About the job

Job summary

National Location £38,724 £44,393

Outer London Location £40,721 £46,231

Inner London Location £42,716 £48,068

Minimum of 23 hours per week.

About the Organisation: 

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is responsible for protecting every member of every community from the impact of infectious diseases, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents and other health threats. We provide intellectual, scientific and operational leadership at national and local level, as well as on the global stage, to make the nation's health secure.

This role sits within UKHSA’s award-winning Commercial Directorate, which played a critical role during the COVID-19 pandemic. Truly dynamic, our teams operate at significant pace in a commercially complex environment to procure an unprecedented range of goods and services in a highly competitive global market.   

UKHSA’s Commercial teams continue to play a central role in priority activity, supporting the response to health threats such as Monkeypox and Strep A as they occur, and ensuring a resilient infrastructure to secure the UK in the strongest position to protect the public from future threats to health. 

About the Team: 

This position sits within the Commercial Strategy & Partnerships (CS&P) team which provides strategic support to UKHSA’s Commercial Directorate, across several workstreams:

• Commercial Strategy
• Commercial Partnerships Framework
• Contract Management
• Strategic Supplier Relationship Management
• Market Scanning and Engagement
• Emergency Response
• Commercial Disputes

The team is made up of experienced commercial professionals from a mix of private and public sector backgrounds.

Location

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) operates a hybrid working model where business needs allow.  This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's locations (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London).  For certain roles, some additional flexibility may be possible, which will be agreed upon with the hiring manager based on individual requirements and business needs.

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

Job description

Your main responsibilities will include:

UKHSA has a multifaceted relationship with industry. We buy goods and services, from complex laboratory equipment to office supplies. We also provide goods and services, such as access to our unique scientific capabilities in high containment facilities. We perform vital functions for industry including quality assurance and regulatory support. As part of these activities we also develop strategic partnerships to achieve mutually beneficial goals. The organisation also has relationships with a wide variety of industries, from large multinational companies to small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

This role, within the Commercial Strategy and Partners team, offers an exciting opportunity to help UKHSA shape and deliver two key enablers for the above: UKHSA’s Commercial Strategy and the Commercial Partners Strategic Framework (CPSF). Both deliverables are an integral part of UKHSA’s strategy and have been signed off by the Executive Committee (ExCo). The commercial strategy will focus on the function as of today, how it complements and enables the various business strategies and the roadmap for the function within the next 3-5 years. CPSF will provide UKHSA with a consistent approach to partnerships whilst also placing the department at the very forefront of thought leadership in respect of partnerships. CPSF is a programme with the following projects within the portfolio:

• Strategic Supplier Relationship Management (SSRM)
• Market Engagement
• Market Scanning
• Business Development
• Best Practice, Governance and Partnerships Charter
• Other Government Department’s (OGD’s).

In accordance with the Government Commercial Function (GCF), Commercial Career Framework we are looking for a commercial professional who undertakes commercial activities, provides commercial advice and guidance to others and supports activities to build commercial capability. In relation to this role that means, but is not limited to the following capabilities:

Commercial Context

• Planning and prioritising the required CPSF deliverables in accordance with the requirements to develop UKHSA’s commercial capabilities for partnerships.

Business Partnering

• Working closely with specific business areas to provide initial commercial guidance around non-procurement/non-business development partnerships and developing the required commercial capabilities accordingly.

Business Understanding

• Planning and prioritising the required CPSF deliverables in order to deliver the required business outputs.

Commercial Vision

• Setting clear direction as to what Commercial can do in order to enable partnerships and therefore enhance and mature credibility of the function.

Policy Development

Developing material for the purpose of commercial partnerships which sits alongside and compliments existing commercial policies and procedures around procurement and business development.

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.

Person specification

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of no more than 750 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the essential criteria (for full details of all essential criteria please refer to the attached job description):

Essential

• Knowledge and experience of working in a commercial role, or involvement in procurement or contract management. 
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Evidence of managing complex stakeholder landscapes and senior stakeholders within.
• Evidence of managing large suppliers and delivering strong contract management.
• Evidence of managing sensitive supplier relationships and an understanding the public and political factors associated with them.
• Evidence of building novel commercial solutions and supporting the recommendations to progress them.

Desirable 

• Ability to successfully work in teams, and work on multiple simultaneous projects.
• Working towards or having achieved CIPS/WCC or a similar qualification.
• Awareness of public sector procurement legislation. 
• Problem solving skills and ability to respond to urgent unexpected demands

Benefits

Working for the UKHSA

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.

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

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT: 

You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed in line with the full list of essential criteria as detailed in the attached job description – please do provide evidence of how you meet this.  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 will be used in the sifting process and will be scored.

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:

• Changing & Improving – LEAD BEHAVIOUR
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace

When assessing strengths, we want to find out whether you and the job role are a good fit. We will look at what you enjoy doing and what you do well and often. By ensuring that the role is the right fit for you, you are more likely to enjoy it and perform well.

For further information on the selection process, please refer to the attached Candidate Pack.

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 7th April 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: TBD 2024

Please note these dates could be subject to change.  

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&C’s 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. 

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.