Job Description

Details

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Reference number

417301

Salary

31,997 - 39,076
Per annum, pro rata
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP

Job grade

Higher Executive Officer

Contract type

Permanent

Type of role

Other

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

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Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information

Location

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Idmiston, South West England, SP4 0JG

About the job

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Job summary

We are looking for an Operations Support Officer to work within the Operations Team supporting two divisions at UKHSA Porton: Countermeasures Development, Evaluation, and Preparedness (CDEP) and Diagnostics and Pathogen Characterisation (DPC).


You will be joining an efficient and face-paced team who work closely with Scientific staff and supporting UKHSA functions such as Safety, Quality, Commercial, Finance, Estates and Engineering. The team ensures the department has the resources and systems in place to allow delivery of high-quality scientific data.


The post holder will have a varied and active role; both by supporting the Operations Managers with the day-to-day operational responsibilities and by having ownership & becoming a subject-matter-expert in several internal systems and applications used within the department.


CDEP and DPC deliver a laboratory-based capability to prepare for and respond to infectious disease challenges, particularly caused by pathogens of pandemic potential. CDEP works out of new world-class research facilities and supports the testing of vaccines against COVID-19 and other emerging / pandemic threats. DPC focuses on the key initial steps in the control of infections, namely pathogen identification, characterisation and development of diagnostics


You will be joining a small team who interact widely with both internal and external stakeholders and service providers to ensure the smooth and efficient running of a busy department.


The post holder will have a varied and active role; both by supporting the Operations Managers and by taking ownership / becoming a subject-matter-expert in several internal systems and applications used within the department.


To be a successful candidate you will have Life Sciences degree/NVQ6 and/or equivalent experience. You will possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to work confidently with colleagues at all levels. You must be a good team player who is also capable of working with autonomy and managing your own workload effectively. You must thrive in a process-driven environment but be open and reactive to change, and flexible when needed.

Job description

Your key responsibilities will include:

Support the Operations Team and wider department

Undertaking varied tasks as directed These may include involvement in commercial activities, service improvement, troubleshooting. providing advice on the use of internal systems and processes, developing communications and presentations

Project based work & monitoring

Implement and maintain systems to enable effective planning and scheduling for the team and projects within it. Implement and maintain project and process controls. Produce status reports, performance data and research new information. Carry out timely and accurate information analysis and reporting on agreed areas of their working area and present findings in an agreed manner. Developing and maintaining databases as required by the job using a variety of digital and IT applications. Manage and monitor compliance of processes in line with UKHSA guidelines and legislation, including Health & Safety, Equality & Diversity, Security.

Communications, relationship building & troubleshooting

Build and maintain strong professional relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders. Act as point of contact for project responses to requests for information and signpost accordingly. Maintain the service issues log and contribute to the department risk log; work with more senior colleagues and managers to resolve issues and escalate where appropriate.

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

A Bachelors degree or NVQ 6 in a Life Sciences discipline OR relevant work experience in life Science. Experience of developing and / or maintaining plans to ensure agreed outputs are delivered within agreed time, cost, and scope parameters. Can work with others to identify areas for improvement and simplify processes to use fewer resources and improve efficiency. Confident IT and advanced Microsoft Office skills, including Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint. Ability to learn new applications and systems quickly. Proven ability to communicate clearly and concisely across all formats and at all levels, considering the best method for the audience. Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to quickly develop effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders. Demonstrable experience showing you are detail-focussed, work is accurate and error free, you take a positive & can-do approach to tackling problems and you thrive on providing a quality service. To successfully work independently on multiple tasks and priorities in a continuously changing environment AND be able to work as part of a team to achieve a common goal.

Benefits

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Alongside your salary of 31,997, UK Health Security Agency contributes 9,269 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.Learning and development tailored to your role An environment with flexible working options A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

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Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Stage 1 - Application & Sift:

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the 9 essential criteria listed, and this will be in the form of a:

Application form ('Employer/ Activity history' section on the application) Up to 1000 word Statement of Suitability

This should outline how you consider your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.


The Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.

Longlisting

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In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:

Meets all essential criteria Meets some essential criteria Meets no essential criteria

Piles Meets all essential criteria will be moved through to the shortlisting stage.

Shortlisting:

In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on:

Proven ability to communicate clearly and concisely across all formats and at all levels, considering the best method for the audience.

Please do not exceed

1000 words.

We will not consider any words over and above this number. If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview. Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered.


Please note you will not be able to upload your CV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible. Please do not email us your CV.


Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview (success profiles)

You will be invited to a (single) face to face interview. In exceptional circumstances we may be able to offer a remote interview.


Behaviours, Strengths and Experience will be tested at interview.


The Behaviour's tested during the interview stage will be:

Communicating and influencing (lead) Changing and improving Working together Managing a quality service


Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Location

This role is being offered as office based at our Scientific Campus in Porton Down.


If based at one of our scientific campuses, you will be required to have a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum. For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years as the role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance. In exceptional circumstances UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

Eligibility Criteria

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).

Reasonable Adjustments

The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone.


To help you during the recruitment process, we will consider any reasonable adjustments that could help you.


An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work.


This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme.


If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should:


Contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs.


You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Your application may be rejected and/or you may be subject to disciplinary action if evidence of plagiarism is detected. Examples of plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence (AI), as your own.

Organisation info

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.


UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.


Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

Internal Fraud check

If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant's personal details - name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional circumstances. Currently this is only for External candidates to the Civil Service.

International Police check:

If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and it could be time accrued over that period.

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.



Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check .



See our vetting charter .
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:


UK nationals nationals of the Republic of Ireland nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.



We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles .
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

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The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

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Job contact :

Name : Harry McCullagh Email : harry.mccullagh@ukhsa.gov.uk
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Recruitment team

Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk

Further information

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: Complaints@ukhsa.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website here.