Public Health Practitioner – Graduate

This 2.5-year fixed-term graduate contract based in Lewes provides a structured training pathway to achieve UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) practitioner status by delivering local health improvement projects, evaluating community wellness strategies, and managing cross-functional stakeholder partnerships across the region.

Job Description

Are you passionate about wanting to improve the health and wellbeing of local communities in East Sussex, and have a degree in a Public Health related subject? If so, then this exciting development opportunity may be for you.

The Local Authority Public Health team in East Sussex are going to be recruiting a Public Health Practitioner Graduate Trainee to start work on 7th September 2026. This will be a 2.5 year fixed term contract.  

During the 2.5 years the trainee(s) post will be based in the Public Health team in Lewes, East Sussex, where you will gain hands-on experience of public health delivery.  

You will be supported to undertake a structured development programme, building on your existing knowledge through further training and education to broaden your knowledge, understanding and application across all domains of public health. 

There will be the opportunity to undertake placements and/or projects to gain a broad understanding across the three domains of public health and undertake the UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) Public Health Practitioner registration process to become a registered Public Health Practitioner. 

The office base for the Public Health team is County Hall, Lewes, and the successful candidate will be required to attend monthly team meetings and other key meetings in Lewes. The role is county wide and will work in a hybrid way comprising ability to work from home and a range of council office bases across East Sussex, including Hastings, Eastbourne & Lewes. The training programme will also require travel to specific development days in London and other parts of the South East, for which travel costs will be reimbursed.

We are looking for candidates who :

• have a degree or post graduate qualification in public health or related discipline.

• have experience in a post related to public health e.g. that aimed to improve health in either a local authority, NHS or the voluntary and community sector.

• Are able to organise/prioritise work, co-ordinate a variety of tasks in a clear and logical way and meet agreed deadlines that minimise the disruption to the business. 

• Are able to develop positive partnership ways of working, with a range of stakeholders. 

• Are able to communicate effectively with a range of people in a clear, concise and accurate manner, changing messages to suit different audiences.

It is vital that the public health workforce reflects and includes our local communities. Therefore, we are particularly keen to receive applications from:
 

• People with experience of living or working in East Sussex, particularly in coastal or rural communities.

• People with experience of, or links with, communities who have increased risk of experiencing poorer health.

• People from groups who are underrepresented in the public health workforce such as those from