Business Operations Manager

Job description

Job responsibilities

This is a new Business Operations Manager designed to provide executive support to the Quality and Operations Lead and Director of Operations and the Health Protection Team at a time when our teams are expanding fast to respond to the requirements of the pandemic response. The team handles a great deal of sensitive information and is often the first point of contact for members of the public and external agencies contacting PHE in relation to communicable diseases, including Covid-19.

Your role will be pivotal and will involve working with the Quality and Governance Lead, you will also support Director of Operations HP. This could include initiatives such as

• Contributing to the development and monitoring of the HP business plan objectives, with responsibility for delivery of operational functionals
• Contributing and managing the HP risk register
• Project management
• Development and planning around the staff survey for the team
• Delivery of the annual appraisal system and compliance with corporate, statutory and mandatory regulations.
• Contributing to the development, testing and exercising of a business continuity plan, providing business continuity leadership at their site.
• Producing written guidance and standard operating procedures for administrative and finance procedures and protocols.
• Liaising with Business Operations colleagues and budget holders over staffing and resource requirements to ensure national and local finance processes are adhered to as needed
• Significantly contributing to the Regions governance agenda and work streams.

The role will be varied and will include managing staff as well as specific projects designed to ensure appropriate systems and processes are in place. You will also be involved in developing new ways of working during a challenging and fast paced time at work. You will be joining PHE at a time of transition when there is much to do to in order to support staff through change as well as keeping essential services running in a safe and effective way.

The successful candidate will ideally have previous experience of working in an operational management role, managing performance to agreed standards and simultaneously managing several projects. You will have excellent management and leadership skills with a track record of successfully responding to sudden and unexpected demands. You will need to demonstrate that you meet the essential requirements of the job descriptions and in particular you will need to demonstrate that you can: -

• React positively to continuous change and a fast pace of work.
• Provide strong leadership not only for staff within your direct responsibility but as a role model for good management and corporate practice across the Health Protection team.
• Analyse and interpret complex information and make appropriate recommendations.
• Be an excellent communicator, writing business papers and business processes which you can present to different audiences.
• Provide professional and constructive challenge to colleagues at all grades to ensure that the Health Protection team not only remains compliant but is continuously improving and striving for excellence.
• Be visible, approachable and decisive when responding to issues brought to you by staff and stakeholders.
• Can engage with staff across a variety of disciplines and grades

The posts are located at our Birmingham and the successful candidate will be normally required to work from the office base. During Covid-19 while social distancing is required, a lot of staff are working remotely, although some time working at our office will be required. The office is set up to enable social distancing.

We expect that recruitment interviews will take place remotely as a video call using Teams.

Applicants are strongly advised to use the criteria in the Success Profile (available online) as sub-headings in their application to make it clear how they meet each of the selection criteria.

Public Health England promotes diversity in the workplace and is an equal opportunities employer

Successful candidates not offered a post will be placed on the reserve list which will be held for 12 months. The reserve list will be used to offer future vacancies at this grade (AfC Band 7 / SEO) and at one grade lower (AfC Band 6 / HEO). These further posting offers will also be made in strict merit order.

Option 3 External

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

On 18 August 2020, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care announced plans to establish a new agency (then referred to as the National Institute for Health Protection) to lead on health protection in England and to consult on the best future options for strengthening health improvement and other public health functions in the wider system. On 24 March 2021, the Secretary of State announced the new agency would be called the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), and on 29 March he announced the creation of the Office for Health Promotion (within the Department of Health & Social Care). Public Health England and many of its employees will be in scope for transition to new organisations in Autumn 2021. Any new or current employees working for Public Health England during this time, will receive appropriate communications and consultation prior to any formal transfer taking place. Employees who are required to transfer to successor bodies would usually remain on their existing contractual terms and conditions (with any proposed changes being subject to consultation) and this applies both to current employees and those recruited during the transition. The recruitment, growth & development of our workforce is vital for the continuing success of PHE, and the future UK Health Security Agency and Office for Health Promotion.

If you are external to the Civil Service, you will take up the post on a Fixed Term appointment, if you are an existing Civil Servant, based outside of PHE, you will take up the post as a loan and if you are an existing PHE member of staff, you will take up the post as either a level transfer or a temporary promotion as per PHEs Pay and Grading policy. If you are an existing Civil Servant, (in PHE or elsewhere) you must have prior agreement from your Line Manager before applying for this post.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Significant relevant experience working in a business support role, including experience of monitoring budgets and spend, using procurement processes

Desirable

• Experience working in a public-sector organisation
• Experience of managing and motivating a team and reviewing performance of individuals
• Experience of managing projects and reporting risk

Ability

Essential

• Ability to draft briefing papers and correspondence at a senior level
• Ability to deal with complex matters and difficult situations, requiring persuasion and influence
• Ability to plan for long and short-term and adjust plans and resource to meet requirements

Desirable

• Able to successfully operate in a politically sensitive environment

Technical

Essential

• Understanding or working knowledge of the public sector (and healthcare environments)
• Educated to graduate degree level/NVQ6 level or equivalent experience
• Highly competent in a variety of software applications including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint Skype
• Competent in ensuring the ordering of goods and services is in accordance with Civil Service policies and procedures and an understanding of procurement and business development processes

Desirable

• Knowledge of project principles, techniques and tool
• Ability to use digital tools and understand where they can best be deployed.

Strengths

Essential

• You actively encourage and provide opportunities for others to share ideas and contributions.
• You think ahead to anticipate, identify and address any risks or problems before they occur.
• You are confident to lead a team and can effectively manage team dynamics to drive forward a shared goal.

Behaviours

Essential

• Analyse and use a range of relevant, credible information from internal and external sources to support decisions, communicating in the most appropriate style
• Make it clear to all team members that bullying, harassment and discrimination are unacceptable

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

Public Health England

Address

Public Health England

5 St Philips Place

Birmingham

B3 2PW

Employer's website

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/public-health-england (Opens in a new tab)