3PL Operations Contract Lead

Job summary

This role sits at the operational heart of the UK’s health security and preparedness capability.

As 3PL Operations Contract Lead, you will be responsible for the day-to-day operational oversight of third-party logistics (3PL) providers delivering vaccines and medical countermeasures across the UK.

You will act as the operational lead for the contract, ensuring that logistics services are reliable, resilient and compliant. The primary focus is on operational delivery, assurance and performance.

Job description

• Lead the day-to-day operational management of the 3PL provider, ensuring consistent delivery of storage, handling and distribution services.
• Provide assurance that vaccines and medical countermeasures are managed in line with agreed service standards and regulatory requirements
• Maintain oversight of warehousing capacity, transport arrangements, inventory levels and distribution performance
• Act as the first point of contact for operational issues, coordinating rapid resolution and ensuring continuity of service.
• Monitor operational performance against agreed measures, identifying trends, risks and opportunities for improvement.
• Work closely with internal stakeholders across operations, Commercial and Finance to align logistics delivery with wider objectives.
• Build effective working relationships with the 3PL’s operational teams, fostering a collaborative and solution-focused approach.
• Identify and manage operational risks and dependencies across the supply chain, maintaining clear audit trails and assurance documentation.
• Ensure compliance with relevant standards and regulations, such as Good Distribution Practice (GDP), health and safety and information security, and engage Quality teams where required
• Provide regular operational reporting, briefings and updates to senior leaders, including during incidents or periods of heightened demand.
• Work in partnership with commercial and finance colleagues to support contract governance, variations and performance discussions.
• Provide operational insight and evidence to inform commercial decisions, contract changes and future service design.
• Escalate contractual or performance issues where operational delivery is at risk, supporting proportionate and timely action.
• Maintain and regularly review governance frameworks, policies, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure accuracy, compliance, and alignment with organisational and regulatory requirements.

Please note this list is not exhaustive.

Person specification

Essential criteria:

• Strong experience in operational delivery, service management or supply chain operations
• Experience managing or overseeing third-party providers, with a focus on day-to-day service performance and issue resolution.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work across organisational boundaries and disciplines.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, including briefing senior leaders on operational issues.
• Proficient in Excel and used to working with it in a logistics operations environment
• Experience in logistics, warehousing, transport or 3PL environments.

Desirable criteria:

• Exposure to healthcare, pharmaceuticals, vaccines or cold-chain operations.
• Understanding of public sector governance and contract management principles.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £41,983, UK Health Security Agency contributes £12,162 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce. UKHSA's 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.

• 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 employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Selection Process

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

This vacancy is using Success Profiles

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 6 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of an:

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• 500 word supporting statement statement

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 500 words. We will not consider any words over 500 words.

This should outline how your experience and knowledge provide evidence of your suitability for the role.

You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. (The application form is the kind of information you would put into your C.V –please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible). Please do not email us your CV.

Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we may longlist into 3 piles of:

• Meets no essential criteria
• Meets some essential criteria
• Meets all essential criteria

Only those who meet ALL essential criteria will proceed through to shortlisting.

Shortlisting: If we receive a large number of applications an initial sift against the lead criteria may be conducted on the lead criteria of:

• Strong experience in operational delivery, service management or supply chain operations.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work across organisational boundaries and disciplines.
• Proficient in Excel and used to working with it in a logistics operations environment.

Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications/large amount of successful candidates.

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

Please note feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview (success profiles)

You will be invited to a remote interview.

This vacancy is being assessed using Success Profiles. During the interview we will assess you against the below:

Behaviours

• Making effective decisions
• Lead Behaviour - Managing a quality service
• Delivering at pace
• Communicating and influencing

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Eligibility Criteria

External: Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including internal applicants).

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a basic disclosure and barring security check before they can be appointed.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Security Clearance. For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 5 years as the role requires / Security Check (SC) clearance. UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder / Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at any of our Core HQ’s. We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using 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 core HQ’s (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London)

Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport link and benefit from benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Salary Information

If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.

Senior Executive Officer (SEO)

• £41,983- £48,128 (National)
• £44,148- £50,121 (Outer London)
• £46,310- £52,113 (Inner London)

Please note: The Chief Operating Officer (COO) group, where this role sits, is undergoing organisational change over the next 12–18 months. While the process is still in the planning stage, some roles may be affected by future restructuring. We are committed to keeping candidates informed and will share updates as they become available.

Future location
UKHSA is investing in a new state-of-the-art National Biosecurity Centre in Harlow, Essex, which will eventually bring together teams currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale and Porton Down. For more details, please see:Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection - GOV.UK The new facilities will start becoming operational in the mid-2030s, with full completion by 2038. Staff will move in phases as facilities become available. If you're appointed to a role currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale or Porton Down, please note that we'll continue investing in these sites for the next decade. As we get closer to the transition, we'll provide full information about relocation support available to staff.

Reasonable Adjustments
The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone. To help you during the recruitment process, we will consider any reasonable adjustments that could help you. An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work. This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme. If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs. You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: Reasonable Adjustments , Civil Service Careers

International Police check
If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and it could be time accrued over that period.

Internal Fraud Check
This does not need to be included on EOI adverts. If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant’s personal details – name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub, and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional circumstances. Currently this is only for external candidates to the Civil Service.

Careers website
Please visit our careers site for more information UKHSA Hub , Civil Service Careers

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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : John Inglis
• Email : john.inglis@ukhsa.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk

Further information

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 the UKHSA Complaints team via email at: Complaints@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 for further information: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk