About the job

Job summary

The vision of DHSC is to lead the health and care system to help people live more independent, healthier lives for longer. The Secretary of State for Health has a Statutory Duty to promote research and the use of research evidence, and to provide oversight of the health and care research system in England working with partners across the DHSC ALBs including NHS, NIHR, MHRA, HRA. To achieve this, and create a great place to work, we have four values: we are inclusive, we constantly improve, we challenge, and we are agile. If this sounds like an environment you’d like to work in, we’d love to hear from you.

The UK has an exceptional Life Sciences sector, and its continued growth – underpinned by Government Life Sciences Vision and the UK Vision for Clinical Research Delivery – is a fundamental pillar of the UK’s ambition to become a science superpower. A key driver of this growth is clinical research, which is an essential step in developing the next generation of medicines and medical technology, harnessing the power of the UK’s research infrastructure and delivering benefits to patients and the public worldwide. 

Job description

In February 2023, the Government announced an independent review, led by Lord James O’Shaughnessy, into the UK commercial clinical trials landscape. The review aimed to support the Life Sciences sector to unlock UK growth and investment opportunities and suggest resolutions to the key challenges in conducting commercial clinical trials in the UK. The Full Government Response to the O’Shaughnessy Review, published in November 2023, accepted all recommendations in principle and committed to deliver a programme of work backed by £121m.

This role presents a unique opportunity to influence the research ecosystem through a sector-wide programme of change which delivers a vision to transform the future of UK clinical research. The post holder will lead a programme of work through the UK Clinical Research Recovery Resilience and Growth programme to ensure the ambitions of the UK vision for clinical research delivery and the problem statements identified by Lord O’Shaughnessy are addressed.

Person specification

• Lead on and oversee strategic engagement activity to manage a complex set of relationships with the stakeholders across the life science sector, developing relationships across government including the Office of Life Science, Department for Business and Trade, HM Treasury.
• Lead for the Science Research and Evidence Directorate on input into Government initiatives to stimulate growth in the life sciences through clinical research activity.
• Coordinating and managing productive R&D industry relations with the life sciences industry, trade associations, companies and other stakeholders across the research community to understand their perspectives of the UK environment for commercial clinical research in a global context and identify areas for improvement
• Provide regular briefing (both written and verbal) for Ministers, senior decision makers in Whitehall, the Life Sciences Council and other senior officials as required.
• Coordinate and manage productive R&D industry relations with the life sciences industry, trade associations, companies and other stakeholders across the research community to understand their perspectives of the UK environment for commercial clinical research in a global context and identify areas for improvement.
• Lead for the Science Research and Evidence Directorate on input into Government initiatives to stimulate growth in the life sciences through clinical research activity.
• Provide regular briefing (both written and verbal) for Ministers, senior decision makers in Whitehall, the Life Sciences Council and other senior officials as required.
• Supervise a team of staff, including some line management responsibilities, to coordinate the Programme to ensure it delivers against the vision and strategy, working closely with the Office for Life Sciences and DHSC Science Research and Evidence Directorate.

Key skills and experience required for the role:

• Excellent and persuasive written and verbal communication skills, including evidence of presenting to very senior stakeholders such as Boards and Ministers.
• Strong interpersonal, stakeholder management and influencing skills, capable of effectively leading teams across different organisations to deliver objectives.
• Experience of designing and implementing strategies and an ability to work flexibly and at pace to adapt plans and resolve complex issues.
• Strong analytical and reasoning skills, demonstrating the ability to take information and evidence from a variety of sources in forming recommendations about policies and initiatives.
• Ability to build credibility with the life sciences industry, with experience of working with, or in the pharmaceutical, biopharma or HealthTech sector and the NHS.

Desirable:

• Experience of significant programme and project management.
• Understanding of international ethical, scientific and practical standards for the conduct of clinical research, and the regulatory and governance frameworks through which they are applied in the UK.
• In depth understanding of the clinical research landscape in the UK, including working knowledge of the operational delivery of clinical research in the NHS and wider healthcare system and health data capabilities to support clinical research delivery.
• Understanding of the drivers of commercial study placement in a competitive global market.
• Understanding of the role of the MHRA, HRA and other regulators in assuring and facilitating effective research delivery.

Your normal place of work will be your contractual primary workplace, usually either London or Leeds. Within DHSC we offer non-contractual hybrid working. The expectation at present is a minimum of 60% of your working time spent in the office, enabling in person interaction and collaboration and enhancing team working, learning, and support. 

You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas and some travel may be required across the DHSC estate. 

Opportunities for some working from home may be available; other flexible working options may be discussed with the hiring manager in line with individual circumstances and business need. 

There are a limited number of DHSC colleagues who have existing agreed homeworking contracts resulting from Our Future Estate Programme 2023-2024. Colleagues covered by these arrangements are eligible to apply for this role whilst continuing their agreed existing home working arrangement. Occasional travel to DHSC offices or other locations may still be required according to business need. Travel and subsistence will be provided in line with the pre-agreed homeworker arrangements. 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £66,832, Department of Health and Social Care contributes £18,044 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Sift date: W/C 01/07/2024 

Interview date: expected W/C 15/07/2024 

Interview location: By video. Further details will be released to candidates who are successful at sift. 

The available interview slots will be released with the sift scores. 

Applications will be sifted on CV, Statement of Suitability, and Behaviours.

Please use your CV to set out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role. These can be found in the ‘key skills and experience required for the role’ section of the advert.

Please use your statement of suitability to (in no more than 500 words) outline how you meet the key skills and experience required for the role as set out in the job advert.

An initial sift based on CV, Statement of Suitability, and Lead Behaviour: Seeing the Big Picture may be held if a large number of applications are received. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

At interview candidates will be assessed on Behaviours and Strengths.

Candidates will be asked to give a presentation which will assess a behaviour: Seeing the Big Picture. Details of the presentation question will be issued to candidates with the release of the sift scores.

To find out more about working in the department please visit our page on the Civil Service Careers Website here and to find out more information on how to apply visit the Civil Service Careers Website here 

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. 

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: 

Contact Government Recruitment Service via dhscrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. 

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional

Further Information

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

This role is being advertised on a permanent basis. If preferable, Loan or Secondment options will also be available for existing Civil Servants (Loan) and applicants from accredited NDPBs or any other employer (Secondment). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Department of Health and Social Care 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 https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Please be aware that some travel may be required across the DHSC estate. 

Please note that applicants will require BPSS clearance.  

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. 

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Terms and Conditions

Candidates should note that DHSC’s Terms and Conditions of employment changed from 1 October 2013. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the terms and conditions they will adopt should they be successful. 

New Entrants to the Civil Service

New entrants appointed in grades AA to G6 will receive DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions:

• Annual Leave: 25 days on entry rising by one day for each completed year of service to a maximum of 30 days and pro-rata for part-time staff
• Privilege Leave: 1 day - for the King’s birthday
• Hours of Work: 37 hours (net) per week for full time staff in all geographical locations, including London and pro rata for part-time staff
• Occupational Sick Pay (OSP): one month full pay/one month half pay on entry, rising by one month for each completed year of service to a maximum of five months’ full pay and five months’ half pay
• Mobility: Mobility clause in contracts allow staff to be mobile across the Civil Service
• Probation: 6 month probation period

Existing Civil Service staff transferring from another Government department, on either level transfer or promotion

All staff moving to DHSC will transfer onto DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions (as outlined above). 

Existing DHSC staff, appointed on promotion

If DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions are already held, the employee will retain those terms and conditions. If DHSC’s pre-modernised terms and conditions are held, the employee will transfer onto DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions (as outlined above).

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. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.