About the job

Job summary

We are looking for a proactive individual who can demonstrate professionalism and effective business management and communication skills; as well as the ability to work flexibly and efficiently in a demanding environment.

As the Assistant Business Manager, you will provide business analysis support and expertise to the UKHSA Regional Public Health Laboratories and ensure business operations and diagnostic outputs within the Specialist Microbiology Services network are monitored and reviewed in order to ensure cost, quality criteria, internal and external customer requirements are met at all times.

Candidates should be educated to degree level in relevant subjects or equivalent level qualification or should have significant experience of working at a similar level. This is a site-based role with occasional requirements to travel nationally for face to face meetings (for example at Colindale, London).

Location

This is a site-based role located at Manchester Royal Infirmary

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

Working Pattern – Full Time

Job description

As the Assistant Business Manager your main responsibilities will include:

• Provide support on contract and agreement matters, business operations and diagnostic output monitoring to the laboratory management team and members of the divisional office.
• Ensure Specialist Microbiology Services Network Managers and Laboratory Management receive appropriate contract management, business operations and diagnostic output monitoring support; this involves working closely with the Microbiology Network Managers and Laboratory Management Teams in the provision of appropriate information.
• To support the production of contracts, activity reports, diagnostic outputs and business reporting and support the maintenance of a monitoring systems and agreements databases.
• Support ensuring those NHS contracts and reports submitted for review are compatible with the standard NHS contract clauses and strategic objectives and highlight issues including financial, safety and quality impacts.
• Provide information and support to the SMS Operations lead on all aspects of activity data including data collection and validation relating to regular outputs such as the regional activity indicators, and monitoring and analysis of such data.
• Assist the Head of Operations in the establishment and maintenance of robust systems and processes for administration, risk management and business support across the division.
• Assist the Head of Operations lead in undertaking any necessary analysis of financial and management information in accordance with corporate policies and procedures.
• Comment on, propose changes and support in the implementation of policies and procedures used by the laboratory (in relation to Business Management).
• Support for the monthly invoicing of NHS contracted work for NHS customers.
• Respond to internal and external customer inquiries/ problems regarding invoicing.
• To keep up to date on developments within UKHSA and to identify and assess and inform the Specialist Microbiology Services Network Managers and the SMS Operations lead about developments in the NHS and Public Health Community.
• Assist in the development of business cases submitted to the SMS Divisional Office.
• Provide general administrative and financial support to the Laboratory Office.
• Attend key operational meetings.
• Any other tasks commensurate with the grading and duties of this post.
• Provide the development of business intelligence to monitor Laboratory activity.

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.

Please refer to the attached job description for a full list of duties and responsibilities.

Person specification

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 1250 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the following criteria:

Essential 

• Educated to degree level in relevant subject or equivalent level qualification or significant experience of working at a similar level in this area.
• A good working knowledge of the NHS, Public Health Microbiology and Local Government
• Experience of managing and motivating a team
• High levels of energy, initiative and persistence
• Must be able to prioritise own work effectively and be able to direct activities of others.
• Strong computer literacy including the development and use of spreadsheet applications, databases and word-processing.
• Good communication skills to people at all levels either on a one-to-one basis or to groups
• Good written communication skills e.g. ability to draft policy/procedure documents, write reports/presentations and business cases.
• Dealing with documents and correspondence of a confidential and/or sensitive matter.
• Numerate
• Good organisational skills and systematic approach to working.
• Sound analytical skills and good judgment when providing opinion or advice to others.
• Strategic thinking – ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise.
• 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 systems

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%

Things you need to know

Selection process details

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT: 

You will be required to complete an application form and submit a statement of suitability of up to 1250 words. This will be assessed in line with the advertised essential criteria – please do provide evidence of how you meet this.

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.

Your Statement of Suitability 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).

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

STAGE 2 – INTERVIEW 

This recruitment will involve an interview either face-to-face or via Teams.

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. 

Please note that as part of the interview process, you may be required to undertake a presentation or test.

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

• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 10th July 2024 – 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.

Interviews: TBC

Please note these dates could be subject to change.  

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

Security

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.