Public Health Project Officer

Job summary

The postholder will work within the UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs) Health Security Programme at UKHSA. The programme, which is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) through its Overseas Territories Resilient Economies and Security & Stability programme, works collaboratively to strengthen health systems that prevent, detect and respond to health emergencies and threats in the UKOTs. This is achieved through the provision of technical expertise and support across the Public Health field from Health Protection to Health Promotion and Health Intelligence, both for communicable and non-communicable diseases, and other hazards.

The post holder will:

• Support the programme to fulfil and facilitate the programme objectives, particularly within the Health Promotion/Resilient Communities activities of the team.
• Provide technical support for work regarding non-communicable diseases, mental health and wellbeing, vulnerable populations and healthy behaviours in the UKOTs.
• Demonstrate highly developed communication skills, be able to work in a team and independently.
• Be able to engage effectively and develop excellent working relationships with a wide range of individuals and stakeholders both internally and externally.

While the post is based in the UK, occasional international travel may be required.

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.

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

Job description

The role of the Public Health Project Officer covers a diverse range of activities to support the delivery of the UKOTs programme objectives, which will typically be high in complexity and working across the UKOTs and with a range of internal and external stakeholders.

Providing direct support to the Public Health Technical Advisor, the Consultant in Global Public Health for Resilient Communities, and other technical leads in the delivery of the UKOTs Programme. You will lead on, and project manage specific strands as directed, working with other members of the team, and building and maintaining relationships with international and UK partners to deliver on the programme.

You will enable the smooth running of the programme by supporting the Public Health Technical Advisor and Consultant in Global Public Health through the operation of programme/project management processes, and the co-ordination of business management actions and activities on their behalf as well as the opportunity to provide technical input to the programme.

The post can be flexibly based but semi-regular attendance at UKHSAs central London office will be required for project meetings. In addition, the post may involve international travel for short durations (typically up to two weeks) to partner countries.

Support to the UKOTs programme, including but not limited to:

• Provide technical advice as appropriate on a range of public health issues, including non-communicable diseases, healthy behaviour, vulnerable populations and mental health & wellbeing, supported by both the public health technical advisor and consultant in public health for Resilient Communities.
• Develop, implement and maintain systems to enable effective planning and scheduling for the Health Promotion/Resilient Communities activities within the UKOTs programme.
• Implement and manage project controls, reporting on the project status by producing project performance reports (internally and externally).

• Manage and monitor compliance of projects in line with UKHSA and ODA guidelines and legislation, including Health & Safety, Equality & Diversity, Security and Safeguarding.

• Support the Public Health Technical Advisor with administrating, supporting and managing meetings involving multiple partners across a range of organisations. Preparing agendas, papers, taking minutes, and writing reports.

• Build and maintain strong professional relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, including Chief Medical Officers and Governor’s offices in UKOTs. This will require strong presentation skills, influencing and negotiating skills.

• Manage risks and issues, including strategic risks. Provide regular reporting on risks and escalate as appropriate.

• Provide project support to technical teams in the delivery of their workplans and the wider programme implementation plan.

The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes 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 organisation.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Master’s degree in Public Health or equivalent experience gained through substantial professional practice in public health, population health, healthcare improvement, or health promotion programmes.
• Experience working on international projects or programmes.
• Demonstrable experience of supporting delivery in a project or programme environment, including planning, scheduling, and adapting to changing priorities.
• Ability to collate, analyse, and interpret financial, service, activity or research data, and translate findings into clear insights for varied audiences.
• Proven ability to build and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including government, community organisations, and delivery partners.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly and influence decision-making.
• Knowledge of best practice in community engagement, including co-production and inclusive approaches to improving health outcomes.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, work under pressure, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work autonomously on complex workstreams involving multiple dependencies and stakeholders.
• Working knowledge of project management methodologies and frameworks.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) to support analysis, reporting, and presentation.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of managing risks and issues, and contributing to governance, assurance, and change control processes.
• Knowledge and experience of Project Management Methodology

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 (opens in a new window).

• 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

Stage 1: Application & Sift, Competency Based

This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your qualifications, knowledge and experience.

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.

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 1000 words. We will not consider any words over 1000 words.

Longlisting:

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

1. Meets all essential criteria
2. Meets some essential criteria
3. 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:

• Master’s degree in Public Health or equivalent experience gained through substantial professional practice in public health, population health, healthcare improvement, or health promotion programmes.
• Strong knowledge of public health strategy, policy, and evidence, with experience applying evidence to inform implementation and decision-making.
• Experience working on international projects or programmes.

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.

Experience, Knowledge and skills will be tested at interview

Interviews dates are to be confirmed.

Qualifications and Registrations

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.

For 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 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 UKHSA’s pay policy.

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 Basic Personnel Security Standard.

Eligibility Criteria

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

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: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.

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 : Charlene Gwekwerere
• Email : charlene.gwekwerere@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 here.

http://www.healthjobsuk.com/vacancy/8124099