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UK Health Security Agency

Senior Policy Advisor

The closing date is 17 December 2025

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Job summary

The Health Protection Policy Division sits within the Strategy & Policy Directorate in UKHSA. We lead on policy for respiratory infections, other endemic disease, vaccines and the health effects of climate change, as well as the directorate's efforts to enhance the resilience and effectiveness of the national and local health protection system. The team is collaborative, supportive and friendly where mutual respect, diversity, and wellbeing are valued. There is also the possibility of additional roles becoming available in The Respiratory Team.

The Respiratory Policy Team provides the policy and strategy expertise needed to deliver progress in several key policy areas, including relating to vaccines and respiratory infections. We help to set strategic direction and drive policy development, working with colleagues across UKHSA, DHSC and other government departments to improve health outcomes.

The Health Protection Systems Policy Team works to support and enhance the effectiveness of the Health Protection system at a policy level, ensuring alignment between local, regional and national policies through a forward-looking collaborative approach. We work with partners across the system, including NHS England, DHSC, MHCLG and local areas and representative bodies to translate complex health challenges into actionable policies, strengthening system resilience and improving health outcomes.

Main duties of the job

  • Leading and coordinating strategy and policy input as part of UKHSA's policy work on vaccines and health protection systems improvement
  • Delivering on core policy functions at pace such as briefings, correspondence and submissions
  • Managing the design, development, and implementation of a range of health protection-related strategy and policy work, analysing evidence, making policy recommendations and supporting delivery
  • Building trusted networks and relationships with key partners across the Agency, health family and broader government.
  • Supporting secretariat functions for high-profile boards and senior stakeholder groups
  • Working at pace, balancing competing priorities and demands, whilst taking ownership for outcomes and ensuring targets and deadlines are met

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

04 December 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£41,983 to £52,113 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

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

Reference number

919-TG-50003604-EXT

Job locations

Core HQ

Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, London (Canary Wharf)

E14 4PU


Job description

Job responsibilities

Essential role criteria:

  • Educated to degree level in a field where a skillset relevant to strategy and policy work would be applied, or the relevant equivalent level of experience
  • Experience of working in a strategy and / or policy development role, and demonstrable ability to work both within complex technical detail and strategic contexts
  • Experience in building relationships across organisational boundaries to develop policy solutions to challenging problems
  • Experience in working collaboratively across other government departments and with external stakeholders to agree complex policy decisions and deliver projects
  • Demonstrable communication skills and ability to engage credibly and persuasively with subject matter experts, senior officials and Ministers
  • Ability to write concisely and with impact, setting out complex ideas in an accessible and engaging way
  • Have a strong eye for detail whilst maintaining a strategic view on how different projects fit together
  • Be able to work flexibly on changing priorities and actively prioritise multiple issues

Desirable role criteria:

  • Be experienced in working in multi-disciplinary teams; with scientific, clinical, data science and delivery colleagues to deliver complex pieces of work
  • Have experience of delivering secretariat functions and/or supporting governance structures and processes.
  • Supporting secretariat functions for high-profile boards and senior stakeholder groups
  • Working at pace, balancing competing priorities and demands, whilst taking ownership for outcomes and ensuring targets and deadlines are met

Selection Process Details

Stage 1: Application & Sift

This vacancy is using Success Profiles

At sift stage you will be assessed against the 8 essential criteria listed in the job advert.

You will be required to complete an:

Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application) 1000 word supporting statement

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 1000

This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role.

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.

The Application form and supporting statement will be marked together

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

  • Meets all essential criteria
  • Meets some essential criteria
  • Meets no essential criteria

We will take piles "Meets all essential criteria" through to shortlisting.

Shortlisting:

In the event of a large amount of applications, we will sift on:

  • Experience of working in a strategy and / or policy development role, and demonstrable ability to work both within complex technical detail and strategic contexts.

Please note feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview (success profiles)

You will be invited to a face to face interview. In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

This vacancy is being assessed using Success Profiles. During the interview we will assess you against the below:

Behaviours:

  • Seeing the Big Picture
  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Delivering at Pace

Strengths

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Additional Information

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).

Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport link and benefit from benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).

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 Basic Personnel Security Standard.

Eligibility Criteria

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including internal applicants).

Salary Information

If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.

Please be aware that the salary is based on the office location.

Senior Executive Officer (SEO)

£41,983- £48,128 (National)

£44,148- £50,121 (Outer London)

£46,310- £52,113 (Inner London)

Job description

Job responsibilities

Essential role criteria:

  • Educated to degree level in a field where a skillset relevant to strategy and policy work would be applied, or the relevant equivalent level of experience
  • Experience of working in a strategy and / or policy development role, and demonstrable ability to work both within complex technical detail and strategic contexts
  • Experience in building relationships across organisational boundaries to develop policy solutions to challenging problems
  • Experience in working collaboratively across other government departments and with external stakeholders to agree complex policy decisions and deliver projects
  • Demonstrable communication skills and ability to engage credibly and persuasively with subject matter experts, senior officials and Ministers
  • Ability to write concisely and with impact, setting out complex ideas in an accessible and engaging way
  • Have a strong eye for detail whilst maintaining a strategic view on how different projects fit together
  • Be able to work flexibly on changing priorities and actively prioritise multiple issues

Desirable role criteria:

  • Be experienced in working in multi-disciplinary teams; with scientific, clinical, data science and delivery colleagues to deliver complex pieces of work
  • Have experience of delivering secretariat functions and/or supporting governance structures and processes.
  • Supporting secretariat functions for high-profile boards and senior stakeholder groups
  • Working at pace, balancing competing priorities and demands, whilst taking ownership for outcomes and ensuring targets and deadlines are met

Selection Process Details

Stage 1: Application & Sift

This vacancy is using Success Profiles

At sift stage you will be assessed against the 8 essential criteria listed in the job advert.

You will be required to complete an:

Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application) 1000 word supporting statement

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 1000

This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role.

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.

The Application form and supporting statement will be marked together

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

  • Meets all essential criteria
  • Meets some essential criteria
  • Meets no essential criteria

We will take piles "Meets all essential criteria" through to shortlisting.

Shortlisting:

In the event of a large amount of applications, we will sift on:

  • Experience of working in a strategy and / or policy development role, and demonstrable ability to work both within complex technical detail and strategic contexts.

Please note feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview (success profiles)

You will be invited to a face to face interview. In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

This vacancy is being assessed using Success Profiles. During the interview we will assess you against the below:

Behaviours:

  • Seeing the Big Picture
  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Delivering at Pace

Strengths

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Additional Information

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).

Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport link and benefit from benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).

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 Basic Personnel Security Standard.

Eligibility Criteria

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including internal applicants).

Salary Information

If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.

Please be aware that the salary is based on the office location.

Senior Executive Officer (SEO)

£41,983- £48,128 (National)

£44,148- £50,121 (Outer London)

£46,310- £52,113 (Inner London)

Person Specification

Essential criteria

Essential

  • Application form and supporting statement

Behaviours

Essential

  • Seeing the Big Picture
  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Delivering at Pace
Person Specification

Essential criteria

Essential

  • Application form and supporting statement

Behaviours

Essential

  • Seeing the Big Picture
  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Delivering at Pace

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

Core HQ

Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, London (Canary Wharf)

E14 4PU


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

Core HQ

Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, London (Canary Wharf)

E14 4PU


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 Support

Tom Geldeard

Tom.Geldeard@ukhsa.gov.uk

Details

Date posted

04 December 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£41,983 to £52,113 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

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

Reference number

919-TG-50003604-EXT

Job locations

Core HQ

Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, London (Canary Wharf)

E14 4PU


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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