Head of Research Prioritisation

Job summary

The Research, Evidence and Knowledge team's role is to co-ordinate research and research-related activities across UKHSA with external partners and the wider public health research system nationally and internationally. We provide leadership, working especially with academic partners, to ensure that UKHSA research-based outputs, e.g. scientific publications, are of the highest quality. A significant focus is on the development and application of skills, capacity and resources to enhance how UKHSA and public health system partners deal with all sources of public health evidence.
We provide leadership for UKHSA to access, use, generate, synthesise, manage, mobilise and disseminate knowledge and evidence and the undertaking of research that meets organisational priorities and is ethical, lawful and quality assured, conducted with integrity and involving patients and the public in its design and conduct. We support UKHSA’s role in research capacity development and in attracting and developing research partnerships and collaborations with academia and other research active organisations.

We require an individual to lead the application of UKHSA’s research prioritisation framework, a robust, transparent, inclusive and responsive approach to identifying evidence gaps and prioritising research and evaluation questions, to inform activity in support of UKHSA’s remit.

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.

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

Job description

• Lead on the application and continued development of UKHSA’s Research Prioritisation Framework
• Reporting on the progress of the framework application and relevant exercises to the Science Governance Committee and other internal and external groups and committees
• Lead on high-priority, strategic research prioritisation exercises for UKHSA
• Coordinate, support and advise on the delivery of topic specific research prioritisation exercises ensuring the application of the framework and the methodology
• Deliver the research prioritisation capture tool, and develop and maintain a process for managing the associated data
• Lead the operational delivery of the incident Research and Scientific Evaluation cells including development activities for its continuous improvement and application of lessons learnt
• Lead on the coordination of capture of incident knowledge and evidence gaps
• Lead on the prioritisation of research and scientific evaluation needs during incidents
• Maintain a registry of knowledge and evidence gaps and research and scientific evaluation needs (with the Evaluation and Epidemiological Science Division) to inform and support high quality research grant applications
• Deliver training on prioritisation methodologies and monitor the implementation and application of the research prioritisation framework
• Work with UK Government funders for the consistent application of the UK Government Health and care research and development framework for pandemic preparedness, prevention and response and a future Chemical, Biological and Radiation Hazards Research Framework to ensure a systematic approach for the communication of research priorities
• Liaise with evidence review teams within and outside of UKHSA to understand emerging evidence gaps
• Coordinate the delivery of Areas of Research Interest for UKHSA
• Lead and manage the research prioritisation team

Please note this list is not exhaustive.

Person specification

You will be based in the Research Support and Governance Office team, which provides organisational-wide leadership in the coordination of research activity, expertise in research governance, management of ethical approvals, academic relationships, and liaison with funders to influence research investment for public health benefit.

This role will lead and have oversight of UKHSA’s research prioritisation activities and will lead the operational delivery of incident Research and Scientific Evaluation cells, working alongside the Evaluation and Epidemiological Science Division.

Research Prioritisation

The post-holder will lead the application and continued development of the research prioritisation framework. This will include leading high-priority research prioritisation exercises and the coordination of local and topic-specific prioritisation exercises, supporting, advising and guiding local specialist teams, to ensure the consistent application of the research prioritisation framework and prioritisation methodology, to maximise the impact of UKHSA’s research outputs. You will support the Deputy Director of Research, Evidence and Knowledge in articulating UKHSA’s research and scientific evaluation priorities to inform UKHSA’s activities and to influence research investment through UK Government and other funders of research.

Research and Scientific Evaluation cells (RSECs)

This role also leads the operational delivery of incident Research and Scientific Evaluation cells (RSECs). Within incident response in UKHSA, RSECs are responsible for coordinating activity to identify, prioritise and address major gaps in evidence to inform UKHSA’s response to incidents and emergencies. The postholder will be responsible for the operational delivery of the cell, supporting the cell leads in its function, including cell management, liaison with incident management team and other cell leads, coordination of activity within UKHSA and research partners, liaison with research funders and the application of the research prioritisation framework in this context. The postholder will also ensure continuous improvement of the cells through ongoing development activities and learning from incidents.

Personal and Professional Development

• Undergo a programme of on-going development and education, including the annual appraisal process, to build on existing knowledge and develop skills to meet the behaviours and competencies required to undertake the role.

Other

• 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. Staff may be asked to contribute to the preparedness for and response to major incidents and emergencies as required.

Essential role criteria:

• Post graduate degree in a relevant science discipline or equivalent experience, specifically including research
• Experience of leading in a project/programme management analytical role in a health research organisation
• Knowledge of prioritisation methodologies and awareness of rapid evidence and systematic review methods
• Previous experience in critical appraisal methods and/or collating information from literature or evidence reviews
• Knowledge of the UK health research environment and experience with working with multiple stakeholders in health research commissioning and academia
• Understanding of information governance including data protection and confidentiality requirements
• Able to build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with proven presentation and scientific report writing skills
• Proven capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly
• Ability to make decisions autonomously, engender trust and confidence and demonstrate integrity in the provision of advice and support
• Able to work under own initiative and respond to sudden unexpected demands whilst maintaining professionalism
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships

Desirable role criteria:

• Experience of research management
• Line management experience
• Experience in the delivery of training to a range of stakeholders

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £56,185, UK Health Security Agency contributes £16,276 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 is using Success Profiles and will assess your Experience, Behaviours, Strengths and Technical skills.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

Success profiles Success Profiles - GOV.UK

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 12 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• 1000 word supporting statement

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than 1000 words.

This should outline how your skills, 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 note you will not be able to upload your CV. You must 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

We will take "Meets all essential criteria" through to shortlisting.

Shortlisting:

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

• Post graduate degree in a relevant science discipline or equivalent experience, specifically including research

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 profiles - Success Profiles - GOV.UK

You will be invited to a single remote interview.

Behaviours, Strengths, Technical skills will be tested at interview.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be

• Seeing the big picture (lead behaviour)
• Leadership
• Working together
• Communicating and influencing

You will be expected to prepare and present a 5 minute presentation on Research Prioritisation.

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.

Additional Information

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 disclosure and barring security check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard.

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.

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

Grade 7

• £56,185- £66,581 (National)
• £58,340- £68,574 (Outer London)
• £60,494- £70,566 (Inner London)

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.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 : Tom Geldeard
• Email : Tom.Geldeard@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 UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: 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: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk