Deputy Director, UK Health Security Agency

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at any of our Core HQ’s. 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 HQ’s (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).

Job Summary

The government has announced a £3.5bn investment in UKHSA’s new laboratory facilities and headquarters. The new laboratories and corporate headquarters will be built at a new site in Harlow and will replace the facilities UKHSA has at Porton Down, Colindale and Canary Wharf. These facilities are critical for the UK’s public health response and for our national security.

This announcement means that UKHSA needs to hire a new Deputy Director to provide strategic leadership to the programme – this will involve building a full programme strategy team, guiding the strategic case for the Programme Business Case and addressing critical strategic challenges such as establishing departmental accountabilities for the programme, linking the programme to the overall UKHSA operating model, setting out the vision for the site and leading engagement with local partners to prepare for UKHSA’s arrival.

You will also need to give confidence to ministers in the direction of the programme and manage all the external stakeholders across government who have an interest in the project. You will become part of the Senior Leadership Team within the Programme.

You will also be an advocate for the programme and the Agency in meetings with external stakeholders.

This role presents a great opportunity to lead in a growing team where you will be able to shape how this critical programme develops.

Working for our organisation

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

Job Description

Key responsibilities will include:

Programme Strategy

• Delivering strategic case for the Programme in Programme Business Case.
• Aligning programme strategy with UKHSA mission, vision, priorities and development of target operating model working with COO teams and others.
• Delivering scientific strategy and vision for the site aligned to plans for the Agency working with Science Group and others.
• Delivering strategic overview for programme site design and corporate transition plans including principles of ways of working and exits of Porton and Colindale working with Science Group and others.
  
  

Public And Private Partnerships:

• Assessing the future of existing partnerships and securing new private sector partnerships to maximise opportunities from Harlow.
• Developing a strategy for future cross-government collaboration on the site, through engagement with other government departments/agencies in collaboration with Science Group.
• Supporting the development of the National Biosecurity Network by the Cabinet Office working with Defra/APHA and DSTL.
  
  

Ministerial and parliamentary engagement and stakeholder engagement

• Influencing and obtaining ministerial decisions on future policy and funding considerations and keeping ministers abreast of developments and opportunities.
• Acting as the primary liaison with select committees and external scrutiny bodies on issues that arise in the programme and strategic direction.
• Leading on responding to parliamentary questions, inquiries, correspondence relating the programme.
• Engaging with other governments (e.g., South Korea) who have conducted similar projects as part of a lessons learnt exercise.
  
  

Governance, Communications and stakeholder engagement

• Working with departmental communications staff to deliver external comms to manage public perception of the programme.
• Leading internal briefings, policy papers and products for programme board and ExCo.
• Organising ministerial and/or senior official site visits to provide them with updates to the build and generate positive press coverage.
• Leading engagement with local community and industry on the impact and opportunities arising from the UK Health Security Campus Programme. This includes the local councils affected.
  
  

Public And Private Partnerships:

• Assessing the future of existing partnerships and securing new private sector partnerships to maximise opportunities from Harlow.
• Developing a strategy for future cross-government collaboration on the site, through engagement with other government departments/agencies in collaboration with Science Group.
• Supporting the development of the National Biosecurity Network by the Cabinet Office working with Defra/APHA and DSTL.
  
  

Ministerial and parliamentary engagement and stakeholder engagement

• Influencing and obtaining ministerial decisions on future policy and funding considerations and keeping ministers abreast of developments and opportunities.
• Acting as the primary liaison with select committees and external scrutiny bodies on issues that arise in the programme and strategic direction.
• Leading on responding to parliamentary questions, inquiries, correspondence relating the programme.
• Engaging with other governments (e.g., South Korea) who have conducted similar projects as part of a lessons learnt exercise.
  
  

Governance, Communications and stakeholder engagement

• Working with departmental communications staff to deliver external comms to manage public perception of the programme.
• Leading internal briefings, policy papers and products for programme board and ExCo.
• Organising ministerial and/or senior official site visits to provide them with updates to the build and generate positive press coverage.
• Leading engagement with local community and industry on the impact and opportunities arising from the UK Health Security Campus Programme. This includes the local councils affected.
  
  

Person specification

Essential Criteria

Communicating and Influencing

• Communicate in a straightforward, honest and truthful way with consideration for the impact of the method used.
• Communicate with conviction and clarity in the face of tough negotiations or challenges.
• Influence partners, stakeholders and customers successfully securing mutually beneficial outcomes.
  
  

Working Together

• Able to build credibility with senior leaders quickly, providing confidence in the programme.
• Proactively create, maintain and promote a strong network of contacts across the organisation.
• Encourage teams to engage with a variety of delivery partners and stakeholders, listen to and act on their feedback.
  
