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UK Health Security Agency

About

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) will be responsible for planning, preventing and responding to external health threats, and providing intellectual, scientific and operational leadership at national and local level, as well as on the global stage. UKHSA will ensure the nation can respond quickly and at greater scale to deal with pandemics and future threats.

Contact

Address: 10 South Colonnade; London; E14 4PU

Find out more

Jobs Website

Open

Ref: 919-LT-302867-EXT Vacancy ID: 7500675

Head of Operational Services Department

Accepting applications until: 22-Oct-2025 23:59

Vacancy status: Open

Accepting applications until: 22-Oct-2025 23:59

Location

Site: Scientific Campus/Lab
Town: Chilton/Leeds/Glasgow
Postcode: OX11 0RQ
Major / Minor Region: London

Contract type & working pattern

Contract

Permanent

Hours

Full time
Job share
Flexible working

37.5 hours per week

Salary

Salary: £68,568 - £80,816 per annum, pro rata (+MPS up to £15,000 if RPA certified)
Salary period: Yearly
Grade: (Civil Service: Grade 6)

Specialty

Main area: Radiation Protection

The United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is a system leader for health security; taking action internationally to strengthen global health security, providing trusted advice to government and the public and reducing inequalities in the way different communities experience and are impacted by infectious disease, environmental hazards, and other threats to health.

UKHSA’s remit, as an agency with a global-to-local reach, is to protect the health of the nation from infectious diseases and other external threats to health. As the nation’s expert national health security agency UKHSA will:

Prevent: anticipate threats to health and help build the nation’s readiness, defences and health security
Detect: use cutting edge environmental and biological surveillance to proactively detect and monitor infectious diseases and threats to health
Analyse: use world-class science and data analytics to assess and continually monitor threats to health, identifying how best to control and mitigate the risks
Respond: take rapid, collaborative and effective actions nationally and locally to mitigate threats to health when they materialise
Lead: lead strong and sustainable global, national, regional and local partnerships designed to save lives, protect the nation from public health threats and reduce inequalities.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Department specific

Ensuring effective management of staffing and resources to deliver the wide portfolio of work handled by the Operational Services Department.
Ensure attainment of the annual financial performance agreed for the Department; this includes consideration of GIA activities as well as income earning workstreams.
Ensuring effective line management of teams of geographically dispersed staff. To include issues of corporate governance, health and safety, the recruitment and career development of staff.

Wider RCCE/UKHSA activities & committees

Chair and maintain operation of RCCE Income Group (RIG). To address:
o Rapid decision making and robust oversight of opportunities relating to standard services and other external income activities delivered to UKHSA costing and pricing protocols.
o Monitoring of monthly income performance of commercial services operated by RCCE to determine progress against target and develop realistic forecasts
o Strategy and business planning for core services.
o Effective and efficient use of staff resources across departments.
o Pricing of services, bidding for work.
o Marketing.
o RIG has delegated authority to deal with FEC and FEC+ proposals up to a contract value of £200k.
Support and contribute to the operation of the UKHSA Opportunities Assessment Group.
Managerial lead with respect to UKHSA’s RPA Body status.
Lead for all income generating training activities within RCCE. Represent RCCE on UKHSA’s external training group.

Radiation Protection Standards, Development of legislation etc

To ensure (with appropriate liaison) the continued development of RCCE’s professional and occupational level radiation protection training activities.
To ensure appropriate expertise is input at a national and international level on ionising and non-ionising radiation protection matters and to support the development of, and advise on, the implementation of radiation protection policies.
o Input to IAEA, ICRP, ICNIRP (and other bodies) as relevant.
Take the lead (non-nuclear) for RCCE with respect to UKHSA-RCCE’s role as a statutory consultee under JOPPIR.

Emergency Response

In emergency situations the postholder will be expected to undertake senior management and/or advisory roles as stated in the RCCE Emergency Plan; this will involve close liaison with UKHSA colleagues and a wide range of external stakeholders including government and regulatory bodies.

General

Support the work of RCCE as required.
Deal with the media and special interest groups as required.

Communication and key working relationships

Internal

RCCE Director /Directorate Management Team Members - daily
UKHSA Corporate Services - weekly
UKHSA Directors and other senior managers – as required (weekly/monthly)

External

UK Government Departments and Agency Officials (eg HSE, EA, and Devolved Administrations).
Senior representatives in nuclear and non-nuclear industry, the medical sector (including NHS), academia and Local Authorities.
Representatives of national and international committees as appropriate.
Representatives of international organisations, eg International Atomic Energy Agency, European Commission etc.

Essential Criteria

A higher scientific degree, eg MSc or PhD in a relevant subject (e.g. physical or life sciences subject) or equivalent experience plus substantive experience in operational radiation protection.
The postholder must have proven experience in and an established reputation for work in operational ionising and/or non-ionising radiation protection and show the capability for maintaining an up-to-date knowledge of developments.
Demonstrable ability to deploy staff resources in a flexible and efficient manner in order to address business needs.
Understanding of UKHSA/RCCE emergency response (ER) procedures and experience of managing teams in ER situations.
A demonstrated ability to lead, manage, direct and prioritize work across a range of technical business areas, particularly with respect to commercial activities, and GiA activities.
An effective communicator across a range of audiences: colleagues in UKHSA; officials from Government and devolved bodies; local authorities; members of the public and the media.

