MREL Senior Officer (GOARN)

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.

UKHSA’s Global Health Protection Directorate, part of the Chief Medical Advisor (CMA) Group coordinates a range of global health projects (GHPs), including supporting UKHSA’s commitment to the WHO Global Alert and Response Network (GOARN). The Monitoring, Reporting, Evaluation and Learning (MREL) Senior Officer will work with the GHP MEL and Assurance Manager to implement and further develop the GOARN monitoring, evaluation, reporting and learning framework, and support GOARN colleagues in delivering the Public Health Team Strategic Grouping and maturity assessment model. WHO hosts the GOARN Secretariat and Operations Support Team and requires a robust Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework for its 2022–2026 strategy. The role will involve close collaboration with the WHO HQ Operations Support Team and GOARN partners worldwide to monitor and evaluate progress, ensure value for money, and support delivery of GOARN’s remit within the Global Health Emergency Corps and wider emergency preparedness and response initiatives.

Job description

The post holder will provide timely monitoring, evaluation and learning expertise, develop MREL processes, and generate evidence to inform reporting and strengthen project delivery. They will also support capacity building across GOARN to enhance colleagues’ ability to measure results and apply the
framework. The role includes facilitating GOARN strategic groupings and their technical outputs.

The post holder will translate high-quality evidence into practical solutions, deliver timely findings to guide decisions, and help demonstrate clear results, impact and value for money, including in areas where outcomes are harder to measure.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Implement GOARNs M&E plan This includes leading collaboratively with the GOARN team on:

• Planning and developing monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities to enable reporting to senior internal and external stakeholders of GOARN activities
• Qualitative and quantitative evidence generation across GOARN activities
• Designing internal project evaluations
• Interpretation of findings to inform learning
• Building MREL knowledge and skills of colleagues in the GOARN secretariat
• Support the management and facilitation of GOARN strategic groupings, including (but not limited to) the Public Health Team grouping; the Diagnostic Surge Capacity (DiSC) grouping and others.
• Review MREL systems and procedures to ensure project quality assurance and consistency across projects; both in HQ and regions.
• Compile a variety of regular project monitoring data and information and analyse this to produce reports and other documentation for different internal and external senior stakeholders.
• Ensure timely analysis of findings to translate evidence into pragmatic solutions and tools and advice to contribute to continuous improvement of project activities.
• Occasional travel to WHO HQ, Geneva

This list is not exhaustive.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

The post holder will develop working relationships and communicate regularly with a wide range of individuals, clinical and non-clinical, internal and external to UKHSA. This will include;

Internal

• GHP Senior MEL and Assurance manager
• UK Public Health Rapid Support Team (UK-PHRST) and Global Health Security (GHS) teams
• UKHSA subject matter experts
• UKHSA and UK-PHRST GOARN Focal Point
• Global Operations central MEL team

External

• GOARN strategy team, management (Operational Support Team), partners and WHO experts
• GOARN strategic groups and GOARN partners within those groups.
• Deploying (response) GOARN partners.
• External auditors and MREL/project management specialists
• GOARN stakeholders in partner countries and regions

Person specification

Essential criteria :

• Degree in science, international or health subjects or equivalent experience in the global public health sector.
• In depth knowledge and practical experience of using the main tools if M&E: Theory of Change, Logframes, MREL plans, indicator development
• Experience of qualitative and / or quantitative tools, systems and methods, maturity models and workforce evaluation.
• Experience with global public health response or international development organisations in designing, implementing and management of monitoring and evaluation in the health sector.
• Experience of developing a range of (non-technical) staff in subject area.
• Excellent communication skills including the ability to train and develop others and to relay complex technical information to non-technical audience to ensure understanding.
• Ability to analyse complex issues where material is conflicting and drawn from multiple sources and present in visually engaging ways.
• Able to work independently as well as part of a team.
• Demonstrates commitment to continuous learning and improvement
• Confident working with senior colleagues, stakeholders and high-profile delegates.

Desirable criteria:

• Understanding of the public health / public sector and global public health infrastructure especially in Low, middle-income countries.
• Ability to make quick, informed decision in an independent manner.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,310, UK Health Security Agency contributes £13,416 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

Competency Based

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)
• 800 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, but your supporting statement must be no more than 800 words. We will not consider any words over 800 words.

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:

• In depth knowledge and practical experience of using the main tools if M&E: Theory of Change, Logframes, MREL plans, indicator development

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

Competency Based

You will be invited to a single remote interview.

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

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 role is being offered as hybrid working based at our core HQ in London, Canary Wharf. 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 our office. 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 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 Baseline Personnel Security Standard.

Eligibility Criteria

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

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

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.

Senior Executive Officer (SEO)

• £46,310- £52,113 (Inner London)

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 : Nigel Poole
• Email : Nigel.Poole@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