UK Health Security Agency

Academic Relationships Manager

The closing date is 12 January 2026

Job summary

The Academic Relationships team within the Research, Support and Governance Office provides organisational leadership in the development, management and strengthening of UKHSA's relationship with universities, ensuring UKHSA has access to the best scientific advice and expertise when needed. The team supports collaborative research and related activities with academia and manage the allocation of academic honorary contracts and development of academic networks. The focus of the team is very much on ensuring mutual support of UKHSA and universities to deliver benefit across the public health sector and for the population.

We are looking for an Academic Relationships Manager who will contribute to UKHSA's development and strengthening of partnerships and relationships with academia, to deliver better health outcomes across the range of health security hazards, through the management of the honorary academic contract process and ensuring the academic network supports UKHSA's priorities.

The emphasis will be on maintaining and managing workflows and contributing to the development of relationships with academics and their institutions. The role, working in partnership with designated UKHSA Academic Liaison Managers, will ensure that the breadth of our academic network complements UKHSA's expertise and contributes to our strategic plan.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will work with UKHSA programme leads, academics and other university staff and other relevant academic organisations in promoting and integrating health protection academic activity in support of translational research to provide an evidence base for effective health protection practice and policy advice.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

  • Manage, maintain, develop and evaluate the workflow for honorary academic contracts, answering questions on processes and procedures as required.
  • Manage the academic commissioning model, scheduling workload to ensure capacity to deliver other business as usual tasks.
  • Deal with complex and sensitive internal and external enquiries and documents.
  • Contribute to building a strong, effective and influential public health academic network of benefit to the participants, organisations, staff within UKHSA and the system.

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

12 December 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£33,422 to £45,353 a year Per annum, Pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

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

Reference number

919-SH-62203855-EXT

Job locations

Core offices - Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, London

London

NW9 5EQ


Job description

Job responsibilities

  • Support the Head of Academic Relationships to work in partnership across UKHSA to maximise the value of the academic network.
  • Work in partnership with the UKHSA academic liaison managers to ensure academic activities are monitored and objectives managed.
  • Develop and maintain effective communication channels with all key stakeholders and communicate effectively with internal and external colleagues.
  • Develop and produce regular update briefings using highlight reports, newsletters and UKHSA intranet.
  • Co-ordinate information analysis and production and dissemination of reports, presentations and other documentation as required.
  • Organise and participate in network meetings as required.
  • Coordinate the evaluation of health protection academic capacity and capability as required.
  • Responsible for organising and controlling own workload ensuring deadlines are observed and duties performed efficiently.
  • Contribute to and support other areas of the team as required.

The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of this role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required. The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation.

Essential Criteria

  • Educated to degree level in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subject or equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level in specialist area.
  • Experience in workflows, document management and report creation (e.g. SharePoint, MS Forms, Power BI).
  • Proficient use of Microsoft Word and Excel.
  • Experience in communications and stakeholder management and skills for nurturing key relationships and maintaining networks.
  • Ability to engender trust and confidence and demonstrate integrity in the provision of advice and support.
  • Previous experience in similar role in public sector.
  • A good understanding of the health protection and public health environment and roles and responsibilities within it.
  • Clear communicator with excellent writing, report writing and presentation skills.
  • Ability to analyse and interpret information, pre-empt and evaluate issues, and recommend and appropriate course of action to address the issues.
  • Problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands.
  • Attention to detail combined with the ability to extract key messages from complex analysis.
  • Independent thinker with demonstrated good judgement, problem-solving and analytical skills.
  • Ability to work on own initiative and plan and organise own workload without supervision, working to tight and often changing timescales.
  • 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.

Desirable Criteria

  • Sound knowledge of project management techniques and delivering objectives on time.
  • Willingness to learn new ways of working and tools to support this
  • Experience and understanding of evaluating and measuring the performance of health or related services.

Application & Sift

This vacancy is using Success Profiles.

At sift stage you will be assessed against the 14 Essential Criteria:

You will be required to complete an:

  • Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
  • 1,000 word supporting statement

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

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1,500 but your statement of suitability must be no more than 1,000 words.

The Application form and supporting statement will be marked together.

The application form is the kind of information you would put into your CV please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible.

Longlisting

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

Only those that 'Meet all essential criteria' will progress to shortlisting.

Shortlisting

In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist against the lead criteria as follows:

  • Experience in workflows, document management and report creation (e.g. SharePoint, MS Forms, Power BI)

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Interview

You will be invited to a remote interview.

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

  • Managing a quality service - Lead Behaviour
  • Seeing the big picture
  • Communicating and influencing

You will also be assessed on previous skills and experience as listed in the Essential Criteria.

