About the job

Job summary

UKHSAs Global Operations Directorate has an exciting vacancy for a Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Learning (MREL) manager to shape how we monitor and evaluate our expanding International Health Regulations Strengthening project. This complex and high-profile Official Development Assistance (ODA) funded project works in partnership with bilateral partners and regional organisations in Africa and Asia to strengthen public health systems and support the implementation of the IHR (2005). ODA-funded projects are subject to independent scrutiny to ensure efficiency and good value for money. Consequently, a robust MREL framework is essential for the projects’ success.

The post holder will advise the projects Senior Leadership Team and Project Managers providing expertise to inform an overarching approach to evaluation. He/she will lead on establishing and conducting MREL processes, and will facilitate the generation of evidence to inform reporting and add value to the projects’ delivery. This will involve interpreting findings to inform decision making and make recommendations to senior staff members. It will also involve commissioning and coordinating independent review and audit of our work as required/stipulated in project work-plans or by project sponsors.

He/she will be able to translate high quality evidence into pragmatic solutions to real world problems, design and commission MREL initiatives for the IHR project, ensure timely, relevant findings to feed into project decisions; articulate and demonstrate clear results, impacts and value for money, even where harder to measure, and play a key role in brokering the acceptance and understanding of evaluation findings internally and externally.                                                     

About Us

At the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) our mission is to provide health security for the nation by protecting from infectious disease and external hazards.  We are a trusted source of advice to government and to the public, focusing on reducing inequalities in the way different communities experience and are impacted by infectious disease, environmental hazards, and other threats to health.

Our mission is challenging, innovative and in the spotlight. We will work to ensure our people have the diverse skills, experiences and backgrounds we need to thrive, that our employees are representative of the communities we serve and feel valued and enabled to play their part in delivering our work.  Creating our working culture is an ongoing process which we are developing by listening and learning together, hearing and acting upon diverse voices and opinions to develop a common sense of identity and effective ways of working.

Location

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) offers hybrid working – this means that whilst the role will be based in our Canary Wharf office, there will be opportunities to work from home.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas.

Relocation expenses are not available

Job description

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Take a lead role in overseeing the implementation of a framework for MREL in UKHSAs IHR Strengthening project including establishment of process and outcome indicators, data collection and data flow methodologies, and evaluation protocols.
• Directly manage a small IHR project MREL team
• Responsible for providing leadership of and day-to-day internal MREL activities across the IHR Project and for integrating process and outcome indicators into project planning.
• Maintain effective MREL systems and procedures to ensure project quality assurance and consistency across GPH ODA-funded Programmes (in all countries), and in line with regional monitoring, evaluation and quality assurance measures;
• Analyse and compile project monitoring information to inform practice and produce reports and other documentation for different stakeholders.
• In liaison with the core Global Operations MREL team, responsible for designing, commissioning and coordinating external monitoring, evaluation and audits as required.
• Ensuring timely reporting of findings to translate evidence established through MREL activities into pragmatic solutions / advice.
• Support in-country staff to provide quality and timely MREL reports for project stakeholders.
• Assist with gathering and interpreting of project data relevant for Value for Money (VfM) analysis.
• Supporting the translation of learning into policy, guidelines and practice as appropriate, and articulating and demonstrating clear results, impacts and VFM
• Maintain up to date knowledge of good practice and external developments in MREL of development projects and build the capacity of staff through training and support for effective implementation of MREL systems.

The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role.  You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by your line manager.  The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the Directorate and UKHSA.

Person specification

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 1,250 words (max) that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the following criteria:

See full list in the attached Job Description

Essential Criteria:

• Educated to post-graduate level in any social or natural science discipline or significant experience of working at a similar level.
• Extensive experience of qualitative and/or quantitative evaluation methods
• Significant experience of successfully operating in a complex / politically sensitive and challenging environment and experience in conducting and leading on a range of evaluation and research methods for complex interventions.
• Applied experience with health or humanitarian organisations in designing, implementing and overseeing monitoring and evaluation tasks in the health sector.
• Understanding of current MREL trends and especially MREL systems in development organizations including setting both process and outcome indicators.
• Advanced knowledge and application of several quantitative and qualitative methods used for Monitoring and evaluation.
• Understanding of public sector, Global Public Health infrastructure especially in Low and Middle income countries.
• Use a high level of communication skills to communicate technical MREL issues and results effectively, with the ability to adapt styles to the needs of different audiences both tactfully and diplomatically
• Provide and receive highly complex, sensitive and contentious information, negotiate with senior stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues, and present complex and sensitive information to large and influential groups.
• Ability to analyse very complex issues where material is conflicting and drawn from multiple sources
• Numerate and able to understand complex financial issues combined with deep analytical skills and Experience of setting up and implementing internal
• Experience of developing and presenting complex quantitative and qualitative data in visually engaging ways for non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans, manage projects and resource requirements accordingly
• Demonstrated capabilities to manage own workload and make informed decisions in the absence of required information, working to tight and often changing timescales
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.

Benefits

 Working for the UKHSA

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 and a statement of suitability. Your Statement of Suitability should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, against the essential criteria (outlined in the person specification section). Your Statement of Suitability must not exceed 1,250 words.

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. The sift selection panel will only consider relevant career history information from the last 5 years.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview.

STAGE 2 – INTERVIEW:

This competition will involve an interview via Teams.

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.

There might be a task you need to complete as part of your interview, information will be shared with you before your interview.

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs 07/01/2024 – 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.  

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&Cs 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/

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.