Job Description

Details

-----------

Reference number

424793

Salary

31,997 - 43,552
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP

Job grade

Higher Executive Officer

Contract type

Permanent

Type of role

Policy

Working pattern

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

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

------------

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

Location

------------


Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, London - Canary Wharf (Core HQs)

About the job

-----------------

Job summary

The government has committed to a multi-billion-pound investment in UKHSA's new laboratory facilities - the most significant investment the UK has made in biosecurity infrastructure in a generation. These state-of-the-art laboratories, to be built at a new site in Harlow, will replace UKHSA's existing facilities at Porton Down and Colindale and will be critical to the UK's public health resilience and national security for decades to come.


This decision marks a pivotal moment for UKHSA and the wider government science landscape. The new facility will bring together world-class capability under one roof, enabling cutting-edge research, pandemic preparedness, and the protection of the UK from major biological threats.


We are now seeking an organised, creative individual who is a self-starter with first-rate Policy and stakeholder engagement skills along with strong written and verbal skills to join the team and work with a range of internal and external stakeholders.


The successful candidate will be expected to support work with sector partners to oversee and deliver high-profile projects and Ministerial policy advice and stakeholder engagement on a range issues.


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.

Job description

As the Programme Policy Support Officer, you will be part of a team who work with a range projects which will include helping to shape policy, alongside working with of internal and external stakeholders. The successful candidate will be expected to support the development of the business case for the Harlow Programme. You will also work on policy advice and stakeholder engagement on a range of issues relating to the Programme and play an active role in shaping and delivering the team's priorities, working collaboratively with others to deliver excellent outcomes.

The main roles and responsibilities are as follows:

Support the policy and engagement team leads to draft material and briefing. Commissioning input from the different teams on submissions and other briefing requirements Drafting answers to written parliamentary questions, Freedom of Information (FOI) requests and other correspondence Working closely with colleagues across UKHSA, DHSC and other government departments Organise the programme team internal communications with support from the senior team. Using project and programme management techniques to manage a range of deliverables and engage regularly with SCS on prioritisation of tasks. Own the stakeholder register and collate feedback from senior stakeholders. Support delivery of stakeholder events and meetings.

Person specification

Essential role criteria

:

Experience of working in a fast-paced policy and stakeholder engagement role. Experience of working across sensitive and challenging situations/issues, showing diplomacy, tact and a proven track record of using negotiating and influencing skills to achieve outcomes. Experience of using initiative and creativity to find innovative solutions. Experience of building and maintaining strong, effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders Strong verbal, written and presentational skills, with the ability to present complex issues clearly and succinctly to diverse audiences. Ability to manage and motivate colleagues to maximize their ability, while also being receptive to feedback for own personal development. ensuring their personal development Demonstrates a commitment to equality and diversity in day-to-day working practices, as well as output

Desirable role criteria:

Practical experience of project management techniques Understanding of the public health environment and the roles and responsibilities within it. Good knowledge of the workings of government including parliament, local government, current government priorities and agenda. Experience of working with scientists and/or scientific material.

Benefits

------------


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

---------------------------

Selection process details

Stage 1: Application & Sift

At sift stage you will be assessed against the 7 listed essential criteria.

You will be required to complete an:

Application form ('Employer/ Activity history' section on the application) (up to 1200 number of words) word Statement of Suitability. This should outline

how

your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role.

You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. (The application form is the kind of information you would put into your C.V -please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible)


Your statement of suitability must be no more than

1200 words

.


If we receive a large number of applications an initial sift will be conducted against the lead criteria:

Experience of working in a fast-paced policy and stakeholder engagement role.

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


Meets all essential criteria.


Meets some essential criteria


Meets no essential criteria


Only pile 1 will be taken forward to shortlisting.


Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications / large amount of successful candidates


Please note feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview (success profiles)

You will be invited to a remote interview.


This vacancy is being assessed using

Success Profiles

. During the interview we will assess you against the below:


Behaviours:

Working together Delivering at pace Communicating and influencing 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.

Eligibility Criteria

Option 1 - External


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

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates will require Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) as a minimum with willingness and capability to work towards Security Check (SC)


Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.


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 5 years as the role requires Security Check (SC) . 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.

Future location

UKHSA is investing in a new state-of-the-art National Biosecurity Centre in Harlow, Essex, which will eventually bring together teams currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale and Porton Down. For more details, please see: Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection - GOV.UK.

The new facilities will start becoming operational in the mid-2030s, with full completion by 2038. Staff will move in phases as facilities become available. If you're appointed to a role currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale or Porton Down, please note that we'll continue investing in these sites for the next decade. As we get closer to the transition, we'll provide full information about relocation support available to staff.

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/

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.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.


Link below:


Artificial intelligence and recruitment , Civil Service 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.

Careers website

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

Hybrid

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at any of our Core HQ's. We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's core HQ's (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London).

Most of our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport link and benefit from benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).



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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
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

---------------------------------


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

#

Job contact :

Name : Alastair Bayliss Email : Alastair.Bayliss@ukhsa.gov.uk
#

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: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk


http://www.healthjobsuk.com/job/v7432214