  

Seeing the Bigger Picture

• Create joined up strategies that put into practice and support the government’s vision for Harlow.
• Ensure work is in the national interest whilst meeting the diverse needs of all end users.
• Develop an in-depth insight into UKHSA customers and services to ensure the project delivers to their requirements.
  
  

Leadership

• Experience of building and leading teams through extended periods of uncertainty and ambiguity and bringing clarity of direction to teams and other stakeholders.
• Engage with teams constructively and in a way that provides confidence in the mission of the programme.
• Display passion and enthusiasm for the work, helping to inspire colleagues and stakeholders to fully engage with the aims and long-term vision.
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Previous work on business change in a major transformational programme.
• Experience of the complexities and priorities for the functions being transitioned.
  
  

Alongside your salary of £81,000, UK Health Security Agency contributes £23,465 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
  
  

Reasonable Adjustments

The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone.

To help you during the recruitment process, we will take into account any reasonable adjustments that could help you.

An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work. This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme.

If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should:

Contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs.

You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

External

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

Stage 1: Application & Sift

This vacancy is using the Civil Service Success Profiles framework. 

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

You will be required to complete an: 

• Application form
• 1200 word Statement of Suitability
  
  

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

You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement (The application form is the kind of information you would put into your C.V – please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible).

If we receive a large number of applications an initial sift will be conducted against the lead behaviour:

'Experience of building and leading teams through extended periods of uncertainty and ambiguity and bringing clarity of direction to teams and other stakeholders.'

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

• Meets all criteria
• Meets some essential criteria but not lead criteria
• Meets no essential criteria
  
  

Only those who meet all essential criteria will progress to sift.

In the event of a large number of credible applications desirable criteria may be used.

Please note feedback will not be provided at this stage. 

Stage 2: Interview (success profiles) 

You will be invited to a remote interview via MS Teams.

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

Behaviours

• Communicating and influencing (Lead behaviour)
• Working Together
• Seeing the Bigger Picture
• Leadership
  
  

As part of the interview, candidates will be required to deliver a 5-minute presentation, based on Communicating and influencing. the topic of which will be confirmed prior to the interview.

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

Eligibility To Work In The Civil Service:

To take up a role in UKHSA you must fall within the Civil Service Nationality Rules.

Please see below for a link to more information on this:

Civil Service recruitment: nationality rules - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

International Police Check:

If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and it could be time accrued over that period.

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).
  
  

For This Role You Will Also Need To Meet:

• Security Clearance (SC).
  
  

Successful candidates will require Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) as a minimum with willingness and capability to work towards Security Check (SC) clearance.

You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 5 years to obtain Security Check (SC) clearance. UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting at this higher level and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder / Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

DBS Requirement - Basic DBS

For Fixed term posts

If you are not currently a civil servant, you will take up the post on a Fixed Term appointment.  You may be able to take this role up as a Secondment. If you are an existing Civil Servant, based outside of the UKHSA, you will take up the post as a loan which you will need your department to agree. You cannot take the post up as a fixed term. If you are an existing UKHSA member of staff, you will take up the post as either a level transfer or a temporary promotion as per the UKHSA’s Pay policy. 

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 note: The Chief Operating Officer (COO) group, where this role sits, is undergoing organisational change over the next 12–18 months. While the process is still in the planning stage, some roles may be affected by future restructuring. We are committed to keeping candidates informed and will share updates as they become available.

Future location

UKHSA is investing in a new state-of-the-art National Biosecurity Centre in Harlow, Essex, which will eventually bring together teams currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale and Porton Down. For more details, please see: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/huge-biosecurity-centre-investment-to-boost-pandemic-protection

The new facilities will start becoming operational in the mid-2030s, with full completion by 2038. Staff will move in phases as facilities become available. If you're appointed to a role currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale or Porton Down, please note that we'll continue investing in these sites for the next decade. As we get closer to the transition, we'll provide full information about relocation support available to staff.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

This role has a minimum assignment duration of 18 months. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise.

As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
  
  

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

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

Contact point for applicants

Job Contact :

• Name : Freddie Lupson
• Email : Freddie.Lupson@ukhsa.gov.uk
  
  

Recruitment team

• Email : SCSMDrecruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk
  
  

Further information

The Law Requires That Selection For Appointment To The Civil Service Is On Merit On The Basis Of Fair And Open Competition As Outlined In The Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If You Feel Your Application Has Not Been Treated In Accordance With The Recruitment Principles, And You Wish To Make a Complaint, In The First Instance, You Should Contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit Via Email:

Complaints@ukhsa.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/