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UK Health Security Agency

Operations Support Officer

The closing date is 29 July 2025

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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.

Main duties of the job

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.

About us

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

Details

Date posted

15 July 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£31,997 to £39,076 a year Per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

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

Reference number

919-HM-301870-EXT

Job locations

UKHSA Porton Down

Manor Farm Road

Salisbury

SP4 0JG


Job description

Job responsibilities

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.

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.

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

  • Meets all essentialcriteria

  • Meets some essential criteria

  • Meets no essential criteria

Piles Meets all essentialcriteriawill 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 exceed1000 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 Experiencewill 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).

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Job description

Job responsibilities

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.

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.

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

  • Meets all essentialcriteria

  • Meets some essential criteria

  • Meets no essential criteria

Piles Meets all essentialcriteriawill 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 exceed1000 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 Experiencewill 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).

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Person Specification

Application form and Statement of Suitability

Essential

  • Application form and Statement of Suitability

Behaviours

Essential

  • Communicating and influencing
  • Changing and improving
  • Working together
  • Managing a quality service
Person Specification

Application form and Statement of Suitability

Essential

  • Application form and Statement of Suitability

Behaviours

Essential

  • Communicating and influencing
  • Changing and improving
  • Working together
  • Managing a quality service

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

UK Health Security Agency

Address

UKHSA Porton Down

Manor Farm Road

Salisbury

SP4 0JG


Employer's website

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

UK Health Security Agency

Address

UKHSA Porton Down

Manor Farm Road

Salisbury

SP4 0JG


Employer's website

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Resourcing Officer

Harry Mccullagh

harry.mccullagh@ukhsa.gov.uk

Details

Date posted

15 July 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£31,997 to £39,076 a year Per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

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

Reference number

919-HM-301870-EXT

Job locations

UKHSA Porton Down

Manor Farm Road

Salisbury

SP4 0JG


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

UK Health Security Agency's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)