Emergency Preparedness Administrator

Job summary

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

UKHSA 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.

The UKHSA RCCE Radiation Emergency Response Group (ERG) coordinates and evaluates UKHSA’s radiological and nuclear emergency arrangements. Its work includes specialist emergency planning, staff training, participation in national and international exercises, and engagement with UK civil contingency partners and global organisations to strengthen emergency preparedness. ERG also delivers specialist training and technical services to external organisations involved in radiological and nuclear emergency planning.

In the event of a radiation emergency, ERG ensures senior staff receive the information, equipment and advice needed for an effective response, and that complex scientific information is communicated clearly.

ERG is recruiting an Emergency Preparedness Administrator to support:

• UKHSA’s radiation emergency preparedness, resilience and response activities, including maintaining systems, supporting training programmes and organising internal and external emergency exercises;
• ERG’s engagement with external stakeholders to develop radiation emergency preparedness arrangements and policies.

Job description

The post holder will work within a small specialist team. Key duties include:

• Maintaining radiation emergency response plans, ensuring they're kept up to date and reviewed regularly by ERG scientists
• Maintaining records of staff training and exercise participation;
• Organising internal and external training courses, including logistics, delegate contact, course material collation, and feedback analysis. This also involves liaison with scientists in ERG on course material provision;
• Organisation of emergency exercise participation, including logistics, procurement, participation according to response role and setting up facilities
• Maintaining response systems, databases and facilities, including lessons management, periodic equipment checks and staff access to online resources;
• Arranging and attending meetings within UKHSA and externally, in person and over MS Teams, producing minutes and managing associated records;
• Assisting scientists in implementing emergency preparedness and response systems;
• Providing general support to team members with organisational and administrative activities, including assistance with managing documentation, scheduling, and maintaining accurate records
• The role involves some UK travel with occasional overnight stays.
• As a Civil Servant, the post holder may also be required to undertake additional duties as reasonably required and appropriate to the grade.

Emergency Response

As a Category 1 responder, under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, UKHSA has a set of civil protection responsibilities which it must fulfil in the response to any emergency or major incident. Post holders will be expected to contribute to the preparedness for and response to major incidents and emergencies as required. These include:

• Participation in the UKHSA response to radiological emergencies under an allocated role within the UKHSA Radiation Emergency Plan;
• Response in emergencies and during exercises may include working unsociable hours;
• Development and maintenance of staff competencies in UK nuclear emergency arrangements and response structures to ensure we can respond effectively to an emergency;

Assist in the maintenance and development of national and international radiation emergency preparedness and response arrangements.

Person specification

Essential criteria

• A-levels in subjects such as Sciences, Maths and English or equivalent experience in a role such as administration or procurement.
• Experience in managing information assets.
• Experience in writing meeting reports and briefing documents, including proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 applications.
• Experience of organising staffing logistics.
• Numerate and able to understand financial issues.
• Ability to remain focused on a task and concentrate on the matter in hand.
• Excellent organisational skills, including capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly.
• High level of commitment to delivering excellent customer service and continuous improvement.
• Adaptable and resourceful. Able to manage and prioritise a personal portfolio of short and long term work, to make decisions autonomously, when required, working to tight and often changing timescales.
• Ability to rapidly analyse a situation and develop practical solutions to problems.

Desirable criteria

• Evidence of further interest of emergency preparedness.
• Experience in training and exercise design, delivery and evaluation.
• Knowledge of UK multi-agency emergency response arrangements.
• Experience in the development of advice in radiological protection.
• Experience of successfully operating in a politically sensitive environment.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £30,441, UK Health Security Agency contributes £8,818 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• 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

This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your qualifications, knowledge and experience and / or skills and abilities outlined in the essential criteria.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 10 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• 1500 word supporting statement.

This should outline how you consider your skills, experience and knowledge provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.

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

If used, the pile ‘Meets all essential criteria’ will proceed to shortlisting.

Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we may conduct an initial sift, on the lead criteria of:

• A-levels in subjects such as Sciences, Maths and English or equivalent experience in a role such as administration or procurement
• Experience in managing information assets.
• Ability to remain focused on a task and concentrate on the matter in hand.

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.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview

You will be invited to a single face to face interview. If face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview

There will be a 5-10 minute presentation on "Your interpretation of the requirements of the Radiation Emergency Preparedness Administrator role."

Interviews dates to be confirmed.

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

Location

This is an office based role which is predominantly based at our Scientific Campus in Chilton (Didcot), however there may be an option for some hybrid working, which can be discussed with the successful candidate.

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 Counter-Terrorist Check.

When based at our scientific campus, you will be required to have a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum. 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 3 years as the role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance. In exceptional circumstances 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.

Eligibility Criteria

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

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.

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

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.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist 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.

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

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 : Timor Miakhel
• Email : timor.miakhel@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: Home - Civil Service Commission

http://www.healthjobsuk.com/vacancy/7896093