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 research programme manager will be working on the Environmental Hazards research portfolio within the Science Research and Evidence Directorate (SRE) in the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). This post, as part of the Health Protection Team, will support the commissioning and management of research through the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) to meet the needs of policy makers across DHSC and its Arm’s Length Bodies (ALBs). 

The Health Protection team are responsible for a broad, high-profile research portfolio, which includes anti-microbial resistance, infectious diseases, environmental hazards and emergency preparedness and response. As a team, we have a strong values-led culture: empowering and supporting each other to deliver outcomes that matter.

With an annual budget of over £1.2 billion, the NIHR is the research funding arm of DHSC and supports the improvement of the health and wealth of the nation through research and is managed by the SRE Directorate. SRE supports the Secretary of State for Health, Ministers and Senior Officials in DHSC and it’s ALBs by commissioning and managing leading edge research to inform national policy decisions across the health, care and public health systems and a programme of global health research in Lower and Middle Income Countries.

Job description

The role provides an exciting and challenging opportunity to work with senior stakeholders in the health and care research system, building networks with policy makers in DHSC and its ALBs, and researchers. As such, we are looking for an enthusiastic, self-motivated individual who thrives in demanding but highly collaborative environments. The role will support work on high priority areas for research, helping to deliver Government and NIHR commitments to generate research outputs to inform and influence DHSC and wider stakeholders.

This varied role is a fantastic opportunity for someone with a science background looking to help drive forward the scientific and health research agenda in priority areas. The role involves working with policy teams to understand research priorities for policy research, for commissioning through the NIHR. The Health Protection Team have oversight of a broad and high-profile research portfolio, which includes:

• Antimicrobial resistance
• Pandemic preparedness
• Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) health effects research and emergency preparedness and response research
• Environmental hazards including air pollution, ionising and non-ionising radiation and radiation protection
• Oversight of the NIHR Health Protection Research Units, NHS Blood and Transplant Units, other research units and projects from DHSC’s perspective
• There will also be opportunity to support the Health Protection team and SRE colleagues with other research priority areas as they arise.

The role offers ample opportunity to build experience in programme and project oversight as well as insight into the policy/research interface. The post holder will have scope to take responsibility for developing programmes of work, with support from a G6 line manager and colleagues within the Health Protection Team.

We are looking for an enthusiastic individual who can rapidly develop strong relationships and work across organisational boundaries to address strategic issues. A fundamental element of the role will be to engage and strengthen links with key stakeholders across government and with research funders and academia.

 

A background in science, preferably in biomedical science, is essential alongside confident decision-making and communication skills to enable you to deliver at pace to manage the competing priorities of this fast paced and high-profile role.

Person specification

Role responsibilities

• Develop and maintain close working relationships with policy teams and other stakeholders across the Department, NIHR, other government departments and external partners.
• Work with policy customers to understand their research and evidence needs and develop research questions suitable for commissioning to address those needs.

• Support the work of SRE in providing briefings to Ministers, the Chief Medical Officer’s team and other senior stakeholders, as well as support of other parliamentary work.
• Work with NIHR colleagues to inform to the management of the research portfolio
• Help inform decision making for NIHR research calls and existing contracts e.g. research partnerships.
• Identify and prioritise research evidence gaps and oversee delivery of a programme of research to meet health protection challenges.
• Help ensure value for money, adherence to budget and delivery of high-quality research results.
• Connect academic researchers with policy colleagues at all stages of the research process, and mediate this relationship to ensure the relevance of research and that policy is well informed.
• Support the dissemination, interpretation and communication of research findings to a range of stakeholders.
• Some flexible project working within the team and SRE directorate.

Key skills and experience required for this role

Postholders will need to have skills covering the following general requirements, or be ready to develop them:

• The ability to quickly build relationships with a wide range of stakeholders from across organisations, confidently engage with stakeholders to take account of their different and often conflicting views.
• The ability to see the bigger picture and explore opportunities for collaboration.
• The ability to present complex issues clearly, concisely and persuasively with excellent written and verbal communication.
• The ability to deliver work to tight deadlines.
• Excellent organisational skills and an ability to work independently.
• Understanding of the role health research plays in improving the health of the nation and its contribution to economic growth.
• Evidence of robust analytical skills - being able to take information and evidence from a variety of sources to inform policy development and make recommendations.
• Demonstrate the skill-set necessary for research commissioning and research management and the flexibility to apply these skills to priority areas.
• Friendly, driven team player.

Essential

• A science degree or equivalent experience is essential. Ideally this would a degree or equivalent experience in the life or health sciences area.

• Willingness and ability to get Security Clearance if not already obtained

Desirable

• A post graduate qualification
• Knowledge and experience of health research and related research funding is desirable

Experience and skills will be assessed from the application form, CV and at interview.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £40,025, Department of Health and Social Care contributes £10,806 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.

Sift date: W/C 22/04/2024

Interview date: expected W/C 06/05/2024

Interview location: By video 

The available interview slots will be released with the sift scores. 

Applications will be sifted on CV, Statement of Suitability, and Behaviours. 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 also include a list of your relevant qualifications. 

Please use your statement of suitability to (in no more than 500 words) outline how you meet the key skills and experience required for this role.  

An initial sift based on CV and Statement of Suitability 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 Experience.

Candidates will be asked to give a presentation which will assess a behaviour: Making Effective Decisions. Details of the presentation question will be issued to candidates with the release of the sift scores.

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 SC clearance. For SC clearance, candidates must have been a resident in the UK for the past 5 years.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

Qualifications required for the role will be checked and verified by the vacancy holder as part of the onboarding process. You may also be asked to provide evidence that any qualifications obtained overseas are equivalent to those advertised. 

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 either level transfer or 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. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). 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.