About the job

Job summary

Senior Public Inquiry Operational Advisors are part of UKHSA Public Inquiry unit. The unit is responsible for responding and managing the response to Public Inquiries on behalf of UKHSA and its legacy organisations Public Health England, NHS Test and Trace and the Joint Biosecurity Centre.

Operational advisors work within Public Inquiry response teams often leading on bespoke pieces of work in response to or preparation for Public Inquiry modules. The postholder will potentially have line management responsibility for HEO or EO Public Inquiry Operational Advisors.

The postholders will be expected to consult and negotiate directly with Senior Colleagues, brief UKHSA Senior Leaders and where required engage with external stakeholders. You will contribute to the wider success of the Public Inquiry team by playing a full role in developing, maintaining, and improving a culture of continuous learning. You will also contribute to a wider culture of inclusiveness, supportiveness and operational excellence.

Location

Role available at all core and scientific locations with hybrid working available

Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Porton Down, Colindale, Chilton

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) operates a hybrid working model where business needs allow.  This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's locations (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London).  Specialist or regional roles will be based at the appropriate UKHSA site. For certain roles, some additional flexibility may be possible, which will be agreed upon with the hiring manager based on individual requirements and business needs.

*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, Part Time, Job Share, Flexible Working.

Job description

Responsibilities section:

As a Senior Public Inquiry Operational Advisor your main responsibilities will include:

• Working collaboratively with the team leader, across the team, and the wider organisation
• Consulting and negotiating with senior stakeholders, both internally and externally, to develop and maintain effective working relationships to achieve team and wider objectives
• Developing knowledge by identifying, sharing and promoting practices to create a culture of learning and good practice that supports continuous improvement to optimise delivery
• Contributing to the effectiveness of the wider team, including helping to set the direction and support the well-being and development of team members

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 review the job description for a full list of roles and responsibilities.

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 essential criteria (for full details of all essential criteria please refer to the attached job description, you must review this to produce your statement of suitability):

Essential

• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, with the ability to tailor messages for the audience
• Experience of building and sustaining effective relationships with stakeholders.
• Interpersonal skills, and the ability to be an effective team player
• Skilled in the Microsoft office suite packages (specifically Excel, Word, Outlook and PowerPoint), as well as having experience of working with the principles of Project Management
• Experience of working in a fast-paced environment. Ability to prioritise effectively, enabling the team to make best use of available resources to deliver the Public Inquiry Preparation Plan

 Desirable

• Experience of working on the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic

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%

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours.

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT: 

You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed in line with the full list of essential criteria as detailed in the attached job description – 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 post will involve an interview by video. 

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.

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:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

 

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on 12th February 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: w/c 19th February 2024

Interviews: TBC

Please note these dates could be subject to change. 

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.