Public Health Manager

Job summary

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Public Health and Social Measures (PHSM) - supported by community testing - proved to be an indispensable strategy alongside vaccines and therapeutics. However, the duration of PHSM implementation also resulted in negative health and socioeconomic impacts for individuals, communities and our society. As outlined in the WHO Mosaic Respiratory Surveillance Framework, it is vital that we can monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of PHSM, so that PHSM implementation is based on the best evidence, and negative consequences can be mitigated wherever possible.

The position holder will lead an agency-wide expert working group - and develop relationships with counterparts in other government departments and the Devolved Administrations - to develop a PHSM monitoring and evaluation framework that will set out a Theory of Change (ToC) to support PHSM evaluation. The position holder will subsequently take forward the framework and lead on the design of an implementation plan for monitoring and evaluation of a suite of respiratory PHSM interventions, to enable UKHSA to be in a state of readiness for the next pandemic threat.

Working for your organisation

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.

Job description

• Support the development of the PHSM Monitoring and Evaluation framework
• Design of an implementation plan for monitoring and evaluation of a suite of respiratory PHSM interventions
• Identify and collaborate with counterparts in other government departments and the Devolved Administrations
• Work with the UKHSA Emergency Planning and Resilience Response (EPRR) team to embed engagement and accessible communications in UKHSA incident planning and response
• Contribute to the UKHSA response during incidents in line with UKHSA’s Emergency Planning and Resilience Response (EPRR) arrangements.
• Provide expertise to teams in UKHSA on how to package information for different audiences and effectively communicate to catalyse action by partners and the public
• Lead work within the Health Equity and Inclusion Health Division to ensure our evidence and outputs are communicated effectively to different audiences, in line with our communications strategy
• Provide expertise to the division to support divisional business planning and ongoing programme management, working closely with the Directorate Senior Programme manager to embed processes

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Master’s in Public health, or higher degree in a related subject, or evidence of CPD in public health and documented experience at master’s level practice
• Substantial experience in a public health role at a senior level with knowledge and expertise in PHSM or Evaluation sciences
• Proven experience and ability to prioritise own work effectively and be able to direct activities of/to others including managing and motivating a team and reviewing individual standards
• Co-ordination and management of public health projects and initiatives (e.g. quality improvement and/or research)
• Knowledge and understanding of the wider public health agenda, and working knowledge of the principles of epidemiology
• Effective verbal, written and presentation communication skills; capable of constructing and delivering clear ideas and concepts concisely and accurately for diverse audiences, and proficient in the use of Microsoft Office including Word, and Excel
• Evidence of ongoing CPD and committed to self-development and willing to share experience with others to influence practice
• Proven capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly
• Evidence of ability to handle challenging issues taking a problem-solving approach to ensure proactive and effective resolution
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, and in relation to management systems and has the ability to take actions which support and promote this agenda

Desirable criteria

• Current registration with an appropriate health or science related professional body
• Experience of facilitating and maintaining quality and governance frameworks, including robust audit and service improvement practices
• Ability to identify areas for policy development and experience of delivering these for service improvement utilising a variety of literature and resources
• Experience of building trusted stakeholder relationships and networks in a politically sensitive and/or changing environment
• Experience of project principles techniques and tools such as Prince 2 and Managing Successful Projects
• Ability to interpret and analyse complex and/or sensitive information in a concise yet insightful way, pre-empting and evaluating issues and recommending appropriate course of action(s)
• Experience of leadership within a changing environment

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 Behaviours, Strengths, Experience 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 (10) essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• Up to 1,000 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 1,000 words. We will not consider any words over 1,000 words.

Longlisting:

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

1. Meets all essential criteria
2. Meets some essential criteria
3. Meets no essential criteria

If used, the following will proceed to shortlisting:

1. Meets all essential criteria

Shortlisting

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

• Masters in Public Health, or higher degree in a related subject, or evidence of CPD in public health and documented experience at masters level practice.

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, Experience and Technical skills will be tested at interview.

You will be asked to prepare and present a 5 minute presentation, which will be assessing the following:

• Knowledge and understanding of the wider public health agenda, and working knowledge of the principles of epidemiology

Further details will be provided at interview stage.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions – Lead behaviour
• Working 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.

Location

This is a homeworking role.

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.

Grade 7

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

Fixed term posts

If you are not currently a civil servant, you will take up the post on a Fixed Term appointment. You may be able to take this role up as a Secondment. If you are an existing Civil Servant, based outside of the UKHSA, you will take up the post as a loan which you will need your department to agree. You cannot take the post up as a fixed term. If you are an existing UKHSA member of staff, you will take up the post as either a level transfer or a temporary promotion as per the UKHSA’s Pay policy.

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.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Link below:

Artificial intelligence and recruitment , Civil Service Careers

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 : Gurkamal Bhambra
• Email : gurkamal.bhambra@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