HealthJobsUK

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Planning and Organisation

• Contribute to the planning of Boards and Committees for Public Health Microbiology Services (PHMS), identifying interdependencies across Programmes/functions.
• Contribute to the development of performance and governance strategies and the development and implementation of improvement programmes.
• Contribute to short, medium and long-term business plans, achieving quality outcomes.
• Work with and support the PHMS Senior Leadership team to ensure adequate planning for key cross-Directorate meetings, to include preparing schedules for agendas, to reflect business and programmatic priorities.
• Oversight of key PHMS projects, including working with project and programme professionals to create and maintain effective project management plans and processes.
• Develop and implement effective records management processes relevant to business needs and ensure they are maintained
• Establish, develop and maintain office and operational systems for effective working
• Contribute to the development of key performance indicators for the successful assessment of individual and work area’s success
• Support aspects of Research and Development activities, collating information, analysing data and reporting findings.

Leadership and Management

• Effective line management of business support and other administrative staff (if applicable) and management of administrative functions to ensure flexibility and capacity to meet the needs of PHMS.
• Support the Head of Business Operations and Senior Business Manager in Business management in conjunction with the Scientific leads, in the coordination of training, development and recruitment activity across the PHMS sites.
• Manage staff (if applicable), undertaking appraisals, recruitment including progressing any disciplinary or capability issues, as necessary.
• Support the development and planning around the staff survey. 

Essential Criteria:

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level in relevant subject or equivalent level qualification or significant experience of working at a similar level in this area

Knowledge and Experience

• A good working knowledge of the NHS and Local Government
• Experience of leading and motivating a team
• 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 system
• Detailed knowledge and significant experience of clearly defining roles, responsibilities and accountabilities and establishing controls and approval routes, appropriate to each stage of the project to monitor project progress and compliance
• Working knowledge and practical experience of how to identify and amend appropriate project frameworks and methodologies to enable a consistent and efficient approach to delivery at all stages of the project lifecycle
• Working knowledge and practical experience of how to establish, plan and manage reviews at appropriate points during all stages of a project life cycle to provide evaluations of progress against time, cost, quality, compliance, and ongoing viability.  

Skills and Capabilities

• Strong computer literacy including the development and use of PowerPoint, spreadsheet applications, databases and word-processing
• Good written communication skills e.g., ability to draft policy/procedure documents, write reports/presentations and business cases
• Knowledge and evidence of engaging, motivating and coaching others. To act as a role model and inspire and empower others.   

Working knowledge and practical experience of

• how to establish and develop productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders, bringing people together to benefit the project.  
• how to promote the wider public good in all actions and to act in a morally, legally and socially appropriate manner always. Challenges unacceptable behavior.    
• how to influence, change and impact decisions with both internal and external stakeholders.  
• how to recognise, anticipate and effectively deal with existing or potential conflicts at an individual, team or strategic level.  

Desirable Criteria

• Qualification or equivalent relevant experience in Project Management such as: PRINCE2 Practitioner or APM Project Management Qualification

Basic knowledge and awareness of:

• how to systematically identify and monitor risks & issues, planning how to mitigate / respond to those risks and issues and implementing the responses.  
• how to systematically identify, analyse and communicate with stakeholders, using appropriate channels, to ensure all those impacted by the change are engaged, taking account of their levels of influence and particular interests.  
• how to establish protocols to manage and document all requests that alter the scope of a project. This includes the capture, evaluation and approval or rejection of any requests
• how to identify, share and promote best practices and lessons learned to create a culture of learning and good practice that supports continuous improvement to optimise project delivery
• how to work in an environment of uncertainty and continual change. Able to feel comfortable making decisions and setting direction without having the full picture and re-focus as details emerge. Can apply knowledge and techniques to reduce ambiguity.  
• how to create and present a compelling vision and set clear direction, that motivates others to work towards a common goal.
• how to plan, lead and effect positive cultural change, securing commitment and buy-in and promoting a positive long-term vision.
• Recognises when broader culture change is necessary to deliver a project.

Selection Process

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 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of 

• a CV/ Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• a 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 CV/ Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.

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

Interviews will be held week commencing 20th May 2024.  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.

Location information  

UKHSA operates 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 locations (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London).  Specialist or regional roles will be based at the appropriate UKHSA site. For certain roles, some additional flexibility may be possible, which will be agreed upon with the hiring manager based on individual requirements and business needs.  

Eligibility Criteria

External   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. 

Working for the Civil Service: 

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.   
   
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles.   

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.   

It’s important to note that there are currently exceptions to applications being considered if your conviction relates to any of the following:   

• life sentences   
• arson   
• sexual offences  
• hate and terror offences   

Some departments will also consider the specific offence against the nature of the business, i.e., a conviction for fraud may rule you out for a finance role.   

If you are interviewed for the post and do not meet the required threshold for the specified grade, your application may be assessed against a similar, lower grade role and you may be offered the post should one be available  

 Starting salary  

Entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.    

The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase.    

Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.   

For further details please refer to the Information Sheet - Starting Salaries & Benefits attachment