About the job

Job summary

Vaccines have been identified as a key strategic priority for UKHSA. The Vaccines & Countermeasures Response (VCR) Team, within the Commercial Directorate at UKHSA, is responsible for the procurement and supply of vaccines and urgent treatments for the National Immunisation Programme and the national stockpiles and vaccine agreements for pandemic flu preparedness and emergency response planning. In doing so it provides technical and commercial support and expertise to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and to the NHS in planning and delivering the national immunisation programmes. These programmes provide millions of vaccines per year, across the whole life course, and are delivered in a range of NHS settings.

Within VCR, the Vaccines team is responsible for the procurement of vaccines, immunoglobulins, antivenoms and antitoxins and their supply across the 4 nations of the UK. This includes planning and preparing for Immunisation Programme changes up to 5 years ahead, financial modelling and securing budgets, implementing new programmes, delivering commercial solutions and negotiating contracts, to ensuring the NHS can access vaccines 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The role of Head of Vaccine Supply is a key role in the team now available on a job share basis for 3 days a week (22.5 hours). The role covers the procurement and supply into the frontline NHS of vaccines and urgent treatments for childhood and adult universal immunisation programmes. The team is currently managing a wide portfolio of vaccines for 15 National Immunisation Programmes, around 30 major vaccine contracts, and delivering to around 12k customers in the UK, 52 weeks a year.

The teams’ work is broad, dynamic, challenging and engagement across the health system is required. The post holder will need to be confident in managing complexity, able to apply analytical expertise and be proficient at collaborating effectively across disciplines within wider UKHSA, DHSC and other Government Departments. We are looking for someone who is outcome driven with strong communication skills and the ability to work with and influence all grades.  

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity to work in a key role contributing to the success of the national immunisation programme. The post holder will be a key member of the Vaccines & Countermeasures Response Team and will have responsibility for providing leadership and expert advice on the requirements of the programme to inform procurement and ensure approval, while taking the lead on managing UKHSA’s stockpiles and the supply and distribution to frontline NHS of a wide portfolio of products, across the UK. You’ll succeed by working collaboratively with a wide range of external and internal partners who come together to provide the expertise and the infrastructure to make it work. By applying appropriate project management skills, you will plan work, manage risks and monitor progress to deliver planned outcomes and be able to react to the unique challenges which impact on the vaccine supply chain from policy development, regulatory issues, manufacturing supply failures to final mile logistics.

You will be part of a wider team working on developing and improving the National Immunisation Programme and pandemic preparedness. You will collaborate with supply chain specialists, commercial specialists, vaccine coverage specialists, clinicians, modellers, virologists and data scientists.

You will be educated to at least degree level in a relevant subject or have significant experience of working at a similar level in a commercial or supply chain context and be motivated to make a difference to the health of the population.

Location

10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf E14 5EA

The current UKHSA policy is 60% office attendance (3 days out of 5) in line with the most recent UK Govt. directive on office attendance for Civil Servants.

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

Working Pattern – Part Time, Job Share, Flexible Working, Hybrid Working.

Responsibilities section:

The post holder will be a key member of the Vaccines & Countermeasures Response Team and will have responsibility for providing leadership and expert advice on the requirements of the programme to inform procurement and ensure approval, while taking the lead on managing UKHSA’s stockpiles and the supply and distribution to frontline NHS of a wide portfolio of products, across the UK.

Your role will have key responsibility for, but not be limited to: 

• Ensuring that continuity of supply of vaccines to the UK NHS is maintained by procuring vaccines and urgent treatments for the National Immunisation Programme, forecasting UK vaccine requirements and developing expert business cases. This includes new immunisation programmes for children and adults.
• Management of centrally procured vaccine stocks, and distribution to the NHS and other customers, working with external and internal partners to deliver the programme.
• Providing leadership, expert advice, support and guidance for the supply and management of various products held for the national immunisation programme, both to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) in the development of policy, and to the NHS in commissioning and delivering the national immunisation programmes.
• Developing strategies to manage vaccine shortages and other vaccine issues, such as recalls, to resume supply as quickly as possible, liaising with MHRA and official testing laboratories where necessary.
• Producing financial forecasts for programmes and supporting robust financial reporting against budgets.
• Working with our contracted storage and distribution (S&D) agent to deliver an improved stock management and distribution service.

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 1250 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 criteria:

• Educated to degree level in a relevant subject or significant experience of working at a similar level in a commercial or supply chain context
• Experience in roles which have a high degree of project management, including operations
• Experience of successfully operating in a politically sensitive environment
• Experience of managing and forecasting budgets and working knowledge of financial processes.
• Experience of managing risks and reporting
• Ability to build constructive working and influential relationships internally and externally
• Must be able to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive or contentious information, and present complex and sensitive information to influential groups.
• Strong problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands, and deliver on time
• Strategic thinking – ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise.

Desirable Criteria:

• Postgraduate degree or equivalent qualification
• Experience of immunisation and vaccines
• Experience of supply chain and stock control systems
• Experience of health economics
• Ability to be able to prioritise own work effectively and be able to direct the activities of others.

Benefits

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.

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:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making effective decisions
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• 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.

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 18th January 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.

Eligibility Criteria

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).

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.