Job responsibilities
Main Duties of the Job
You will:
- Develop & support databases and software applications used to support data collection, analysis and dissemination. This will include a drive towards automation and more resilient, reliable infrastructure.
- Coordinate with colleagues in the development of code using appropriate languages, established modern software engineering principles and design patterns, including the development of prototypes. You will select and implement modern RAD (rapid application development) tools for prototyping and where appropriate, for implementation of minimal viable products. You will contribute to the creation of standards and policies relating to these.
- Be responsible for ensuring that system availability, performance and data flow is monitored and to seek ways to make continuous improvements to improve resilience, data quality and to shape improvements in service delivery including improvements to development processes.
- Use software engineering practices that ensure compliance with information security and quality policies and procedures, designing solutions and services with security controls embedded, specifically engineered with mitigation of security threats as a core feature
We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality 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.
Essential Criteria:
- Degree in an appropriate discipline or equivalent professional experience
- Experience of designing, developing and delivering large and complex software solutions
- Proven ability to write high quality software documentation and implementation of quality standards for coding among a team.
- Expert knowledge/experience of Microsoft development technologies including, Visual Studio .Net.
- Experience of implementing a containerised approach to code deployment across development teams and a moving from on premise to cloud native development.
- Experience of SQL, the MS SQL Server suite, Transact-SQL
- Proven skills in at least one object-oriented programming language, such as C#, and intermediate knowledge of Python
- Knowledge of deploying code to enterprise architectures and the cloud, including the use of containers. Experience of OpenShift and/or Kubernetes
- Experience of Internet Information Services (IIS), web application deployment, administration and security
- Experience of the use of Git, GitHub actions and associated tools for version control, integration, deployment or another industry standard version control and CI/CD tools.
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems
- An understanding of software Change Control practices
Desirable Criteria:
- Knowledge of Agile software development methodologies
- Previous work with Azure AD
- Experience of JIRA and Confluence
- Oracle PL/SQL development
- Experience of software used for pipeline development
- Proven skills in developing and modifying code used for data analysis and the production of reports in SQL Server Reporting Services, Power BI and other reporting tools
- Experience of PowerShell
- Experience of working in healthcare or biomedical sciences
- Experience in industry or academia of delivering multi-disciplinary projects within deadlines
- Experience of working on large software projects
- Knowledge of PostgreSQL/MSSQL/MariaDB would be a distinct advantage as well as the ability to work across a range of technologies
- Knowledge of NoSQL DBs, e.g., MongoDB, Cosmos DB and Elastic
Selection Process
Stage 1: Application & Sift
This vacancy is advertised using Success Profiles and will assess your Experience, Behaviours and Strengths.
As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide a Statement of Suitability using no more than 1000 words. This should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential and desirable criteria (outlined in the person specification section).
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, education, and learning. This will be used in the sift process but will not be scored
If you are successful in the sift, you will be invited to interview where you will be asked a mixture of questions based on your experience, the behaviours listed in the advert and some strength-based questions.
Stage 2: Panel Interview
All applicants that progress to interview will be assessed on behaviours / experience / technical / ability through Success Profiles.
When assessing strengths, we want to find out whether you and the job role are a good fit. We will look at what you enjoy doing and what you do well and often. By ensuring that the role is the right fit for you, you are more likely to enjoy it and perform well.
The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:
- Changing and Improving
- Managing a Quality Service
- Delivering at Pace
- Working Together
You will be required to prepare a presentation for the interview
Reserve List:
Candidates who pass the interview criteria but are not offered a post will be kept on a reserve list for 12 months and may be contacted if similar roles become available.
If you are interviewed for the post and do not meet the required threshold for the specified grade, your application may be assessed against a similar, lower grade role and you may be offered the post should one be available.
Benefits
- Civil Service Pension Contribution of 27%
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- Range of health and wellbeing support
Any move to UKHSA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare.
DBS - People working with government systems 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. The level of security needed for this role is BPSS however there may be a requirement for this role to be SC cleared and you should familiarise yourself with the criteria of security clearance.
This role is Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants. Appointments to roles within UKHSA will be made in accordance with the Civil Service nationality rules. These can be found athttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rulesThis job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- Nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of theEuropean Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
- Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
- Certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
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.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Government baseline personnel security standard
Its important to note that there are currently exceptions to applications being considered if your conviction relates to any of the following:
- life sentences
- arson
- sexual offences
- hate and terror offences
Some departments will also consider the specific offence against the nature of the business, i.e., a conviction for fraud may rule you out for a finance role
Complaint process:
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: Complaints1@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.
Contact Details Sophie.Rigney@reed.com
