Consultant in Public Health


Company:	West Midlands Combined Authority
Salary:	£87,166 to £87,166 a year
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	16 Summer Lane, B19 3SD
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	6 Oct 2026
Closing date:	20 Oct 2026

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Summary

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is looking for an experienced and highly motivated Public Health Specialist to provide strategic public health leadership for Phase 2 of the Mayoral Regions Programme (MRP).

Following three successful years of Phase 1 delivery, Phase 2 of the MRP is funded by the Health Foundation and delivered by WMCA in partnership with a consortium of English Mayoral Strategic Authorities (MSAs).

The programme aims to:

Increase MSA action to address health inequalities, including through the health duty and opportunities arising from the English Devolution Bill and NHS 10-year Plan

Strengthen the ability of MSAs to use their powers and influence across the wider determinants of health

Build the evidence base and share learning about effective approaches to improving population health within MSAs.

As the programme’s Public Health Consultant, you will provide specialist public health expertise, strategic leadership and professional accountability for the programme, helping to translate evidence, policy and learning into meaningful action to improve health and reduce inequalities.

You will be a senior member of WMCA’s Health and Communities Team, working closely with the Head of Health and Communities and senior colleagues across the Employment, Skills, Health and Communities directorate.

What you will be doing.

You will work closely with the Programme Senior Responsible Officer (SRO), Senior Delivery Manager, the Health Foundation and participating MSAs to shape and deliver the programme's strategic objectives.

Your responsibilities will include:

Strategic leadership

Providing specialist public health expertise and strategic leadership across health inequalities, health improvement, health intelligence, evidence, policy and strategy.

Supporting the WMCA Head of Health and Communities to shape the strategic direction of the programme and ensure alignment with regional priorities and Health Foundation expectations.

Supporting participating MSAs to strengthen their approaches to tackling health inequalities and improving population health.

Identifying opportunities to apply learning, systems thinking and innovative approaches across participating regions.

Supporting engagement with The Health Foundation and ensuring programme delivery and learning align with its strategic priorities.

Partnership and influence

Developing strong relationships and networks across participating MSAs and with local, regional and national partners.

Working with Local Authorities, Universities, NHS and Integrated Care Boards, the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector and Government departments.

Influencing senior leaders and stakeholders to achieve change and improvement in health and wellbeing.

Providing credible, tactful and constructive challenge while maintaining effective relationships in a complex political environment.

Overseeing stakeholder engagement across participating MSAs and supporting relationships with MSAs not yet engaged with the programme.

Representing WMCA and the programme at senior forums and with external partners.

Programme delivery and assurance

Providing technical public health advice, including policy analysis and translation, data analysis and interpretation, evidence assessment and strategic leadership.

Providing final oversight of programme outputs, including briefings, reports, tools and resources.

Ensuring programme learning and evidence is effectively translated into practical approaches for MSAs.

Supporting the development of evidence-based tools, policy work and MSA peer learning forums.

Working with The Health Foundation’s Healthy Lives team on priority projects.

Contributing to MSA board reports, briefings and key programme documents.

Ensuring effective monitoring and evaluation of the programme, capturing health inequalities-related impact, evidence and learning.

Reporting strategically to the Programme Governance Board, comprising representatives from The Health Foundation and participating MSAs.

Supporting the Senior Delivery Manager to resolve operational issues and secure strategic buy-in for innovative approaches.

You will also provide line management to the Programme Senior Delivery Manager.

About you

You will be an experienced public health specialist (UKPHR registered at the point of application) with the strategic leadership, analytical and influencing skills needed to operate confidently across complex, multi-organisational environments.

You will be able to demonstrate:

Experience of Health in All Policies, systems working and tackling health inequalities

Experience of developing theories of change and delivering monitoring and evaluation for complex programmes

Experience of working successfully in a political environment

Experience of partnership working across a range of organisations

Experience of influencing senior leaders, including directors and CEOs

Experience of using complex qualitative and quantitative information to communicate public health issues clearly and persuasively

Strong strategic thinking, leadership and operational skills

The ability to develop, interpret and implement strategies and policies

An understanding of the health and care system and its relationship with local and national government

Knowledge of quality improvement, evaluation and evidence-based public health practice

An understanding of the public sector and inequality duties and their application to public health practice.

You will be comfortable working across different organisational cultures, governance arrangements and financial environments, managing competing priorities and delivering to tight deadlines.

Crucially, you will combine intellectual rigour and political awareness with tact, diplomacy and the confidence to challenge when this is necessary to achieve better public health outcomes.

Qualifications and professional registration

You must hold:

Inclusion in the GMC Full and Specialist Register with a licence to practise, GDC Specialist List, or UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) for Public Health Specialists

A Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT), or be within six months of receiving CCT at the date of interview if UK trained in Public Health, or evidence of equivalent training if non-UK trained

MFPH by examination, exemption or assessment

Current CPD in accordance with Faculty of Public Health or other recognised professional requirements.

A Master's degree in Public Health or equivalent is desirable.

Applicants who are public health specialty registrars and are not yet on the relevant specialist register must provide verifiable evidence that they are within six months of gaining entry at the date of interview.

Location and working arrangements

The location for this role is 16 Summer Lane, Birmingham with at least 1 day a week spent in the office. This is a full-time role; Job share applications will be considered to support flexible working arrangements.

