Job summary
Public Health Wales is seeking a highly motivated and experienced public health professional to join the Drug and Alcohol Team as a Principal Public Health Practitioner. Working at a national level, you will play a central role in supporting delivery of the Drug and Alcohol Programme Plan, contributing to efforts to reduce the harm from drug and alcohol use across Wales. This is an exciting opportunity for someone with expertise in public health, evidence-informed programme and policy development, who is committed to reducing health inequalities and improving outcomes for the people of Wales. You will work collaboratively across systems, including health, local government, the third sector and national partners, to strengthen prevention and early intervention and drive quality improvement. If you are an analytical, creative thinker with strong communication skills and experience in leading programmes, developing partnerships, and translating evidence into practice, we would be delighted to hear from you. Experience and skills in using SharePoint, Copilot and other project management based tools would also be a desirable. This role is based within Public Health Wales, with agile working supported. The ability to speak Welsh is desirable; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.

Main duties of the job

• Provide strategic leadership and specialist public health expertise on tackling the harm from drugs and alcohol at a national level.
• Lead and contribute to the development and delivery of actions within the PHW Drug and Alcohol Programme Plan
• Develop, coordinate, and evaluate national programmes, policies and interventions to strengthen action on prevention and early intervention for drugs and alcohol
• Work collaboratively with a wide range of partners - including health, education, local authorities, criminal justice, the third sector - to strengthen cross-system action and ensure consistent, high-quality approaches across Wales.
• Lead the use of evidence, behavioural insights, and co-production to inform the design and improvement of programmes and resources to reduce harm from drugs and alcohol across Wales
• Provide expert advice to internal and external stakeholders, including policy teams, regional public health teams, and Welsh Government.
• Monitor progress against project plans and contribute to sections of the Public Health Wales Annual Plan related to drugs and alcohol

About us
We are Public Health Wales - the national public health agency in Wales. Our purpose is 'Working together for a healthier Wales'. We exist to help everyone in Wales live longer, healthier, happier lives. Together with our partners, we work to increase healthy life expectancy, improve health and well-being, and reduce inequalities for everyone in Wales, now and for future generations. Our teams work to prevent disease, protect health, and provide leadership, specialist services and public health expertise. We are the leading source of public health information, research and innovation in Wales. In a world facing complex health challenges, our work has never been so important. We are guided by our Values, 'Working together, with trust and respect, to make a difference'. We are committed to building an inclusive workplace that values equality and diversity. We welcome applications which represent the rich diversity of the communities we serve and are supportive of flexible working arrangements, including part time roles and job sharing.

Details
Date posted: 10 July 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8a
Salary: £58,379 to £65,723 a year per annum pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: 028-AC136-0726
Job locations: Cardiff, CF10 4BZ

Job responsibilities
You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click Apply now to view in Trac.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Master's in Public Health to include a module in health promotion theory and practice or equivalent level of knowledge
• Evidence of continuing professional development.

Experience
Essential

• Responsibility for leading aspects of development and delivery of health promotion programmes within a complex environment
• Extensive experience of staff, stakeholder and public engagement and / or involvement

Knowledge
Essential

• Knowledge relating to the determinants of health and the methods and approaches for addressing health inequalities at a population level
• Understanding of current policy relevant to public health

Skills
Essential

• Ability to translate complex issues for a variety of audiences
• Ability to analyse and assess complex information, application of qualitative and quantitative research an analysis skills

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.