UK Health Security Agency

Business Support Officer

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

The Clinical & Emerging Infections (CEI) Directorate delivers specialist and emerging infection leadership related to emerging, travel, syndromic healthcare associated, antimicrobial resistant infections. The Directorate works with public health, clinical, scientific and professional bodies and stakeholders to drive innovation in detecting emerging infections, syndromes, novel pathogens, resistance mutations and design, study and evaluation interventions to prevent spread in community, health and care settings. The CEI Directorate is made up of 3 specialist Divisions: TB, Acute Respiratory Infections, Zoonosis, Emerging Infections & Travel Health (TARZET); Gastrointestinal Infections, Food Safety & One Health (GIFSOH); HCAI, Fungal, AMR, AMU & Sepsis (AMR).

As a Business Support Officer within the Directorate Office team, you will play an essential role in ensuring the smooth running of your principal's diary, ensuring they have the information needed to inform meetings and visits, to allow them to make the best use of their time, and deliver their priorities. Additionally, you will provide administrative, logistical, and business support to the office you are based in and cover a wide range of interesting and challenging duties in a modern, flexible, and dynamic workplace.

*Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available.*

Main duties of the job

This role will be based at our Canary Wharf Office (10 South Colonnade, London, E14 4PU) some hybrid working may be available subject to managers approval and business needs. The role is fixed term but may become permanent.

  • Strategic planning of a senior official's diary, developing a high-level understanding of key departmental priorities and ensuring efficient and appropriate use of time.
  • Day-to-day diary management
  • Handling invitations and working with the wider Directorate and Private Office teams and policy officials to produce advice and oversee the responses sent.
  • Identify, discuss and action own professional performance and training / development needs with your line manager through appraisal / individual development plan. Attending internal / external training events
  • To participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e., fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training.
  • The post holder will develop working relationships and communicate regularly with a wide range of individuals, clinical and non-clinical, internal and external to UKHSA

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.

About us

For more information on the UKHSA please visit: UK Health Security Agency - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Benefits

  • 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 average employer contribution of 27%
  • Range of health and wellbeing support

Any move to UKHSA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at Childcare Choices | 30 Hours Free Childcare, Tax-Free Childcare and More | Help with Costs | GOV.UK

Details

Date posted

16 October 2023

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£29,737 to £34,453 a year per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

5 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working, Home or remote working

Reference number

UKHSA00600

Job locations

UKHSA Canary Wharf

10 South Colonnade

London

E14 4PU


Job description

Job responsibilities

For full list of responsibilities please see attached job description.

Selection process details

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT:

You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed in line with the advertised essential criteria Your Statement of Suitability (max 750 words) should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria (outlined in the person specification section).

You will also be asked to provide information within the Employer/ Activity history section of the application form. This is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV, setting out your career history .

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

STAGE 2 INTERVIEW

This competition will involve an interview by video.

As part of the process, candidates will be invited to interview which will involve an in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification.

The Success Profiles framework will be used to assess and recruit the most suitable candidate. The following behaviours will be used at the interview:

  • Working together
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Managing a quality service
  • Delivering at pace

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on the 30th of October 2023 unfortunately, late applications will not be considered. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Shortlist: w/c 30th October 2023

Interviews: TBC

Please note these dates could be subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

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

Nationality requirements

Appointments to roles within UKHSA will be made in accordance with the Civil Service nationality rules. These can be found athttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rulesThis job is broadly open to the following groups:

  • UK nationals
  • Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
  • Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
  • Nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of theEuropean Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
  • Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
  • Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
  • Certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

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

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. People working with government assets must complete Basic Personnel Security Standard checks.

For posts on UKHSA Civil Service terms and conditions, new entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. For existing Civil Servants and roles advertised across government, the rules of transfer apply, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive a 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

Please Note

This role is to be appointed under Civil Service Terms & Conditions. Full details on the T&Cs are found https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

Are you already a civil servant, or employed by a Civil Service Commission accredited public body? Please state home department on your application form.

Do you meet the nationality requirements for this post? https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

Complaint process:

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:Complaints1@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.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For full list of responsibilities please see attached job description.

