Head of Delivery

Job summary

Our vision is that UKHSA’s Digital Development and Operations division delivers efficient, world-leading services that work every time, for everyone. As Head of Delivery, you will set the standards for agile delivery management across DDO and beyond, exemplifying what good looks like across the delivery roles and building a high-performing, capable delivery community.

You will be a recognised expert in agile and lean practices, a credible subject matter expert in your profession, and a proactive leader and constructive member of DDO’s leadership team. You will develop an understanding of the strategic outcomes your teams are working towards, and plan and conduct your work to enable your Delivery Leads in the delivery of those outcomes — aligning new and existing work to UKHSA’s priorities and delivering maximum benefit from limited resources.

You will represent and champion the delivery profession within UKHSA, across government and in industry, working with other Heads of Profession to promote effective cross-functional delivery and acting as an ambassador for UKHSA in all external engagements. This role is based on a hybrid working model, with travel to UKHSA offices 3d/w.

Job description

• Coach & lead teams in agile and lean practices as a recognised expert, continuously challenging teams, improving ways of working
• Accountable for delivery pace and quality across the DDO portfolio focussed on outcomes, actively addressing risks, issues & dependencies, and identifying innovative ways to unblock issues
• Lead continual planning process across and beyond the DDO product and services portfolio in a very complex environment, identifying dependencies, coordinating delivery & feeding into CDO Portfolio reporting
• Implement organisational re-designs & lead on strategy for the whole organisation, joining up business needs with innovative analysis
• Identify & challenge organisational processes, coaching the organisation to inspect and adapt and guiding teams to adopt new approaches
• Mediate & mend relationships, communicating with stakeholders at all levels, collaborating to manage risk and complexity. Represent the delivery community to large audiences inside and outside of UKHSA
• Lead the delivery management community of practice, build culture, capability and excellence across the profession, and be responsible for recruitment
• Manage strategic commercial partnerships and act as the escalation point for large or high-risk commercial management issues. Coach others in appropriate commercial management
• Influence business demand & prioritisation as a member of senior management meetings and deputise for the Head of Digital Products and Services as required

As Head of Delivery, you are the most senior delivery management practitioner within UKHSA’s Digital Development and Operations division. You will exemplify what good looks like across the delivery roles, represent and champion the delivery profession within UKHSA and across government, and lead the delivery management community of practice to build capability and excellence in agile and lean practice.

You will set the standards for agile delivery management across DDO and support your Delivery Leads in delivering strategic outcomes, overseeing the DDO portfolio of digital products and services. You will be a proactive leader and constructive member of the DDO senior leadership team, responsible for the strategic alignment of delivery work to UKHSA’s priorities, the management of complex stakeholder relationships, and the continuous improvement of delivery practice across the organisation.

This role leads the delivery community and profession. It requires expert-level capability across all core delivery management skills, from agile and lean practices to team dynamics, planning, stakeholder communication and organisational change, combined with the credibility and influence to drive strategic delivery outcomes at the highest level.

Core Responsibilities (see Delivery manager - Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework)

• Agile and Lean Practices
• Maintaining Delivery Momentum
• Planning
• Team Dynamics and Collaboration
• Making the Process Work
• Communicating Between the Technical and Non-Technical
• Community Leadership and Capability
• Commercial and Financial Management
• Lifecycle Perspective

Working Relationships

The Head of Delivery reports to the Head of Digital Products and Services and is a key member of the DDO leadership team. The role is accountable for the performance and development of the delivery management community across DDO, with direct responsibility for Senior Delivery Managers and accountability for their teams.

Internal:

• Deputy Director for Digital Development and Operations
• Head of Digital Products and Services
• Senior Delivery Managers and delivery management community across DDO
• Heads of Profession across the DDO senior leadership team
• Product, engineering, design and data colleagues
• Finance, commercial and programme management colleagues
• Senior business stakeholders and key sponsors across UKHSA

External:

• Government delivery and agile communities of practice
• Cross-government Heads of Profession networks
• Industry and professional delivery management communities
• GDS Governance colleagues
• DHSC & Cabinet Office Governance colleagues
• Partners

This list is not exhaustive.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Significant demonstrable experience of delivering complex digital products and services in UK Government, Health or similar heavily regulated environment, adopting product and user centric mindsets and championing agile ways of working
• Significant demonstrable experience in planning beyond product delivery, navigating cross-service dependencies, addressing the most complicated risks, unblocking issues and coaching others as the central point of expertise.
• Previous experience as a Delivery Lead, ideally at Head of Delivery level, with a strong track record of leading delivery management communities and building capability across the profession.
• Strong relationship management skills, with confident and convincing presentation skills, excellent verbal and written communication and influencing skills at all levels, including senior and executive stakeholders, technical and non-technical audiences and internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to work in an ambiguous environment, clarifying strategies and plans, and giving a sense of direction and purpose for self and team.
• Commercial and Financial Management experience
• Self-motivated and able to work remotely and autonomously as part of a distributed leadership team.
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in day-to-day practice and in relation to management systems.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience delivering across lifecycle.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £70,797, UK Health Security Agency contributes £20,509 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

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

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours, Experience & Technical skills.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

Success profilesSuccess Profiles - GOV.UK

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 8 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.

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500.

Longlisting:

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

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

If used, the pile(s) that 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:

• Significant demonstrable experience of delivering complex digital products and services in UK Government, Health or similar heavily regulated environment, adopting product and user centric mindsets and championing agile ways of working
• Significant demonstrable experience in planning beyond product delivery, navigating cross-service dependencies, addressing the most complicated risks, unblocking issues and coaching others as the central point of expertise.
• Strong relationship management skills, with confident and convincing presentation skills, excellent verbal and written communication and influencing skills at all levels, including senior and executive stakeholders, technical and non-technical audiences and internal and external stakeholders.

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

Success profilesSuccess Profiles - GOV.UK

You will be invited to a single face to faceinterview at our Scientific Campus in Colindale, London

When face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

Behaviours, Experience & Technical skills will be tested at interview in the form of questions.

There will be a Presentation. This should be no longer than 10 minutes long and will be based around leading a complex delivery portfolio - scenario based.

If invited to interview, more details will be shared.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

• Lead Behaviour - Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communication and Influencing
• Developing Self and Others

Interviews dates are 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.

Please Note - For roles where specific qualifications or registrations are required, successful applicants will be asked to provide appropriate evidence. Employment cannot commence until satisfactory documentation has been received and verified.

Eligibility Criteria

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

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at any of our Core HQs. 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 HQs (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London). Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport links and benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a standard 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 Check

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) 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.

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. Please be aware that the salary is based on the office location.

Grade 6

• £70,797-£81,450 (National)
• £72,950- £83,443 (Outer London)
• £75,104- £85,436 (Inner London)

This position also offers Market Pay Supplement (MPS) of up to £10k which is subject to review on 31/03/2027.

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: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/

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 https://gov.uk/ukhsa/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 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.

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