Operational Strategy Manager

Job summary

The Operational Strategy team leverages collective expertise, and our policy and strategy skill sets to drive strategic initiatives to ensure operational excellence. We foster collaboration to support the organisation's mission and strategic priorities that cover vaccines and countermeasures activity.

The team leads and coordinates work across multiple strands, focusing on continuous improvement across key vaccines and countermeasures work and identifying future strategic needs. Our team anticipates operational and strategic requirements and drives initiatives across the Vaccines and Countermeasures Delivery (VCD) teams, including providing strategic advice, coordinating options analysis, implementing delivery model changes that affect multiple programmes, and holistic consideration of how to maximise benefit from long-term agreements.

We are currently seeking two (2) Operational Strategy Managers to join the VCD team.

Job description

As part of these roles, you would be contributing to the team’s main duties and responsibilities, which are:

• Cross-Functional Leadership - ensure seamless integration and collaboration across the Vaccines and Countermeasures Delivery and counterpart areas to ensure there is one UKHSA voice.
• Strategic Planning - develop and set near and longer-term operational strategy interventions for vaccine and countermeasures supply, procurement and operations as required. Anticipate future needs and driving improvement efforts.
• End-to-end Systems Design - shape and support work for end-to-end systems design of new approaches to delivering vaccine and countermeasures initiatives.
• External Collaboration - serve as the primary contact point for vaccines and countermeasures, briefing Ministers, engaging in policy discussions with DHSC and UKHSA, discussing strategy with NHSE, and collaborating with Devolved Government policy counterparts.

• Internal Coordination - integrate expertise from team members as needed and act as a triage point for external inquiries.

This is not an exhaustive list, and the above is only an outline of the main duties and responsibilities required of the role.

As an SEO in the Operational Strategy team, you will be working in a dynamic area with a diverse workload. You will gain an understanding of the entirety of the UK’s vaccine supply processes, from clinical advice through to delivery of vaccines. You will get exposure to, and be able to influence, a range of critical government decision making processes; have the opportunity to advise on a range of health decisions that contribute to the health and wellbeing of the UK; and expand your strategic health policy expertise and network.

Core components of the role include:

• Support the development and implementation of strategy for key high value, new or novel vaccine and countermeasures programmes, ensuring that a wide range of inputs are considered and that proposals are evidence-based.
• Produce and commission fit-for-purpose briefings and other inputs that can effectively inform and influence at a variety of fora and to a range of stakeholders, including Ministers and senior officials. These products must be factual and demonstrate an understanding of the current health system operating environment as well as an appreciation of emerging challenges and their potential impacts.
• Reliably complete project and programme reporting when required in order to feed into governance and project management processes.
• Build collaborative relationships and conduct extensive engagement with a wide range of relevant stakeholders across the UKHSA, Whitehall and the private sector.
• Represent the team at a variety of meetings and provide accurate and useful contributions to consultations.
• Shape work on Devolved Government relationships where central procurement is relevant and potentially contentious, including future charging mechanisms. Where needed, design and conduct workshops on different approaches and involve wider stakeholders where necessary to inform approach.

This is not an exhaustive list, and the above is only an outline of the core components required of the role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by your line manager.

The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the division and the UKHSA.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Experience in developing and influencing policy and strategy, including identifying issues and recommending solutions.
• Ability to, with minimal support, deliver high quality submissions and written briefs at pace.
• Well-developed stakeholder engagement skills and ability to build new networks.
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office suite, particularly PowerPoint and Excel.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience supporting the delivery of change within a project or organisation.
• Experience in, or understanding of, the UK and/or international health systems and policy.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

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.

• 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%

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: UKHSA Hub , Civil Service Careers

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 (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours.

Application & Sift

At sift stage you will be assessed against the Essential Criteria listed in this job advert.

You will be required to complete an:

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• Up to 750 word supporting statement

Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 1,500 but your supporting statement must be no more than 750 words. We will not consider any words over 750 words.

This should outline how your skills, abilities, experience and knowledge provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the Essential Criteria listed in this job advertisement.

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 CV – 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

Only those that 'Meet all Essential Criteria' will progress to Shortlisting.

Shortlisting

In the event of a large number of applications, we may conduct an initial sift on the following Essential Criteria:

• Experience in developing and influencing policy and strategy, including identifying issues and recommending solutions

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

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

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Interview

You will be invited to a remote interview.

Interview dates to be confirmed.

Behaviours will be tested at interview.

The Behaviours being assessed during interview will be as follows:

• Seeing The Big Picture - Lead Behaviour
• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

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

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

Salary Information

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

SEO (Inner): £46,310 - £52,113

SEO (Outer): £44,148 - £50,121

SEO (National): £41,983 - £48,128

Per annum, pro rata

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.

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at any of our Core HQs - Birmingham (B2 4BH), Liverpool (L3 1DS), Leeds (LS2 7UE) and London (E14 4PU).

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). 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).

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.

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.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

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 : Sarah Handy
• Email : sarah.handy@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

http://www.healthjobsuk.com/job/v7739838