About the job

Job summary

Scientific Business Manager

Grade SEO - £38,724 to £44,393 (National)

UKHSA Porton Down  

Permanent Contract

We are looking for a person who can join our scientific and commercial team at the Vaccine Development and Evaluation Centre (VDEC), a key part of the UKHSA’s scientific strategy. The VDEC is a world-class facility that conducts laboratory research to support all stages of vaccine development, from discovery to licensure. The VDEC played a critical role  in the COVID-19 response and is now expanding its scope and impact. As a member of our team, you will help shape the UK’s vaccine strategy and contribute to the health and economic prosperity of the nation.

As the Scientific Business Manager, you will help the VDEC team promote its capabilities to secure external income for our research and commercial services. You will work with the agency’s scientific experts, cutting-edge facilities and intellectual property to generate revenue from public funds and develop high-quality public health products and solutions. You will also help reduce the government’s costs for maintaining advanced public health capabilities.

UKHSA Porton Down   

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

Working Pattern – Full Time,

Job description

Responsibilities section:

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

• Support implementation of the VDEC Business plan as part of the UKHSA Science and Income Generation strategies, setting in place arrangements to facilitate scientific and commercial aspects of external partner working as appropriate and deliver UKHSA revenue-earning objectives within the governance framework.
• Contribute to and support the promotion of VDECs scientific leadership and technical expertise in providing its services to customers, including liaison with operational managers in relation to the progress of active proposals.
• Liaising with and supporting UKHSA Scientific leads and  Business Development, Financial, Legal and Regulatory functions in crafting competitive project proposals for externally funded activities.
• Assist in contract negotiation when delegated and liaise with others to ensure that UKHSA resources are utilised effectively for the contracting purpose and financial returns are maximised.
• To work in conjunction with Business Development, Marketing & others to develop a range of scientific and technical promotional materials, including digital, and deliver those to target audiences.
• Review with line manager, customer feedback and management information in order to improve performance and to prioritise demand-led work activities to deliver a high quality and value-adding service to key customer accounts
• Reporting through line manager on a regular basis to critically evaluate the results of activities and key issues in areas of responsibility.
• Developing and managing a portfolio of other assigned projects as directed by line manager and Deputy Director, including input to UKHSA & VDEC strategies and policies for short and long-term plans.
• Provide reports as required, prepare presentations and participate as the VDEC representative as required with internal colleagues and external stakeholders and customers
• To perform any other duties required by the line manager commensurate with grade.

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.

Please see full duties and responsibilities attached

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 1000 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the following criteria:

Essential

• Demonstratable knowledge of the vaccine and therapeutic development pathway and a broad spectrum of scientific principles across the life sciences sector.
• Proven experience successfully delivering effective verbal and written technical presentations or business cases to senior customer executives
• Demonstrable experience of negotiating research and or service contracts including service level agreements, material and information licensing/re-use agreements, non-disclosure agreements and similar.
• Knowledge of the different types of intellectual property including their protection, exploitation use and transfer.
• Ability to assess complex project proposals, tender requirements and to interpret detailed documents quickly and efficiently to meet internal and external deadlines.
• Ability to work on own initiative and organise workload effectively, allocating work as necessary.

Desirable

• Previous experience of working within a public sector, academic or commercial body in a similar role.

• Demonstrable experience in successfully managing projects, people and operations.
• Knowledge of public sector regulatory compliance and governance issues and other relevant regulations which need to be covered and included in contracts
• Able to undertake national/international travel, working irregular hours when required (by agreement).

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £38,724, UK Health Security Agency contributes £10,333 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

Selection process details

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 a face-to-face interview. 

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. 

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.

The Success Profiles framework will be used to assess and recruit the most suitable candidate.  The following behaviours will be used at the interview:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Managing a quality Service
• Delivery at Pace

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 31st 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.

Shortlist: TBC

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)

Nationality requirements

Appointments to roles within UKHSA will be made in accordance with the Civil Service nationality rules. These can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• Nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• Certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.

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 welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.

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 Standard Personnel Security Standard.  People working with government assets must complete Standard 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.