Specialist Apprentice Public Health Analyst

37 Hours per week - Full Time - Fixed term for 36 months

Are you passionate about using data to make a real difference to people's lives? Do you have strong analytical skills and want to develop specialist expertise in public health intelligence.

We're looking for an ambitious and motivated individual to join our Public Health Team as a Specialist Apprentice Public Health Analyst. This exciting opportunity combines hands-on experience with a fully funded Level 7 Health and Care Intelligence Specialist Apprenticeship, helping you develop advanced analytical skills while contributing to important public health projects across Reading.

Working alongside experienced Public Health professionals, you'll analyse health, care and population data to understand local needs, identify health inequalities and provide evidence that supports decision-making, service improvement and better outcomes for residents. You'll gain valuable experience in epidemiology, statistical analysis, research, evaluation, data visualisation and population health intelligence.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

We support hybrid working, it's important to us that working arrangements are designed to enable our employees to excel and within this role you'll have the opportunity to work in a way that suits your lifestyle.

About The Role:

Alongside your role, you'll complete the Level 7 Health & Care Intelligence Specialist apprenticeship. The programme combines taught and assessed learning with on-the-job development.

To find out more about the apprenticeship visit: https://skillsengland.education.gov.uk/apprenticeships/st0830-v1-0

As part of our Public Health Intelligence Team, you'll work with health, care and population data to understand the health needs of our communities and help shape evidence-based decisions.

Your work could include:

• Analysing population health data to identify trends, emerging issues and health inequalities.
• Working with complex health and care datasets and applying statistical, epidemiological and analytical methods.
• Contributing to Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) outputs, health needs assessments, neighbourhood profiles, service evaluations and epidemiological reports.
• Developing dashboards, reports, infographics and presentations that turn complex analysis into clear, accessible insights.
• Supporting public health surveillance and the monitoring of local health trends.
• Designing and supporting evaluations, surveys and analytical studies.
• Working with colleagues and partners across the Council, NHS, academia and the voluntary and community sector.
• Using evidence and intelligence to support service planning, commissioning, strategy and policy development.
• Developing your own analytical expertise while sharing knowledge and supporting analytical capability across the team.

You'll have the opportunity to work on a varied portfolio covering areas such as population health, health inequalities, health improvement, health protection, healthcare public health, research and evaluation.

About You:

We're looking for someone who is curious, analytical, takes initiative and is eager to learn.

You'll have:

• GCSE English and Maths at Grade C/4 or above (or equivalent).
• A relevant degree in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics) or social science (e.g. Public Health, Psychology, Geography, Economics, Accounting) subject, a related field that includes substantial mathematical content, or equivalent analytical experience.
• Experience of working with record-level data and applying analytical and statistical methods.
• Strong numerical, data analysis and problem-solving skills.
• The ability to interpret and communicate complex information to a range of audiences.
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.
• A commitment to professional development and completing the apprenticeship programme.

Experience of analysing large, complex datasets and of working with analytical tools such as Power BI, SQL, R, Python or SPSS would be advantageous but is not essential.

You'll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you'll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.

Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:

Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do

Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential.

Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance - striving to be even better - and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way.

Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed.

Our offer:

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition are strongly encouraged, and you'll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 30 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
• A wide range of flexible working opportunities
• Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
• On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
• Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax

For more information on this position please contact Paul Trinder, Senior Public Health Analyst at Paul.Trinder@reading.gov.uk

Closing Date: Sunday 25th October 2026

Interview Date: To be confirmed

Interview Setup: Civic Centre, Bridge Street, Reading, RG1 2LU