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).

Salary

Salary breakdown:

  • HEO Inner London: £37,749 - £45,353
  • HEO Outer London: £35,587 - £43,244
  • HEO National: £33,422 - £40,731

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.

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at any of our Core HQs - Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Canary Wharf.

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

All successful candidates must meet the basic security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is:

  • Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS)

DBS Requirement:

  • Basic DB

Job description

Job responsibilities

  • Support the Head of Academic Relationships to work in partnership across UKHSA to maximise the value of the academic network.
  • Work in partnership with the UKHSA academic liaison managers to ensure academic activities are monitored and objectives managed.
  • Develop and maintain effective communication channels with all key stakeholders and communicate effectively with internal and external colleagues.
  • Develop and produce regular update briefings using highlight reports, newsletters and UKHSA intranet.
  • Co-ordinate information analysis and production and dissemination of reports, presentations and other documentation as required.
  • Organise and participate in network meetings as required.
  • Coordinate the evaluation of health protection academic capacity and capability as required.
  • Responsible for organising and controlling own workload ensuring deadlines are observed and duties performed efficiently.
  • Contribute to and support other areas of the team as required.

The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of this role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required. The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation.

Essential Criteria

  • Educated to degree level in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subject or equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level in specialist area.
  • Experience in workflows, document management and report creation (e.g. SharePoint, MS Forms, Power BI).
  • Proficient use of Microsoft Word and Excel.
  • Experience in communications and stakeholder management and skills for nurturing key relationships and maintaining networks.
  • Ability to engender trust and confidence and demonstrate integrity in the provision of advice and support.
  • Previous experience in similar role in public sector.
  • A good understanding of the health protection and public health environment and roles and responsibilities within it.
  • Clear communicator with excellent writing, report writing and presentation skills.
  • Ability to analyse and interpret information, pre-empt and evaluate issues, and recommend and appropriate course of action to address the issues.
  • Problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands.
  • Attention to detail combined with the ability to extract key messages from complex analysis.
  • Independent thinker with demonstrated good judgement, problem-solving and analytical skills.
  • Ability to work on own initiative and plan and organise own workload without supervision, working to tight and often changing timescales.
  • 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.

Desirable Criteria

  • Sound knowledge of project management techniques and delivering objectives on time.
  • Willingness to learn new ways of working and tools to support this
  • Experience and understanding of evaluating and measuring the performance of health or related services.

Application & Sift

This vacancy is using Success Profiles.

At sift stage you will be assessed against the 14 Essential Criteria:

You will be required to complete an:

  • Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
  • 1,000 word supporting statement

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

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1,500 but your statement of suitability must be no more than 1,000 words.

The Application form and supporting statement will be marked together.

The application form is the kind of information you would put into your CV please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible.

Longlisting

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

Only those that 'Meet all essential criteria' will progress to shortlisting.

Shortlisting

In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist against the lead criteria as follows:

  • Experience in workflows, document management and report creation (e.g. SharePoint, MS Forms, Power BI)

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Interview

You will be invited to a remote interview.

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

  • Managing a quality service - Lead Behaviour
  • Seeing the big picture
  • Communicating and influencing

You will also be assessed on previous skills and experience as listed in the Essential Criteria.

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).

Salary

Salary breakdown:

  • HEO Inner London: £37,749 - £45,353
  • HEO Outer London: £35,587 - £43,244
  • HEO National: £33,422 - £40,731

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.

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at any of our Core HQs - Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, Canary Wharf.

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

All successful candidates must meet the basic security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is:

  • Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS)

DBS Requirement:

  • Basic DB

Person Specification

Application Form & Supporting Statement

Essential

  • Application Form & Supporting Statement

Behaviours

Essential

  • Managing a Quality Service - Lead Behaviour
  • Seeing the Big Picture
  • Communicating & Influencing

Essential Criteria

Essential

  • Previous Skills & Experience
Person Specification

Application Form & Supporting Statement

Essential

  • Application Form & Supporting Statement

Behaviours

Essential

  • Managing a Quality Service - Lead Behaviour
  • Seeing the Big Picture
  • Communicating & Influencing

Essential Criteria

Essential

  • Previous Skills & Experience

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 offices - Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, London

London

NW9 5EQ


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 offices - Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, London

London

NW9 5EQ


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

Sarah Handy

sarah.handy@ukhsa.gov.uk

Details

Date posted

12 December 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£33,422 to £45,353 a year Per annum, Pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

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

Reference number

919-SH-62203855-EXT

Job locations

Core offices - Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, London

London

NW9 5EQ


Privacy notice

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