Job summary
The post-holder will be responsible for the day-to-day coordination, management and leadership of the International Health Regulations (IHR) Strengthening Project.
The International Health Regulations (IHR) Strengthening Project IHR is a high-profile Official Development Assistance (ODA) funded project designed to improve IHR capability in selected countries and regions with medium and long-term activities taking place through partnerships with National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) in several countries in Africa and Asia. The project's first implementation phase (2016-2021) is now complete and the second funding cycle (2022-2025) commenced in April 2022. The project has a triple remit to build technical capability, strengthen leadership and develop sustainable public health systems. It does this through working at national level in partnerships with NPHIs and Ministries and at a regional level with regional bodies such as Africa CDC and EMPHNET as well as regional WHO.
For additional information regarding this role please see the attached job description.
Main duties of the job
This rewarding and challenging role is responsible for ensuring the smooth-running of the IHR project, overseeing the timely implementation of project plans, maintaining water-tight governance systems, fostering stakeholder relationships both internal and external, and leading the project support team. The post-holder will be required to work in partnership with a co-Project Manager and in conjunction with the Senior Leadership Team. The successful applicant will also line manage members of the central project support team.
Essential skills include excellent communication skills, project management expertise and judgement to problem solve, and the ability to work to tight and shifting deadlines. The appointee will need to be a highly motivated individual and a self-starter, who can work independently.
The post will involve semi-regular international travel for short durations (typically up to two weeks at a time) to partner countries/regions.
About us
The UK Health Security Agency exists to protect and improve the nation's health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities. We do this through world-leading science, knowledge and intelligence, advocacy, partnerships and the delivery of specialist public health services.
We are an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care, and a distinct delivery organisation with operational autonomy. We provide government, local government, the NHS, Parliament, industry and the public with evidence-based professional, scientific and delivery expertise and support.
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
Job responsibilities
- Oversee and lead day-to-day project management of the IHR project, working with internal UKHSA, HMG, bilateral and multilateral partners
- Report and provide briefings as necessary to a range of stakeholders including managing submissions for the IHR Project Board, and Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) Global Health Security Boards and others, as necessary
- Manage stakeholder relationships (internal and external) and represent the IHR project, through routine and ad hoc engagement, attendance at meetings, email correspondence, participation in groups
- Develop and maintain systems to monitor project progress against milestones and present relevant updates as required to the project team and other stakeholders on the progress of the project against targets and milestones
- Ensure the smooth-running of project functions and governance mechanisms e.g., IHR country level meetings, project management, finance and risk meetings
- Manage the overall budget for the project, working with the IHR projects country teams to ensure sound budget and financial management
- Proactively manage risks, opportunities, and issues arising
- Develop and manage key commercial contracts for logistics and professional services in the IHR project partner countries and regions. Act as focal person for the development of business cases and business justifications.
- Be responsible for change control and configuration management in a manner consistent with other UKHSA projects.
- Line manage central project management staff
- Play a leading role in identifying the project management training needs of all project staff and train staff in the UK and project partner countries and regions as required
- Semi-regular travel to IHR partner countries and regions
Essential criteria
Desirable criteria
- Post graduate degree in an appropriate subject or equivalent experience
- Member of a relevant professional body
- Experience of working in developing countries
Selection Process Details
As part of the application process you will be asked to provide a Personal Statement/Statement of Suitability in no more than 1000 words. This should outline your skills, experience and achievements and provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria outlined.
Please note the system will allow you to write up to 1500 words but please do not exceed 1000 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.
You will also be asked to provide information within the Employer/ Activity history section of the application form. This is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV, setting out your career history (this will be used in sifting process and will be scored).
Stage 1 - Application and Sift
You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed in line with the advertised criteria. If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview
Stage 2 - Interview
All candidates who are successful at the sift stage will undertake a single video interview. All applicants that progress to interview will be assessed on their fit with the essential criteria outlined in the job description.
As part of the interview you will be required to complete a presentation, details will be provided of this at a later date.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.
Location details
This role will be based in Canary Wharf London. UKHSA offers hybrid working for its employees Any opportunities for informal hybrid working, including whether a hybrid working arrangement is suitable, will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post. This will be determined primarily by business needs and in line with departmental policies for flexible working.
Some occasional business travel will be required as part of this role business travel between base location and any other work locations will be covered under the UKHSA Travel and Expenses policy.
Currently this requires working from an allocated UKHSA base location for 40% from the beginning of 2023.
The core working hours for this role are 09:00am to 5:00pm.
This role can include some occasional business travel to overseas locations. Business travel from base location to required location will be covered under the UKHSA Travel and Expenses policy.
Security Clearance Level Requirement
People working with government assets must complete Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks which includes a disclosure and barring security check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed.
Eligibility Criteria
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants/Civil servants on Loan).