Desirable Criteria

Membership of an appropriate Professional body, eg Society for Radiological Protection.
Current UK professional certifications as a Radiation Protection Adviser. (This is the requirement to attract the Market Pay Supplement of up to £15,000 but is not an essential requirement for the role).

Selection Process Details

This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your qualifications, knowledge and experience and skills and abilities outlined in the essential criteria.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

Competency-based assessments

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 6 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

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

This should outline how your skills, experience and knowledge provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.

The Application form and supporting statement will be marked together.

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

Meets all essential criteria
Meets some essential criteria
Meets no essential criteria

If longlisting is used, the pile 'meets all essential criteria' will move through to shortlisting.

Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on the lead criteria of:

A demonstrated ability to lead, manage, direct and prioritize work across a range of technical business areas, particularly with respect to commercial activities, and GiA activities.

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

Please do not exceed 1000 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview

Competency-based

You will be invited to a single face to face interview.

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

You will be asked to prepare and present a 10 minute presentation at the start of your interview. Details will be sent to those successful at securing an interview.

Interview 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.

Selection Process

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.

Eligibility Criteria

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

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our Scientific Campus in Chilton or Labs in Leeds or Glasgow. 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) at either Chilton, Leeds or Glasgow.

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

If based at one of our scientific campuses or labs, successful candidates will require Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) as a minimum with willingness and capability to work towards Security Check (SC) clearance.

You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years to obtain Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) and 5 years to obtain Security Check (SC) clearance. UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting at this higher level and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder / Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

Face to Face interviews

In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ

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

This is a Non-Reserved post under the Civil Service Nationality Rules. To be eligible for employment in the UK Civil Service applicants must meet the Civil Service Nationality Rules (CSNRs) which operate independently of and additionally to the Immigration Rules. Applicants must also meet necessary security and vetting requirements, along with any other relevant pre-employment checks.

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

For more information on job nationality requirements and the right to work in the UK, see the Civil Service Nationality rules (opens in a new window) and the UK Visas and Immigration rules (opens in a new window)

For posts on UKHSA Civil Service terms and conditions, new entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. For existing Civil Servants and roles advertised across government, the rules of transfer apply, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive a 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

The Civil Service pay structure and progression is different from NHS Agenda for Change (AfC), most local authority pay grades and other systems that have annual pay increments. For further details, please refer to the Information Sheet- Starting Salaries & Benefits attachment.

For AfC or Medical/Dental posts, you must have the correct professional registration to be appointed. The pay will follow the AfC or Medical & Dental terms & conditions. You may be asked to provide evidence of previous service whilst we are conducting pre-employment checks to determine your starting salary.

For Temporary Appointments, 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. 

Given the nature of the work of the UKHSA, as a Category 1 responder under the Civil Contingencies Act, you may be required in an emergency, if deemed a necessity, to redeploy to another role at short notice. You may also be required to work at any other location, within reasonable travelling distance of your permanent home address, in line with the provisions set out in your contract of employment.

Late Applications will unfortunately not be considered.

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 equality of opportunity. 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:  [email protected] 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.

Reserve List - If more than the required number of suitable candidates pass the interview criteria, you may be kept on a reserve list for 12 months subject to your agreement. You may be contacted, in merit-order, if similar roles with closely matching essential criteria become available and the department choose to appoint from a reserve list.

The panel will assess if candidates meet the requirement of the role first, using a specific benchmark system. If you are interviewed for the post and do not meet the required threshold for the specified grade, your application may be assessed against a similar, lower grade role and you may be offered the post should one be available.

Interview expenses will not be reimbursed.

UKHSA is required to check employment and/or education history covering three consecutive years. Please ensure you give details of at least two different referees, even if you were employed in one company for three years or more.

If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system. Please note, all communication regarding your application will be made via email, please ensure you check your junk/spam folders as emails are sometimes filtered there.

Any move to UKHSA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

 Benefits of working at UKHSA include:

Generous annual leave:
-26 days for the first 5 years of continuous service
-28 days after 5 years of continuous service
-32 days after 10 years of continuous service
-Plus public holidays and one privilege day for the King’s birthday
Access to a generous Defined Benefit pension scheme with employer contributions.
Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme, season ticket advances and payroll giving.
Access to a retail discounts and cashback site.
We also promote flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours). UKHSA views flexible working as essential in enabling us to recruit and retain talented people, ensuring that they are able to enjoy a long-lasting career with us. All employees have the right to apply for flexible working and there are a range of options available including working from home, compressed hours and job sharing.
We also offer a generous maternity/ paternity and adoption leave package.

Hybrid Working

UKHSA operates 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 usually spend a minimum of 60% of your contracted hours (averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's locations (approximately 3 days a week pro rata) and the rest of your time working from home.

Disability Confident Scheme

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria at sift to ensure these candidates are invited to interview.   If you wish to be included in this scheme please tick the box on your application form.

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 take into account 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 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.

Security Vetting

Please check the Security Clearance needed for the role and follow the link for more information:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels

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.

Person specification

Application form and supporting statement

Essential criteria

Essential Criteria

Essential Criteria

Essential criteria

Questions on knowledge, experience, skills and abilities.

Documents

Further details / informal visits contact

Name: Lisa Tweedie
Job title: Resourcing Support Officer
Email address: [email protected]
Additional information: For additional information relating to role, please contact Simon Bouffler [email protected]