About the job

Job summary

The level of security needed is Security Clearance. If the candidate does not hold this level of clearance it can be applied for on appointment.

The Chief of Staff is a high-profile role supporting a member of the UKHSA Executive Committee, providing them with trusted, insightful advice, and ensuring a quality service from their Private Office. 

This involves direct leadership of the Private Office team in addition to enhancing the wider senior leadership of the business area. The Chief of Staff will be expected to lead group-level Private Office functions to ensure that priorities are understood and being delivered effectively. They will also take on wider management and leadership responsibilities within the Private Office Group, including responsibility for taking forward corporate workstreams on areas such as Learning and Development.

The Chief of Staff will also be expected to provide strategic advice and support to the senior team on issues and risks using their judgement, communication skills, and networks across and outside of the business.

About Us

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.

Job description

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Lead an effective and efficient Private Office team, including oversight and overall accountability for all functions and acting as an escalation point.
• Provide advice and support to the principal and their senior leadership team on strategic direction, objectives, business delivery, risks, and issues.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with the executive leadership of UKHSA and their Private Offices to collectively drive forward work and help operational delivery. Develop a relationship with DHSC Private Offices, health system partners, and others to manage high-profile and fast paced work.
• Deal sensitively with high profile and confidential matters ensuring the reputation of the organisation, principal and the business area are maintained at all times.
• Deliver to a high standard against a range of competing objectives and priorities, while remaining calm under pressure and demonstrating resilience.
• Develop the Private Office team and culture to deliver a motivated, continuously improving team that supports the wider organisation to deliver. Play an active and corporate role in both the business area and as part of the UKHSA Private Office Group senior leadership team.

Person specification

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of no more than 1,000 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the following criteria:

 

Essential criteria

• Experience of working in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment . Ability to work independently on critical issues, often with a high level of uncertainty, whilst remaining calm under pressure and demonstrating resilience.
• Strong drafting (briefings, submissions etc.) and organisational skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and motivate people at all levels, including managing upwards. Strong leadership background with a focus on creating a positive, inclusive, high performing workplace.
• A proven track record of making a strong personal impact, with a clear focus on delivery and ability to work confidently with very senior officials.

Benefits

Working for the UKHSA

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

Things you need to know

Selection process details

As part of the application process, you will also be asked to provide a Statement of Suitability in no more than 1,000 words outlining why you will be suitable for the role.

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).

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.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, we will assess your Behaviours and Strengths. 

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
• Leadership
• Delivering at Pace

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT: 

To apply for this role, you will be asked to complete an application and a personal statement (maximum 1000 words)

Please use your personal statement (maximum 1000 words) to demonstrate how your skills and experience demonstrate your suitability for this role, in reference to the essential criteria detailed in the person specification section.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

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

STAGE 2 – INTERVIEW 

This competition will involve an interview via Teams

All applicants that progress to interview will be assessed on the criteria for the role outlined in the person specification.

Behaviours to be assessed:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
• Leadership
• Delivering at Pace

Expected Timeline:  

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 18/02/2024– 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 date: TBC (possibly 29th February 2024 or 1st March 2024)

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)

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 meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Security Clearance. If the candidate does not hold this level of clearance it can be applied for on appointment.

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/

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. 

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. 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.