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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
Business Support Manager
Accepting applications until: 11-May-2026 23:59
Vacancy status: Open
Accepting applications until: 11-May-2026 23:59
Key details
Location
- Gwefan
- Health Protection Operation Centres
- Tref
- Horsham/ Ashford, Kent
- Cod post
- RH12 1XH
- Major / Minor Region
- London
Contract type & working pattern
- Contract
- Permanent
- Oriau
- Part time
- Job share
- Flexible working
Salary
- Cyflog
- £35,587 - £43,244 Per Annum, Pro Rata
- Cyfnod cyflog
- Yearly
- Gradd
- (Civil Service: Higher Executive Officer (HEO))
Specialty
- Prif leoliad
- Operations
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.
Trosolwg o'r swydd
Lead on a number of business support functions for the Directorate and be responsible for the implementation and management of relevant systems and processes. The post holder may work with colleagues who are based across the country at different sites and/or who work remotely.
Advert
Key duties:
- Identify opportunities to improve business processes within functions and across the Directorate.
- Provide secretariat and managerial support for senior management meetings and external networks.
- Deputise for colleagues during absence or holidays (where applicable).
- Support delivery of the Directorate business plan and strategic priorities.
- Provide executive assistance to Director/SLT, including oversight of diary/email management, preparing briefings and presentations, commissioning work, managing correspondence in the Director’s absence, and undertaking research or ad hoc projects.
Specific duties of the role may vary depending on the site and teams/functions.
- Operational Support
- Project Support
- Financial and Resource Management
- Leadership and Management
- Quality and Governance
- Communication and Key Working Relationships
- Personal and Professional Development
Other Responsibilities
- Adhere to all UKHSA policies and procedures.
- Contribute to corporate goals and participate in corporate service activities as required.
- Support preparedness and response to major incidents and emergencies under UKHSA’s Category 1 responder duties.
- Undertake any other reasonable duties as required
Please note the above is not exhaustive
Gweithio i'n sefydliad
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
Swydd-ddisgrifiad a phrif gyfrifoldebau manwl
Operational Support
Provide comprehensive operational support across corporate functions such as finance, accommodation, HR, governance, business continuity, risk
management, staff engagement, and internal communications, including Executive Assistant support to a Director when required.
Project Support
Support corporate projects and service reviews, offering recommendations to improve ways of working across the Directorate.
Provide project support in the absence of a dedicated project officer, responding to information requests and meeting tight deadlines.
Work closely with project teams to provide information (including statistical data), assist with planning, and manage assigned project elements.
Maintain project plans, support management information needs, and participate in working groups when a project officer is unavailable.
Financial and Resource Management
Support effective financial management across the team and Directorate, including:
Ensuring UKHSA financial governance is followed and supporting colleagues to engage with finance processes.
Monitoring project expenditure and producing financial reports for management.
Undertaking procurement activities in line with policy.
Responding to internal and external audit requirements.
Leadership and Management
Act as a visible, positive role model and contribute to staff induction.
Take responsibility for problem-solving, decision-making, and personal accountability.
Support managers in maintaining professional standards, including coordinating training, development, recruitment, staff survey input, and appraisal compliance.
Provide effective line management (where applicable), including appraisals, objective-setting, training access, recruitment, induction, and managing performance or capability issues.
Quality and Governance
Support adherence to governance and quality standards, including:
Contributing to the Directorate business plan and delivering relevant activities.
Supporting development, testing, and exercising of the business continuity plan.
Producing written guidance and SOPs for administrative procedures.
Contributing to governance working groups.
Promoting continuous improvement.
Communication and Relationships
Develop strong working relationships and communicate regularly with a broad range of clinical, non-clinical, corporate, scientific, academic, and external stakeholders (e.g., NHS, Civil Service departments, members of the public). Communication methods include face‑to‑face, email, phone, and written correspondence.
Personal and Professional Development
Participate in ongoing professional development and the annual appraisal process to maintain skills and meet competency requirements.
Undertake all mandatory training (e.g., fire safety, information governance).
Essential role criteria
- Educated to degree level/NVQ 6 in relevant subject or equivalent experience in a similar area of work, eg buisness administration
- Experience of undertaking secretariat functions / administering meetings, events.
- Experience of writing and preparing reports for senior colleagues and / or meetings.
- Experience or understanding of budget management, business planning and business continuity processes.
- Experienced of use of systems to order goods and services and an understanding of relevant policies and procedures.
- Ability to work without supervision working to tight and often changing timescales.
- Ability to organise one’s own work and that of the team
- Ability to work in a continuously changing environment.
- Ability to lead a team and effectively manage team dynamics to drive forward a shared goal.
- Experienced in IT skills, advanced Microsoft Office skills, including Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint
- You are detail-focussed, you ensure everything is accurate and error free.
- You take a positive approach to tackling problems and find ways to identify suitable solutions.
- Work with others to identify areas for improvement and simplify processes to use fewer resources. Use technology where possible to increase efficiency.
- Make it clear to all team members that bullying, harassment and discrimination are unacceptable.
- Reflect on own work, continuously seek, and act on feedback to improve own and team’s performance
- Communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing. Take time to consider the best communication channel to use for the audience, including making the best of digital resources and considering value for money.
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships
Desirable role criteria
- Experience of project management.
- Understanding of project principles, techniques, and tools.
- Ability to use digital tools e.g., Jira
Selection Process Details
Competency based
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 17 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
Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we may conduct an initial sift, on the lead criteria of
- Educated to degree level/NVQ 6 in relevant subject or equivalent experience in a similar area of work, eg buisness administration
- Ability to lead a team and effectively manage team dynamics to drive forward a shared goal.
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
Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Stage 2: Interview
Competency Based
You will be invited to a face to face interview in either Ashford, Kent or Horsham. As face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a 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 office in either Ashford Kent or Horsham West Sussex. 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 in the office.
Kent (South East)
UKHSA
Suite 2
Kent House
81 Station Road
Ashford
Kent
TN23 1PP
Surrey and Sussex (South East)
UKHSA
County Hall North, Chart Way
Horsham
West Sussex
RH12 1XA
Security Clearance Level Requirement
Successful candidates must pass a standard disclosure and barring security check before they can be appointed.
Successful candidates must also 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).
Face to Face Interviews
As face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview
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.
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
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.
Applicant requirements
Person specification
Application form and Supporting Statement
Meini prawf hanfodol
- Application form and Supporting Statement
Interview
Meini prawf hanfodol
- Questions on Knowledge, experience, skills and abilites
Documents
- CS Jobs Advert (PDF, 321.1KB)
- Civil Service Recruitment Principles (PDF, 2.6MB)
- Civil Service Nationality Rules (PDF, 195.3KB)
- Application Form Guidance Notes (PDF, 77.3KB)
- Information Sheet - Starting salaries and benefits (PDF, 129.4KB)
- Information Sheet - Selection Process (PDF, 110.1KB)
- Working at UKHSA and your benefits (PDF, 219.2KB)
Further details / informal visits contact
- Enw
- Chris Williams
- Teitl y swydd
- Resource Support
- Cyfeiriad ebost
- [email protected]
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