Public Health Consultant

Job description

About

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 carer's 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. 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. 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.

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 .

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. Please see more information here: 

Information for applicants on Local Government Reorganisation - Surrey County Council.

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're 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.