Job opportunity: Commissioned short report on our work on COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought uncertainty and disruption to our everyday lives. During this time, we have been working to provide support, information and advice to ensure that ethics is a key consideration in rapidly developing government and societal responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the UK. It has done this by producing a number of resources including rapid policy briefings, webinars with COVID-19 themes, public statements and blogs. COVID-19 has also expanded our public affairs work with regular briefings and contact with those directly involved with policy development. Much of this work has been able to draw upon on our existing publications and work.

It is expected that the short report would:

• Provide an overview of our work in relation to COVID-19;
• Locate this work in relation to that of others working in bioethics or related areas;
• Identify our previous work that has enabled us to respond to COVID-19-related challenges;
• Indicate what has been achieved in terms of audience and influence;
• Summarise the core messages that we have sought to communicate;
• Evaluate the effectiveness of our work in these areas; and
• Identify residual questions that we or others might continue to pursue.

It is anticipated that the report would be between 12 – 20 pages (plus annexes), taking around twenty working days to complete. The person appointed to the commission will have access to relevant internal documents and to Council colleagues. We are aiming for a completion date of around 30 April, and we would be happy for candidates to fit the work around other commitments as necessary. The paper will be for internal Council use, though it may be published on the Council’s website, in which case authorship will be acknowledged. The fee for the commission will be £5,000.

We are looking a self-motivated individual with a strong and demonstrable interest in the ethical issues raised by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Please apply in writing with:

• Your CV
• A paragraph explaining your interest in and suitability for this position
• One page (no more than 400 words), highlighting what you see as the main ethical and social issues raised COVID-19 pandemic
• Names of two referees (we won’t contact them without telling you first).

The deadline for applications is: 10.00 on Monday 8 March.

There will not be interviews, but the process may involve an informal conversation to discuss the commission.

Please send any queries and applications via email to: Carol Perkins (cperkins@nuffieldbioethics.org).