Job responsibilities
You will need the ability to explore and propose different approaches to solving problems and ensure you select appropriate technology and use resources efficiently to integrate multiple systems and technologies.
You will be skilled at integrating and testing multiple components, systems and their interfaces. You should be able to define an integration build and coordinate the build activities across systems, and understand how to undertake and support integration testing.
You will build apps and web services for UKHSA staff and the general public that will support UKHSA to empower individuals to make changes in their lifestyles to promote healthier living and address health threats. These products will target all devices, with native, hybrid and web development techniques, and you will design, build and test them using test-driven development techniques.
You will use the Scrum agile delivery methodology and deliver software in short iterations with frequent releases without compromising code quality liaising with key internal and external stakeholders and providing technical direction on full-stack software development best practices.
You will have the ability to take ownership of projects and the desire to take them through to production.
The role requires good troubleshooting skills with an ability to identify locate and competently fix bugs and errors.
You will need a strong ability to collaborate with user researchers, sell and represent users internally and champion user research to focus on all users. This means an ability to understand users and identify them and their needs based on evidence.
You should put users first, manage competing priorities and offer recommendations on the best tools and methods to be used.
Main Duties of the Job
- Lead the development and maintenance of UKHSAs portfolio of apps and websites
- Define the technical requirements for the implementation of new software solutions
- Define the technical aspects of the application solution architecture, including the technology used, methodology followed, and devices/platforms targeted
- Prepare technical solution and architecture documents, work products and presentations
- Define security protocols, analytics and social channel integration
- Design and develop detailed architectures and interfaces to integrate with other APIs / apps / domains
- Take responsibility for the various non-functional aspects in application design and provide a solution to optimise performance, scalability etc. using DevOps principles
- Collaborate and work with technology and cloud service providers to ensure UKHSA derives the maximum benefit from any third-party service providers and that the right knowledge is transferred in-house
- Continuously seek to improve your own knowledge of work areas and embrace the agile framework of software delivery methodology and aim to reach full agility with continuous integration, delivery and deployment
- Research and recommend proven open-source tools and platforms that will support the ongoing delivery of UKHSAs platform
- Enforce sound development practices and ensure the quality delivery of enterprise solutions
- Line management responsibility
- Take ownership of the solution from end to end, and be responsible for translating functional requirements into a solution
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.
This will include:
Internal
- Digital team
- ICT department
- Product owners across UKHSA
- Users within UKHSA including key business sponsors
External
- Software suppliers and design agency representatives
- Representatives of other bodies with NHS and Department of Health
- Government Digital Service
We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality 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.
Essential Criteria:
- Educated to degree level in relevant subject such as computer science or equivalent work-related experience
- Expert-level understanding of JavaScript development technologies.
- Understanding of modern containerised deployment via CI/CD on the cloud
- Experience of consuming RESTful APIs and web services
- Knowledge of object-oriented concepts and design patterns
- Experience in leading development teams to deliver key business capabilities
- Experience of the principles and practices of agile development and the project lifecycle, and agile tools such as Jira or Redmine
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships
Desirable:
- Postgraduate or professional qualification or equivalent experience in relevant technologies
- Understanding of additional technologies across development stacks: Backend, databases etc.
Selection Process
You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed and sifted in line with the essential criteria.
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Experience
Stage 1: Application & Sift
As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide a Statement of Suitability in no more than 750 words providing examples of how you meet the essential criteria. It should also detail what you and your experience can bring to the role. We suggest using the STAR (situation, task, action, result) method to demonstrate real-life examples for the specified essential criteria. Please note, only information provided within the stated word count will be considered.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview
Stage 2: Panel Interview
This role is a two stage interview process. The first stage will consist of a technical test if successful the second interview will test the following behaviours:
- Managing a Quality Service
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
Reserve List:
Candidates who pass the interview criteria but are not offered a post will be kept on a reserve list for 12 months and may be contacted if similar roles become available.
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.
DBS - People working with government systems must complete Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks which includes a disclosure and barring security check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed for this role is BPSS however there may be a requirement for this role to be SC cleared and you should familiarise yourself with the criteria of security clearance.
This role is Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants. 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.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Government baseline personnel security standard
Its 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
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.
Contact Details Sophie.Rigney@reed.com
