Job responsibilities
Main duties of the job continued:
Co-ordination of strategic input required for cross-government programmes.
- Establish relationships across UKHSA and wider government strategy, policy, and secretariat teams to build a portfolio document of key cross-government and UKHSA strategic programmes that the directorate has commitments to deliver under and establishing a regular forward look timeline of when updates against these deliverables are required.
- Ensure that key SMEs are appraised of this forward look and aware of their obligations to input from an early stage so that updates can be provided in a considered manner that balances work required against wider BAU obligations.
- Co-ordinate consistent and reflective input into commissions, papers and programmes that specialist microbiology is responsible for, engaging with SMEs to ensure information provided is of high standard, is accurate, is deliverable and responses are prioritised in line with Science strategy priorities where appropriate.
Corporate interactions
- In conjunction with the Directorates allocated Private Office, the individual will act as a first point of contact when responding to all commissions, ministerial and Executive Committee requests and drafting of PQs and National Audit Office responses that require Directorate wide visibility/input/clearance in relation to the strategic programmes relevant to the directorate.
- Work with the Science Group Public Inquiry lead to ensure that responses to rule 9 requests are managed in a co-ordinated manner, ensuring that key SMEs have inputted into/cleared the relevant sections of the response.
- Work with private office/Business management team to establish a database record for all inputs/responses relating to key strategic programmes to ensure that all information is held in an easily accessible and transparent manner in line with data handling requirements.
- Draft concise and compelling briefing notes, stakeholder engagement materials, and presentation slides to support senior leaders in building partnerships and influencing decisions.
Pandemic Preparedness and Incident response
- Lead a programme of work in tandem to the Quality and Risk Assurance Deputy Director to consolidate and embed in operational practice/BAU activity lessons learned from previous incident responses to ensure the directorate is appropriately prepared to stand up diagnostics for a future incident. Co-ordinate the establishment of the laboratory/virology cell in the event of a future incident; including ensuring the cell is appropriately resourced and on-call rotas are produced providing key SME cover, that the cell is connected to other cells and the central incident response team, that commissions are completed in a timely and accurate manner, ensuring that key actions are managed closely and that regular updates are provided to the cell lead and key SMEs. Provide ongoing support of the laboratory cell during the incident, acting as a single point of contact to ensure key activities/deliverables are progressed and delivered to key timelines and that an ongoing record of key learnings/activities is maintained. The individual will act as the primary point of contact for all requests relating to incident response from internal and external parties (including ministers and the NHS). Work collaboratively with policy teams to align directorate activities with national priorities and identify opportunities to inform policy development. Monitor and analyse emerging policy trends to ensure the directorate is at the forefront of relevant developments. Partner with the Director and Deputy Directors of the Public Health Microbiology Directorate to showcase and communicate the directorates contributions to national and international initiatives.
Leadership and Management
- Effective line management of administrative staff (if applicable) and management of administrative functions to ensure flexibility and capacity to meet the needs of the Directorate.
- Manage staff (if applicable), undertaking appraisals, recruitment including progressing any disciplinary or capability issues, as necessary.
- Ensure continued adherence to meeting training requirements over the course of the appointment in line with contractual/civil service obligations.
Communication and Key Working Relationships
- The post holder will develop effective working relationships and communicate regularly with a wide range of individuals, including internally: clinical and non-clinical staff, scientists, academics, corporate staff e.g. policy teams, managers and Directors. External: Ministers, NHS, Academic Institutions, other Civil Service Departments, public bodies, stakeholders and members of the public. This may include verbal face to face communication, including delivering presentations and by phone, email, correspondence, reports and briefings.
Personal and Professional Development
- Undergo a programme of on-going development and education, including the annual appraisal process, to build on existing knowledge and develop skills to meet the behaviours and competencies required to undertake the role.
Essential role criteria:
- Experience in Strategic Programme Management
- Stakeholder Engagement and Relationship Management
- Incident Response and Preparedness Experience
- Strong Communication and Drafting Skills
- Knowledge of Public Health Structures and Policy
- Proficiency in Data Management
Desirable role criteria:
- Project Management Qualification
- Experience in Public Health or Microbiology
- Policy Development Experience
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 listed (6) essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:
- Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
- 1200 wordsupporting statement.
This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.
The Application form and supporting statement will be marked together.
Longlisting:
In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:
- Meets all essential criteria
- Meets some essential criteria
- Meets no essential criteria
The following will be taken through to the next stage:
- Meets all essential criteria
- Meets some essential criteria
Shortlisting:
In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on the following:
Incident Response and Preparedness Experience
Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications / large amount of successful candidates.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment
Please do not exceed 1200words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.
Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
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
Stage 2: Interview (success profiles)
You will be invited to a (single) remote interview.
Behaviours, experience, and strengths will be tested at interview.
The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:
- Delivering at Pace (Lead behaviour)
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
- Seeing the bigger picture
- Making effective decisions
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 - External
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
Location
This role is being offered as hybrid working based at any of our Core HQs. 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 HQs (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London) or at one of our scientific campus sites (Colindale, and Porton ).
Security Clearance Level Requirement
Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Security Clearance.
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) clearance. 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.