Professional responsibilities

You will be expected to maintain your professional development and registration, participate in professional appraisal and contribute to relevant training, mentoring and professional leadership activity.

You will be expected to practise in accordance with relevant professional standards, including Faculty of Public Health and UKPHR requirements, where applicable, and to maintain effective, courageous and responsible public health advocacy.

WMCA will support your continuing professional development and provide opportunities to maintain professional registration and access relevant research, knowledge and professional education.

How to apply.

Applying for a role with WMCA is straightforward. Follow these steps to get started.

Create your Careers Account. Register with your name, email address, and a password.

Build your Profile.Upload your CV to help populate your career and education details.

Write your Supporting Statement.Make sure to address each of the required essential criteria.

Submit your application.Do one final check and once complete, click submit.

Please note, we reserve the right to close any vacancy from further submissions when we have received sufficient applications from which to make a shortlist. Please apply without delay if you wish to be considered for this role.

Anonymised Applications.

Your uploaded CV won’t be visible after submission. Our process is anonymised, and

only the information in your profile is used for shortlisting. Be thorough in each section. It’s your chance to showcase your skills and experience.

Using Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We cannot stop anyone from using AI to help write application content. Used right, it can be a great tool. If you choose to use AI, then use it as a helper rather than relying on it wholly to write your application.

Applications that rely too heavily on AI may be rejected during shortlisting. For help on how to write a supporting statement, please visit the

FAQs section of our careers site.

Reasonable adjustments.

If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition that means you might require changes to the application or recruitment process, please get in touch with our Recruitment Team (

careers@wmca.org.uk).

Salary and benefits.

We advertise salary ranges, with new appointments typically starting at the lowest salary point. In exceptional cases, the salary point may be adjusted to secure the best candidate. This approach allows for potential year-on-year salary increases, offering progression and appropriate rewards to employees. Requests for salaries above the maximum advertised range will not be considered.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

Local Government Pension Scheme (

one of the most generous pension schemes in the UK).

Shared Cost Additional Voluntary Contributionscheme where you can build an additional pot of money alongside your pension with contributions exempt from Income Tax and National Insurance contributions (NICs).

28 days paid annual leave (with an option to purchase more) + Statutory days.

EV car benefit scheme

Healthcare plans.

Discounted

gym membership, will writing,and

mortgage advice.

An option to

buy a bicycle, including e-bikes and adapted pedal cycles, at a discounted rate.

3 days of paid leave each year to

volunteer.

Interest-free financing through SmartTech to buy the latest technology

Discounted shopping with over 2,000 big-name retailers, and more. You can now also obtain a

Costcomembership through the WMCA.

Boundlessunlocks unlimited entry to top-rated UK attractions and loads of extra benefits and discounts.

Eye

Care Scheme,offering a free eye test and a financial contribution towards your glasses.

For more information, please visit the

benefits page on our career site.

Why join WMCA?

WMCA is laser-focused on improving the West Midlands, bringing economic growth, jobs, homes, and better journeys to the region. We target local needs where it matters most, ensuring everyone has a job that pays well and has access to safe and affordable places they can call home.

We put people and place at the heart of everything we do, working hand in hand with our partners to direct funding where it's needed most. What you do, really matters. Your expertise will help make a big difference, improving people's lives, every day.

Our Values and Behaviours.

Fostering an environment where people feel valued, included, supported, and proud to contribute to our region is important to us at the WMCA. Our behaviours are more than statements; they guide how we work, make decisions, and treat one another - they set the standards we hold ourselves to and the experience we want others to have.

Collaborative -We work as one organisation. Together we build trust, connection and shared purpose across teams, partners and residents to create the biggest impact for our region.

Driven -We are focused on outcomes. We perform at our best to unlock productivity and delivery, achieving the greatest regional impact.

Inclusive - We value difference. Creating an environment where people belong, and feel psychologically safe, so we can all thrive and shape a West Midlands built for everyone.

Innovative -We are courageous. We embrace new ideas and challenge the status quo to continuously improve and shape the future of the West Midlands.

Creating an inclusive workplace.

WMCA holds diversity accreditations, such as the RACE Code Quality Mark, Armed Forces Covenant (Gold status) and has been recognised as one of the Inclusive Top 50 Employers and The Times Top 50 Employers for Women. We’re a Disability Confident Employer with ‘Leader’ status, committed to interviewing applicants with disabilities who meet all the essential role criteria.

We are also proud to be a Ban the Box employer, which means we do not ask about criminal convictions at the initial application stage, and will only ask after an offer is made as part of our onboarding checks, which helps us remove barriers for people with past convictions and supporting fair opportunities for all.

We recognise that certain groups, such as women and people of colour, may be less likely to apply for roles if they feel they do not meet all the requirements. However, we encourage individuals who are passionate about the role and want to make a difference to still apply. We value potential and encourage applicants to highlight their skills, including transferable ones, even if they don't fit the traditional "perfect candidate" mould.

We gladly consider part-time, flexible, and job share arrangements, so please don't let these factors deter you from applying

Right to Work in the UK

Proof of Right to Work in the UK will be required for all applicants in accordance with UK Home Office requirements, before any employment offer can be confirmed.

Non-UK applicants (excluding Ireland) would be required to hold a relevant Visa from the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

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About Disability Confident

Disability Confident is a government scheme. It encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions.