Job responsibilities
Your key responsibilities will include:
- Ensuring the efficient and effective delivery of the NRC in its incident coordination role for UKHSAs response to national incidents
- To ensure 24/7 responsiveness, doing the work necessary to protect public health in the UK, may be required to participate in an out-of-hours on call rota or work over a seven day period at times
- To be a visible, positive and competent leader and role model ensuring high professional standards and behaviours across the team
- Lead the day-to-day operational delivery of the NRC, including responsibilities and resources, planning and managing the resources that ensure the NRC is fully equipped and fit for purpose
- Provide senior tactical EPRR advice across UKHSA and government.
- Be responsible for shaping a culture of change and innovation and promoting a positive change culture across the Directorate
- Effective line management of staff (if applicable) and functions to ensure flexibility and capacity to meet the needs of the NRC, professional development and staff wellbeing
- Manage NRC processes to ensure adherence to governance requirements and flexibility and capacity to meet the needs of the Directorate
- Take a strategic lead on/or participate in agreed topic areas or workstreams, to include working with relevant regional or national teams, representing the Directorate as appropriate
- Responsible for organising and controlling own workload ensuring deadlines are observed and duties performed efficiently
- Provide cover as directed by line manager for other members of the team in their absence and assist with their workloads as necessary
- Demonstrate a commitment to understanding and improving health equity
In addition to incident management, they will also take on strategic leadership of a specific portfolio of work which will proactively drive work and continuous improvement. This will require collaboration with colleagues within the NRC, regional, national and specialist teams. They will exercise leadership to ensure the National Response Centre (NRC) operates efficiently and adheres to Civil Service and UKHSA corporate guidelines and governance processes. The role encompasses various areas such as business planning, risk management, workforce management, learning and development, health and safety, and business continuity.
They will provide senior tactical EPRR advice across UKHSA and the government, shape a culture of change and innovation, and promote positive change across the Division and Directorate. They will manage staff and ensure professional development and wellbeing.
The post holder will maintain effective relationships with both internal and external stakeholders, working with minimal supervision and demonstrating flexibility as part of a multidisciplinary team. They will collaborate with colleagues based across different sites or working remotely. They will manage their own workload to meet deadlines and provide cover for team members in their absence. A commitment to understanding and improving health equity is essential.
They will support the Integrated Business Planning and monitoring process, highlighting delivery risks and feeding into relevant assurance processes. They will produce business cases and option appraisals to aid decision-making, supporting NRC budgeting, resourcing, planning, and business management. This includes working with other directorates and corporate leads to meet corporate requirements and manage organisational change projects.
They will identify and address their own performance and training needs through appraisals and individual development plans, attending relevant training events. They will engage in ongoing development and education, participate in mandatory training, and attend or present at conferences and seminars as part of their continuous professional development.
The job description outlines the tasks, responsibilities, and outcomes expected of the role, with the job holder expected to undertake any additional duties reasonably required by their line manager. The job description and person specification may be reviewed periodically to align with the evolving needs of the team, Directorate, and Organisation.
Essential Criteria
You will be assessed on the below 10 essential criteria, which have been selected from the Job Description.
- Educated to graduate degree level
- Post-graduate degree in relevant subject or equivalent level of vocational experience in an EPRR/emergency planning discipline
- Experience in Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and/or Response
- Proven experience of managing others in a managerial or supervisory role including performance management, carrying out appraisals and development
- Experience representing organisations with senior stakeholders
- Highly developed communication (written and verbal) skills with the ability to analyse data, write and deliver reports, and/or presentations to a diverse and wide range of people including senior management
- Highly effective delegation and prioritisation skills with the ability to manage competing demands (self and others)
- Ability to work effectively and manage a team in a fast-paced and complex environment, dealing with uncertainty and problem-solving solutions
- You proactively create and maintain positive, professional and trusting working relationships with a wide range of people within and outside the organisation. You identify connections and reach out to bring people together
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships
Desirable Criteria
- Experience of working in a business management role
- Ability to write effective communications for staff and plan and organise engagement activity
- Ability to lead a remote team
- Experience of planning and delivering projects or organisational change.
- Understanding of the relationship between the Department of Health and Social Care/UKHSA, the wider health system and Civil Contingencies Secretariat
Selection Process Details:
This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your Qualifications, knowledge and experience and / or skills and capabilities outlined in the essential criteria.
Stage 1: Application & Sift You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the above listed 10 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:
- CV/ Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
- 1000 word Statement of Suitability.
This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.
The CV / Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview and assessment
Please do not exceed 1000 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.
Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Stage 2: Interview (competency based)
You will be invited to a (single) remote interview.
Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview.
There will be a Presentation, details of which will be provided to you nearer the time.
Interviews will be held in September. Please note, these dates are subject to change.
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
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
Security Clearance Level Requirement
Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.
