Public Health Lead

About the role

This permanent role has a starting salary of £48,698 per annum, based on a 36‑hour working week. It offers an exciting opportunity to join Surrey County Council's Public Health Team as a Public Health Lead (Substance Use). You will work within a supportive, ambitious team committed to improving health outcomes, reducing inequalities and delivering high‑quality services for Surrey residents.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the design, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of programmes, projects and strategic initiatives for the Surrey Substance Use Partnership.
• Work collaboratively with local government, NHS organisations, voluntary and community groups, criminal‑justice agencies and other stakeholders to develop an evidence‑based, coordinated approach to substance use.
• Strengthen partnership working and recovery‑oriented approaches, ensuring programmes are informed by evidence, insight and lived experience.
• Provide public‑health expertise and leadership across programme delivery, service improvement and system development.
• Contribute to partnership governance, performance oversight, needs assessment, evaluation, strategic planning and, where required, commissioning and contract management.

Required profile

• Masters degree in Public Health, Health Promotion, Health Protection or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.
• Achieved or working towards Public Health Practitioner Registration.
• Proven experience leading or coordinating programmes, projects or partnership initiatives, preferably within substance use, addiction, recovery, mental health or health‑improvement fields.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and partnership‑working skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
• Competence in public‑health skills such as data review, analysis, interpretation, needs assessment and applying evidence to improve outcomes.
• Track record of effective commissioning and contract management.

What we offer

• 26 days' holiday (rising to 28 after 2 years and 31 after 5 years) with the option to buy up to 10 additional days.
• Generous local‑government pension scheme.
• Up to 5 days of carer’s leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year.
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) for health and wellbeing.
• Learning and development hub with extensive resources.
• Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts, including gym, travel and shopping.
• Opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of Surrey residents.