Public Health Principal (Tobacco Control)

Job Details:

Job Reference: HCC624800
Salary Range: £65,895 - £73,902 per annum
Work Location: Elizabeth II Court, Winchester (Hybrid Working)
Hours per week: 37
Contract Type: Permanent
Closing Date: 8 September 2026

The Role:

As a Public Health Principal (Tobacco Control), you'll use your public health expertise, leadership skills and passion for improving health to lead Hampshire's Tobacco Control Programme. You'll play a key role in improving population health outcomes and reducing health inequalities associated with smoking and vaping, whilst shaping the future of tobacco control across Hampshire.

As a senior member of our Public Health Team and Extended Management Team, you'll work across a complex partnership landscape, leading the strategic development, commissioning, delivery and evaluation of evidence-based public health programmes. Working closely with other local authorities, the Smokefree Hampshire, NHS partners and community organisations, you'll influence policy and practice at both local and system-wide levels, helping to shape services that make a lasting difference to the lives of Hampshire residents.

What you’ll do:

• Lead the strategic development, delivery and evaluation of Hampshire's Tobacco Control Programme and Priority 1 of the Get Hampshire Working programme.
• Commission, procure and contract manage public health services and programmes, ensuring quality, value for money and measurable outcomes.
• Use population health intelligence, needs assessments and health equality audits and research to identify priorities and reduce health inequalities.
• Develop and implement strategies, policies and action plans that support local and national public health objectives.
• Manage programme budgets, resources and performance to ensure effective delivery against agreed targets.
• Provide specialist public health advice to senior leaders, elected members, commissioners and partner organisations. Represent Hampshire at regional and national forums and contributing to research, innovation and public health best practice.
• Build and lead effective partnerships across local authorities, NHS organisations, Integrated Care Boards, UK Health Security Agency, voluntary sector partners and wider stakeholders.

What we’re looking for:

• A Master's degree (or equivalent) in Public Health or a related discipline.
• UKPHR Registered Public Health Practitioner status (or equivalent professional registration), or willingness to work towards registration.
• Significant experience in a senior public health role, including programme management, partnership working and commissioning.
• Proven ability to design, deliver and evaluate complex public health programmes and interventions.
• Strong understanding of public health policy, health improvement, tobacco control and reducing health inequalities.
• Excellent analytical, project management and change management skills, with the ability to use evidence to influence decisions.
• Outstanding communication and stakeholder management skills, with experience of leading teams, managing budgets and working across complex partnerships.

Take a look at our Candidate Pack for more information about the Public Health Principal (Tobacco Control) role, team and our values. The section ‘About you’ explains what specific knowledge, skills and experience we want you to tell us about. Make sure you explain how you meet these requirements and demonstrate our values, in your application.

Why join us?

• A senior leadership role within a supportive, ambitious and forward-thinking Public Health service committed to improving the health and wellbeing of Hampshire residents.
• Lead a high-profile public health priority that delivers measurable improvements in health outcomes across Hampshire.
• Work collaboratively with influential partners across local government, the NHS, regional and national networks.
• Shape policy, strategy and commissioning decisions that have county-wide impact.
• Access to Health Assured's comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme to support your physical and mental wellbeing, including 24/7 telephone support, a suite of online resources, and legal and financial advice.
• A competitive benefits package that includes generous annual leave entitlement, occupational sick pay, and access to the Local Government Pension Scheme. Find more information here.   

Please note that you must have the right to work in the UK to be eligible for this role.

Applicants can expect to hear from us within two weeks of the advertised closing date.

Other roles you may have experience of may include: Lead Public Health Practitioner, Senior Public Health Lead, Strategic Public Health Lead, Public Health Programme Lead, Principal Public Health Practitioner, Principal Public Health Programme Lead

Values Based Recruitment:

We are passionate about our values:

• Collaborative: Working together, combining talents and sharing resources to shape decisions and actions, and to maximise health outcomes.
• Equalities-driven: Reducing inequalities and promoting equity in all we do, so that no one is left behind as we strive for better health and wellbeing.
• Outcome focussed: Prioritising our work based on evidence, effectiveness and value for money to improve quality outcomes and prevent ill health.
• Sustainable: Being future-focussed. Creating lasting change in local systems and communities. Developing our work through a climate change lens to achieve health and climate benefits. 

We practice values-based recruitment in Public Health and invite you to evidence how you demonstrate our values in your application. The interview for the role will also be values based and will explore how you will be able to contribute to these.

Additional Information:

Public Health Principal (Tobacco Control) Candidate Pack

Contact Details for an Informal Discussion:

For general enquiries, please contact care.careers@hants.gov.uk

For an informal chat about the role, please contact Sarah Wallace, Consultant in Public Health on sarah.wallace@hants.gov.uk and Sue Cochrane, Consultant in Public Health on sue.cochrane@hants.gov.uk