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Oversee and lead day-to-day project management of the IHR project, working with internal UKHSA, HMG, bilateral and multilateral partners
- Report and provide briefings as necessary to a range of stakeholders including managing submissions for the IHR Project Board, and Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) Global Health Security Boards and others, as necessary
- Manage stakeholder relationships (internal and external) and represent the IHR project, through routine and ad hoc engagement, attendance at meetings, email correspondence, participation in groups
- Develop and maintain systems to monitor project progress against milestones and present relevant updates as required to the project team and other stakeholders on the progress of the project against targets and milestones
- Ensure the smooth-running of project functions and governance mechanisms e.g., IHR country level meetings, project management, finance and risk meetings
- Manage the overall budget for the project, working with the IHR projects country teams to ensure sound budget and financial management
- Proactively manage risks, opportunities, and issues arising
- Develop and manage key commercial contracts for logistics and professional services in the IHR project partner countries and regions. Act as focal person for the development of business cases and business justifications.
- Be responsible for change control and configuration management in a manner consistent with other UKHSA projects.
- Line manage central project management staff
- Play a leading role in identifying the project management training needs of all project staff and train staff in the UK and project partner countries and regions as required
- Semi-regular travel to IHR partner countries and regions
Essential criteria
Desirable criteria
- Post graduate degree in an appropriate subject or equivalent experience
- Member of a relevant professional body
- Experience of working in developing countries
Selection Process Details
As part of the application process you will be asked to provide a Personal Statement/Statement of Suitability in no more than 1000 words. This should outline your skills, experience and achievements and provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria outlined.
Please note the system will allow you to write up to 1500 words but please do not exceed 1000 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.
You will also be asked to provide information within the Employer/ Activity history section of the application form. This is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV, setting out your career history (this will be used in sifting process and will be scored).
Stage 1 - Application and Sift
You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed in line with the advertised criteria. If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview
Stage 2 - Interview
All candidates who are successful at the sift stage will undertake a single video interview. All applicants that progress to interview will be assessed on their fit with the essential criteria outlined in the job description.
As part of the interview you will be required to complete a presentation, details will be provided of this at a later date.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.
Location details
This role will be based in Canary Wharf London. UKHSA offers hybrid working for its employees Any opportunities for informal hybrid working, including whether a hybrid working arrangement is suitable, will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post. This will be determined primarily by business needs and in line with departmental policies for flexible working.
Some occasional business travel will be required as part of this role business travel between base location and any other work locations will be covered under the UKHSA Travel and Expenses policy.
Currently this requires working from an allocated UKHSA base location for 40% from the beginning of 2023.
The core working hours for this role are 09:00am to 5:00pm.
This role can include some occasional business travel to overseas locations. Business travel from base location to required location will be covered under the UKHSA Travel and Expenses policy.
Security Clearance Level Requirement
People working with government assets must complete Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks which includes a disclosure and barring security check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed.
Eligibility Criteria
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants/Civil servants on Loan).
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in an appropriate subject or equivalent experience
Desirable
- Post graduate degree in an appropriate subject or equivalent experience
- Member of a relevant professional body
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Experience and understanding of project management
- Substantial experience working in public health projects or programmes at a senior level
- Substantial experience of working in projects delivered by partnerships, and in building and maintaining strong relationships with partners
- Understanding of global health including the health challenges of developing countries and the international health architecture
- Previous responsibility for a budget, involvement in budget setting and a working knowledge of financial processes
Desirable
- Experience of working in developing countries
Skills and capabilities
Essential
- Ability to work across boundaries, looking for collective success. Listens, involves, respects and learns from the contribution of others
- Able to use evidence to make service improvements and innovate
- Able to negotiate with senior stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues, and present complex and sensitive information to large and influential groups
- Able to analyse complex facts, sensitive or contentious information and develop a range of options; ability to make decisions autonomously, when required, on difficult issues, working to tight and often changing timescales.
- Demonstrated capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly
- Comprehensive experience of project principles, techniques and tools e.g. PRINCE2
- Adaptability, flexibility and ability to cope with uncertainty and change; effective organiser, influencer and networker
Equality and diversity
Essential
- Demonstrate appreciation and acknowledgment of the range and complexities of diversity; self-awareness in terms of emotional intelligence, biases and personal triggers; cultural competence - cultural sensitivity and awareness
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in an appropriate subject or equivalent experience
Desirable
- Post graduate degree in an appropriate subject or equivalent experience
- Member of a relevant professional body
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- Experience and understanding of project management
- Substantial experience working in public health projects or programmes at a senior level
- Substantial experience of working in projects delivered by partnerships, and in building and maintaining strong relationships with partners
- Understanding of global health including the health challenges of developing countries and the international health architecture
- Previous responsibility for a budget, involvement in budget setting and a working knowledge of financial processes
Desirable
- Experience of working in developing countries
Skills and capabilities
Essential
- Ability to work across boundaries, looking for collective success. Listens, involves, respects and learns from the contribution of others
- Able to use evidence to make service improvements and innovate
- Able to negotiate with senior stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues, and present complex and sensitive information to large and influential groups
- Able to analyse complex facts, sensitive or contentious information and develop a range of options; ability to make decisions autonomously, when required, on difficult issues, working to tight and often changing timescales.
- Demonstrated capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly
- Comprehensive experience of project principles, techniques and tools e.g. PRINCE2
- Adaptability, flexibility and ability to cope with uncertainty and change; effective organiser, influencer and networker
Equality and diversity
Essential
- Demonstrate appreciation and acknowledgment of the range and complexities of diversity; self-awareness in terms of emotional intelligence, biases and personal triggers; cultural competence - cultural sensitivity and awareness
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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.
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. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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.
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. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
