About the job

Job summary

Background: The UK Space Agency: 

The UK Space Agency (UKSA) is an executive agency of the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) and provides technical advice on the government’s space strategy, supporting the UK space sector to deliver the government’s vision. 

Space is a part of everyday life. Satellites underpin our national economy, from agriculture and banking to aviation and shipping, and support our national security. Space science provides critical data to understand and address global challenges such as climate change, while missions to explore our solar system unite nations and advance humanity’s horizons. 

We support a thriving space sector in the UK, which generates an annual income of £16.5 billion and employs 47,000 people across the country. 

Through our portfolio of programmes and projects, we encourage the development of national space capabilities and are an early-stage investor in space research and development.  We also promote the UK space sector’s interests and achievements; make connections to join up industry and academia; and represent the UK in international space programmes. 

We have a powerful global voice, partnering with institutions across the world, including the European Space Agency. 

More information about the Agency is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-space-agency 

To discover more please watch this film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbZZ-o0IkVU

Our Inclusive Environment

We have an inclusive culture to make UK Space Agency a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, not only because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because it will help us be more innovative and make better decisions.

We offer first-class flexible working benefits, excellent employee well-being support and a great pension. We are fortunate to have a range of excellent staff networks and are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We will support talented people from all backgrounds to build a career and thrive.

We actively welcome applications from anyone who shares our commitment to inclusion.

Job description

This is a sector experiencing disruptive change; with new technologies, business models and market entrants challenging the status quo. The UK Space Agency HR team must be flexible, dynamic and able to respond rapidly to ensure recruitment activities for the Agency are managed effectively, promptly and accurately whilst engaging with stakeholders to ensure changes are met.

The role is within HR Operations and People Service team, this is a small team that leads on the Agency’s recruitment campaigns on behalf of its Line Managers. Dealing with changes of contract, loans, expressions of interest and associated on-boarding. There will also be extensive employee support as well as providing advice across the business.

You will be expected to build and maintain working relationships with managers and candidates at all levels, as well as our recruitment partner Government Recruitment Services (GRS) and UK Shared Business Services Ltd (UK SBS) our HR shared services supplier.

You will be responsible for important areas of the UK Space Agency’s HR activities, including:

• Provide support and guidance to enable hiring managers to carry out all recruitment activity. This includes ensuring the necessary approvals are in place, providing/uploading the relevant paperwork and forms for completion and overseeing progress of recruitment campaigns.
• Provide advice and guidance on recruitment to hiring managers including advertising, sifting, interviews, all forms of assessment and on-boarding.
• Deliver the full range of activities relating to candidate management, including where appropriate, working with our payroll provider, UK SBS, to ensure a seamless, timely and professional experience for candidates.
• Provide information and support to candidates from the point of application to on-boarding, acting as an ambassador for UK Space Agency to present a positive and engaging impression.
• Deliver transactional paperwork for leavers and employee contract changes.
• Ensure that the HR Centre of Excellence is maintained and updated on a regular basis.
• Assist and support colleagues in the HR Operations and People Services Team on an ad hoc basis as required.

Person specification

We are looking for an individual who is reliable, enthusiastic, proactive and a good communicator, who can work effectively both as part of a team and on their own initiative. You will need to be flexible and able to cope with a variety of tasks, working with internal and external stakeholders. Attention to detail and accuracy is key, as well as being able to prioritise workload.

Essential criteria

• Excellent interpersonal skills with an ability to work well as part of a team as well as with colleagues in other parts of the organisation.
• Ability to work proactively to anticipate issues and develop options/solutions to prevent escalation.
• Demonstrate an ability to work under pressure with competing demands.
• Familiarity with MS and Excel.
• Highly organised with the ability to prioritise and manage own workload.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information appropriately.
• Strong administration experience.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of recruitment, on-boarding and payroll activity would be beneficial.
• Experience of working in HR environment.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £25,310, UK Space Agency contributes £6,833 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 and Experience.

UK Space Agency is undergoing a transformation programme which may impact your role, line manager and/or location in the future.  We will share more details with you as they become known.

Civil Servants:

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.

UK Space Agency Employees:

You must seek approval from your substantive manager before applying for any non-permanent vacancy, this includes applying for a new post during an existing temporary posting.  Please note that if applying for a temporary post within UK Space Agency or elsewhere on promotion, successful appointment will not automatically result in a permanent promotion - you will revert to your current substantive grade at the end of the Fixed Term or Loan period (unless funding has been approved to make the post permanent).

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV. The CV is for information and will not be scored.

The Sift will be assessed on Behaviours and Personal Statement (Max Word Limit:500).

Please explain how your previous skills and experience meets the essential criteria for this role.

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

The Interview will be assessed on Behaviours. 

The Interview location will be MS Teams 

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour Communicating and Influencing. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Sift and interview dates

Sift date w/c 08/01/24

Interview date w/c 22/01/24

Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.

Further Information

This post is advertised as a Fixed term or Loan contract until 31/3/2025.

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). 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.

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 uksarecruitment.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.

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

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

Any move to UK Space Agency 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 https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/

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

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

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

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 circumstance 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-Employment.Checks@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.

Feedback

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.