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 Science, Research and Evidence (SRE) Directorate is responsible for a R&D budget of over £1.3 billion in domestic and international health, delivered through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the UK’s largest health and care research funder. We support the Secretary of State for Health and Care, Ministers and Senior Officials in DHSC and its Arms Length Bodies (ALBs) by commissioning and managing leading edge research to inform national policy decisions across the health, care and public health systems as well as a programme of global health research.

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

We are looking for an enthusiastic individual who can develop strong relationships and work across organisational boundaries to address strategic issues and deliver joint goals. A fundamental element of the role will be to engage and strengthen links with key stakeholders across government and with funders and academia. Activity will be varied, fast paced and high profile and so we are looking for self-motivated staff who thrives in demanding but highly collaborative environments. You will need to manage challenging situations, and complex problems with tact and leadership. Confidence in making decisions and excellent communication skills will enable you to deliver at pace to manage the competing priorities of the role. There is also likely to be an opportunity to lead and contribute to other areas of work and to develop broad intelligence on a range of NIHR research areas.

Job description

We are seeking a G7 Senior Research Liaison Manager in the dynamic Health Protection Team within the Deputy Chief Scientific Advisor and Health Protection Branch. The role provides an exciting and challenging opportunity for an experienced research and partnerships manager to work with senior stakeholders and policy makers, establish a strong interface between policy makers and academic researchers and lead the commissioning and management of a high-profile research portfolio that includes:

• 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.
• Trauma including traumatic brain injury.

The successful applicant may also be required to work on other priority areas in the team.

Person specification

Role responsibilities

• Lead on the commissioning and management of new research relevant to area including identifying and prioritising evidence gaps, ensuring value for money and adherence to budget and delivery of results that have maximum impact and meet the differing needs of policy makers.
• Represent SRE and the Health Protection team on external committees and research commissioning panels.
• Build knowledge of research nationally and internationally. Acting as focal point for collaboration and engagement with policy and analytical teams across DHSC, NIHR, OGDs and external partners.
• Demonstrate robust analytical and critical thinking skills - being able to critically assess information and evidence from a variety of sources to synthesis robust advice and recommendations.
• Act as a conduit for research between academia, other science providers and policy officials. Building trusting and effective partnerships to deliver joint goals.
• Support the work of SRE in providing briefings to Ministers and Senior Officials and other parliamentary work. Presenting complex issues clearly and persuasively with excellent written and verbal communication.
• Project management skills and a flexible and adaptable approach to work across a range of science and health related topics.
• Understand of the role health research plays in improving the health of the nation and its contribution to economic growth.

Key skills and experience required for the role

• Science degree is essential, ideally in biological/biomedical science.
• A demonstrable understanding and interest in research funding and management.
• Experience of providing leadership to and managing team members.
• Ability to present complex information in a clear, concise, and persuasive manner.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively, build relationships and coordinate across different teams and organisations.
• Proven ability to deliver at pace, juggling long- and short-term demands.
• Ability to confidently interact with senior scientists/academics as well as senior staff.
• Friendly, driven team player.
• Willingness to get SC clearance, if not already obtained.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £53,116, Department of Health and Social Care contributes £14,341 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: expected W/C 15/01/2024

Interview date: expected W/C 29/01/2024

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.

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 750 words) outline how you meet the key skills and experience required for the role as set out in the job advert. 

Please complete statements on the specified Behaviours (250 word max per statement)

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

An initial sift based on your CV and the 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.

Candidates will be asked a presentation which will assess the Behaviour: Seeing the Big Picture. 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 

Further Information

Applicants who are appointable but were not successful in appointment to this vacancy, may be held on a reserve list for up to 12 months, and contacted if similar vacancies become available. 

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. 

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.

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

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.

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.

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.