About the job

Job summary

Please note there is a requirement of this position that the successful candidate can obtain Security Clearance, therefore candidates will need to have been resident in the UK for the last five years.

Location: The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) offers hybrid working – this means that whilst the role will be based in Porton Down, Wiltshire for the majority of the time, there will be opportunities for an element of working from home.

 Job Summary

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has been set up to provide health security and health protection for the nation by protecting from infectious disease and external hazards. We will act like no other organisation previously to mitigate threats to health before they materialise.

UKHSA will build the nation’s health resilience and security, strengthening our ability to detect and monitor infectious diseases and external threats to health. Using robust evidence and world-leading expertise, we will go deeper to analyse threats to health, and how best to prevent and control them. UKHSA will ensure a system-wide response in partnership with local authorities, NHS, academia, global professional institutes, and industry.

The role of the Project Support Officer covers a diverse range of activities to support the delivery of the project’s objectives, which will typically be moderate in complexity. You will enable the smooth running of the project by supporting the Project Manager through the operation of project management processes, and the co-ordination of business management actions and activities on their behalf.

This role is aligned to the Project Delivery Capability Framework (PDCF) career pathway Project Support Officer 2.

Job description

UKHSA

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.

The Department

The Estates, Engineering and Facilities (EEF) Department is responsible for the engineering function comprising maintenance, validation, and calibration of assets, as well as repairs and capital work. Adopting the guiding principles of engineering excellence, EEF strive to contain and control risks associated with assets, infrastructure, and critical equipment on the estate.

This approach provides the assurance to senior management that engineering works are carried out in a safe and secure manner, engineering solutions are sustainable, and expenditure is controlled and that all works are carried out to meet regulatory and compliant standards.

EEF manages and controls the Principal Maintenance Contractor (PMC) in the delivery of operations and maintenance to optimise asset value and contribute to EEF’s strategic objectives.

EEF engages with the site stakeholders over current and future engineering requirements to ensure the engineering function supports the needs of the business. The function embraces all engineering aspects from the supply of utilities, provision of environmental conditions to meet the regulatory/compliant (HSE, MHRA, FDA, DEFRA, Home Office and needs of external customers) for high containment and general research laboratories, pharmaceutical production facilities, cell culture storage facilities and general offices, through to minor/major servicing, validation, calibration, and the installation of specialised laboratory/process equipment.

Specific duties will vary depending on current focuses, but examples of these will include:

• Implement and maintain systems to enable effective planning and scheduling for the project.
• Implement and maintain project controls.
• Produce project status reports, performance data and research new information.
• Manage and monitor compliance of the project in line with UKHSA guidelines and legislation, including Health & Safety, Equality & Diversity, Security.
• Support the Project Manager with workforce planning.
• Manage the procurement of project supplies and services within Delegated Financial Authority limits.
• Build and maintain strong professional relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Draft and sign off correspondence.
• Act as point of contact for project responses to requests for information and signpost accordingly.
• Monitor project spend, compile budgets, and support the development of business cases.
• Maintain the project asset register.
• Maintain the project risk and issues log, working with risk managers to resolve issues and escalating where appropriate.
• An active member of the UKHSA Project Delivery Profession Community. 

The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You shall carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by your line manager.

Please note, it is a requirement that the successful candidate obtains security clearance, so will need to have been resident in the UK for at least the last five years.

Person specification

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of no more than 500 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the following criteria:

Essential:

• Knowledge and experience of Project Management Methodology supported by qualifications or experience
• Experience of working in a project and/or programme environment in the construction or engineering sector.
• Strong capability in using Microsoft Office applications, including Excel and PowerPoint.
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day to day working practices, but also in relation to management systems.

Desirable:

• Two years’ experience within a similar role
• It is desirable that the candidate has knowledge and experience of Project Management Methodology supported by professional qualifications such as:
  • Introduction to Project Delivery
  • Identifying Customer and Stakeholder Requirements
  • How Projects Run
  • Project Planning
  • Managing Risks
  • Issues and Dependencies
  • Understanding and Using Business Cases
  • APM Project Fundamentals
  • APM Project Management Qualification
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment.
• Works well under pressure, effectively manages multiple tasks, in a fast-changing and ambiguous environment, with a keen attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to challenge effectively and professionally to ensure the correct information is presented at the right level and at the correct time.
• Strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to develop effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.

Benefits

Working for UKHSA

For more information on 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

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours/Strengths/Ability/ Experience/Technical skills.

Your Statement of Suitability (no more than 500 words) 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.

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT: 

You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed in line with the advertised essential criteria – please do provide evidence of how you meet this. 

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

STAGE 2 – INTERVIEW 

This competition will involve an interview in person at Porton Down, Salisbury. 

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. 

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Experience:

• Changing and Improving
• Working Together
• Leadership
• Delivering at Pace

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 11th Feb 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.  

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.