Senior Public Health Lead

We are committed to the development of our workforce. This position is only available to applicants who already work for Surrey County Council.  We thank you for your interest in our roles and would encourage you to review our vacancies which are open to all.

This role has a starting salary of £63,823 per annum, working 36 hours per week.

This is a fixed-term contract opportunity for 12 months to cover Maternity Leave.

Surrey County Council is seeking an experienced and inspirational Senior Public Health Lead to join our Public Health Team. Initially based within the Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) and Cancer Prevention Team in Reigate, this role will transfer to East Surrey from 1st April 2027 as part of Local Government Reform.

This is an exciting opportunity to take a leading role in improving population health, reducing health inequalities and shaping the future of prevention services across Surrey.

Our Offer to You 

• 26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service (pro-rated for part time opportunities)
• 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 

We are a forward-thinking, friendly and highly collaborative Public Health team, committed to delivering evidence-based programmes that make a real difference to the lives of Surrey residents. As part of the Adults, Wellbeing and Health Partnerships Directorate, we work closely with colleagues across Surrey County Council, the NHS, district and borough councils, voluntary and community organisations, and a wide range of system partners to develop innovative approaches to prevention and improve health outcomes across the county. We are proud to offer a supportive and stimulating environment where colleagues are encouraged to develop professionally, build their expertise and progress their careers. 

As our Senior Public Health Lead, you will provide strategic leadership across key areas of Surrey's cardiovascular disease and cancer prevention agenda, leading work focussed on healthier aging and health improvement, while reducing health inequalities. You will be responsible for the oversight of development, commissioning, performance management and continuous improvement of evidence-based public health services, ensuring programmes deliver measurable outcomes, maximise value for money and contribute to improved population health. 

This is a highly influential role that requires strong partnership working and system leadership. You will work across organisational and professional boundaries to shape strategic priorities, build effective relationships with stakeholders and champion collaborative approaches that help residents live longer, healthier lives. This is an exciting opportunity to lead meaningful programmes that have a lasting impact on communities across Surrey. 

Your application 

In order to be considered for shortlisting, you will have a Masters Degree in Public Health, with UKPHR registration or working towards registration. Your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our  behaviours : 

• Proven track record of people and performance management
• Significant experience of leading and delivering public health programmes and projects across a range of topic areas
• Expertise in translating evidence and intelligence into effective practice and policy.
• Experience of leading, managing and developing staff, creating a positive and inclusive team culture.
• Experience of working collaboratively with health, local authority, voluntary and community sector partners.

To apply, please submit your CV and provide responses to the following three questions: 

1. What has motivated you to apply for this role, and what knowledge, skills and experience would you bring to the position?
2. Describe a time when you provided strategic leadership for a health improvement project. What approach did you take, and what impact did it achieve?
3. This role will lead a team through a period of organisational change, including a change in line management and transition to a new local authority. How would you support staff through this transition while maintaining morale, performance and wellbeing? Please explain how you would ensure the safe and effective delivery of public health services and interventions throughout the change process.

Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description & Our  Life at Surrey handbook to get an insight into working at Surrey. 

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. 

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Jenn Hamid via email or on MS Teams.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 01/11/2026 with interviews planned to follow. 

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 East 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.