent reputation.

The post holder must be an enthusiastic team player able to influence and advocate across the public health team and a wide range of stakeholders in order to optimise the public health gain for our local population, working through localities across the county. They will be educated to master’s level, with a proven track record of delivering programmes that have had demonstrable impact on health and well-being outcomes.

• Able to operationalise public health strategies and priorities,
• Confident in partnership working on complex, whole system issues, with experience of building and maintaining relationships across a range of sectors.
• Confident in using data to determine needs and critically appraising evidence to deliver or commission interventions across a health and care system.
• Positive, committed, adaptable and organised,
• An advocate for babies, children and young people, inequalities, and the need for change.

We offer ongoing support, training and guidance to help you be the best you can be.

We welcome applications from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences to enrich our team. You can always contact the hiring manager for a chat if there’s anything you want to talk about before you apply.

We are proud to offer an environment that is supportive and rewarding, working as part of a team who are passionate about the work they do to improve the lives of people in Somerset.

We offer great training and development opportunities, with supportive management. As well as this, we have some fantastic employee benefits available:

• We promote a healthy work-life balance and offer flexible working arrangements wherever possible, including working from home.
• Generous annual leave allowance, with the opportunity to purchase additional leave
• Staff discounts in gyms.
• Employee Assistance for the times you may need some support and a variety of employee wellbeing services.
• Auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme and optional pension enhancement through our Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme.
• A Flexible Benefits Scheme via salary sacrifice to obtain a cycle for work and health screenings.
• My Staff Shop offering discounts in shops, online shopping, restaurants, cinema tickets, insurance benefits and more

The salary for this fixed term role is £53,392 per annum.

Closing date for applications 29th June 2025. Interviews will be in Taunton on 9th July 2025.

For further information please contact Patsy Temple (Consultant in Public Health) Patsy.temple@somerset.gov.uk or Lou Woolway (Consultant in Public Health) lou.woolway@somerset.gov.uk or  via 01823 359 249.