Selection process details

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT:

You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed in line with the advertised essential criteria Your Statement of Suitability (max 750 words) should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria (outlined in the person specification section).

You will also be asked to provide information within the Employer/ Activity history section of the application form. This is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV, setting out your career history .

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

STAGE 2 INTERVIEW

This competition will involve an interview by video.

As part of the process, candidates will be invited to interview which will involve an in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification.

The Success Profiles framework will be used to assess and recruit the most suitable candidate. The following behaviours will be used at the interview:

  • Working together
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Managing a quality service
  • Delivering at pace

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on the 30th of October 2023 unfortunately, late applications will not be considered. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Shortlist: w/c 30th October 2023

Interviews: TBC

Please note these dates could be subject to change.

Eligibility Criteria

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

Nationality requirements

Appointments to roles within UKHSA will be made in accordance with the Civil Service nationality rules. These can be found athttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rulesThis job is broadly open to the following groups:

  • UK nationals
  • Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
  • Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
  • Nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of theEuropean Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
  • Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
  • Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
  • Certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

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

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. People working with government assets must complete Basic Personnel Security Standard checks.

For posts on UKHSA Civil Service terms and conditions, new entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. For existing Civil Servants and roles advertised across government, the rules of transfer apply, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive a 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

Please Note

This role is to be appointed under Civil Service Terms & Conditions. Full details on the T&Cs are found https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

Are you already a civil servant, or employed by a Civil Service Commission accredited public body? Please state home department on your application form.

Do you meet the nationality requirements for this post? https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

Complaint process:

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:Complaints1@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.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to degree level/NVQ level 6 in relevant subject or equivalent level of qualification and/or equivalent experience

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Experience of diary management and arranging meetings / preparing papers.
  • Highly competent in a variety of software applications including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint, Teams.
  • Experience of managing conflicting priorities in a fast paced, constantly changing work environment to achieve successful outcomes.
  • Deputising for Private Secretaries with the potential to lead on a policy, parliamentary or corporate business area.
  • Assisting with Freedom of Information requests and correspondence.
  • Ensuring that the senior civil servant has received timely and quality written briefings from the department.

Skills, Capabilities and Behaviours

Essential

  • A strong communicator, able to communicate messages clearly to a range of audiences at all levels - both verbally and in writing.
  • Strong organisational skills and ability to prioritise work.
  • Advising the principal on how best to use their time and the aptitude to brief them confidently and accurately on the details of each of their engagements.
  • The ability to build productive working relationships quickly and to engender confidence with colleagues and stakeholders.

Equality and Diversity

Essential

  • An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to degree level/NVQ level 6 in relevant subject or equivalent level of qualification and/or equivalent experience

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Experience of diary management and arranging meetings / preparing papers.
  • Highly competent in a variety of software applications including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint, Teams.
  • Experience of managing conflicting priorities in a fast paced, constantly changing work environment to achieve successful outcomes.
  • Deputising for Private Secretaries with the potential to lead on a policy, parliamentary or corporate business area.
  • Assisting with Freedom of Information requests and correspondence.
  • Ensuring that the senior civil servant has received timely and quality written briefings from the department.

Skills, Capabilities and Behaviours

Essential

  • A strong communicator, able to communicate messages clearly to a range of audiences at all levels - both verbally and in writing.
  • Strong organisational skills and ability to prioritise work.
  • Advising the principal on how best to use their time and the aptitude to brief them confidently and accurately on the details of each of their engagements.
  • The ability to build productive working relationships quickly and to engender confidence with colleagues and stakeholders.

Equality and Diversity

Essential

  • An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.

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

UKHSA Canary Wharf

10 South Colonnade

London

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

UKHSA Canary Wharf

10 South Colonnade

London

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:

Senior RPO Talent Specialist

Chloe Britten-Austin

UKHSA.recruitment@reed.com

Details

Date posted

16 October 2023

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£29,737 to £34,453 a year per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

5 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working, Home or remote working

Reference number

UKHSA00600

Job locations

UKHSA Canary Wharf

10 South Colonnade

London

E14 4PU


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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