About the job

Job summary

In DHSC, we are proud of our purpose – to enable everyone to live more independent, healthier lives for longer. 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 Supply Resilience Directorate coordinates and drives DHSC’s work on supply, delivering a more strategic approach working closely across Government, the NHS and with industry. We respond to challenges and disruptions to the supply of medicines and medical products and drive long-term strategic thinking to improve resilience of key products. 

We are looking for two G6 deputy branch heads across the directorate, sitting in the National Supply Disruption Response team and the Strategic Supply and Continuity team respectively.

The Supply Strategy and Continuity Team supports the Supply Resilience Director in responding to and preparing for challenges to the supply of medical products in the short-medium term and leading work with key partners to enhance supply resilience in the long term. The team also leads specific project-based work to support and enhance supply chain resilience; coordinates engagement with suppliers, wider industry stakeholders and international partners; and promotes the importance of supply resilience considerations in wider DHSC policy making.  

The National Supply Disruption Response (NSDR) team act as the first point of contact for the UK's medical supply industry and health and care system in the event of supply disruption. The NSDR team work closely with internal and external partners to help mitigate supply disruption and are responsible for the shortage response policy for all medical technology products. The NSDR also hosts the Supply Resilience Directorate's Analytical Team, who work to build a robust evidence base to underpin both short term threat assessment and long-term resilience activity.

Job description

Role 1. Head of Engagement and Policy, Supply Strategy and Continuity

The successful candidate will be responsible for delivery of continuity of supply policy priorities through engagement with key industry and health and social care stakeholders on supply resilience and building capability on supply resilience.

Role 2. Head of NSDR Policy and Analysis

The successful candidate will be responsible for leading the NSDR's policy and analytical team. As well as line managing up to three Grade 7s (and a mix of policy and analytical professionals), the individual will be responsible for med tech response policy, as well as acting as Head of the Directorate's analytical function.  

Role 1) Head of Engagement and Policy, Supply Strategy and Continuity

Provide leadership to a mixed team consisting of grade 7, SEO and HEO and direct line management of a number of grade 7 senior policy advisors and communications specialists.

Ensure that engagement activity with suppliers on topics related to supply resilience is coordinated across DHSC and its ALBs.  Support the engagement team to build relationships with industry and key government stakeholders. 

Supporting and leading as needed, the Department’s response to supply chain disruption of medical products, and proactive policy development to manage risks.

Developing and promoting tools that help support teams across the Department to understand and assess the importance of supply chain resilience in their policy areas

Build trusted relationships with key stakeholders both in and outside of Government to help further the importance of supply considerations in policy making and represent the Supply Resilience Directorate across Government. 

Role 2) Head of NSDR Policy and Analysis

The post-holder will lead a multi-disciplinary team to:   

Design and deliver NSDR response policy.

Development of key relationships with stakeholders critical to MedTech response policy to foster close collaboration and meet shared objectives. This includes senior teams internal to DHSC, NHSE, NHS Supply Chain, MHRA and the Devolved Administrations.  

Strategic leadership and delivery of SRD analytical function, including all analytical products to help ensure a robust evidence base for work across the Directorate and beyond.  Many of these products inform advice to, or are shared directly with, DGs and Ministers.

Lead engagement with senior external industry partners from across the supply chain on issues relating to med tech response policy. External challenge and communication are critical to policy design and implementation. 

Person specification

Key skills and experience required for the roles

• A strong leader who has experience leading a large team across a mixed portfolio with line management experience, with policy and stakeholder engagement experience.
• A track record of working collaboratively across a broad portfolio on cross-cutting policy, including being comfortable managing multiple priorities and delivering high quality outcomes at pace.
• Experience of evidence-based decision making and analysing complex and/ or incomplete information to weigh up options and make recommendations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including drafting advice and briefing for senior leaders and external stakeholders.
• Ability to establish and maintain strong working relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to work at pace in response to changing information and prioritise.

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 15/07/2024

Interview date: expected W/C 22/07/2024

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 the Behaviour: Leadership. 

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

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 and Behaviour: Leadership 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.

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 

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

Please note that applicants will require BPSS clearance.   

Further Information

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

Any move to DHSC 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

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. 

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

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.

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. 

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.

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.