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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

 Correspondence Functions

•    Act as lead contact for all immunisation correspondence, including Parliamentary Questions (PQs), Ministerial and Chief Medical Officer (CMO) correspondence, and requests for information and briefing from DHSC.
•    Work closely with the other teams within the department to coordinate responses and lines to take. 
•    Produce draft responses for correspondence and PQs, and be responsible for maintaining and developing briefing resources used by the team.
•    Liaise with other agencies such as the MHRA and NHS England to commission responses and verify accuracy of information.

Project Support Functions

•    Support the Programme Manager and Project Managers in running the Programme Management Office (PMO). Specific duties will include: preparing papers, status reports and plans in advance of meetings. Attending meetings to record actions and produce minutes as required.
Other
•    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 the directorate. The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation.
•    To support public health incident responses that the Immunisation and Vaccine-Preventable Disease division support or lead on, all members of the division who are EO grade and above are required to undertake the appropriate training for ‘task manager’ role, to be able to undertake the role of task manager as and when required.

This role offers the opportunity to work in an interesting area of work within a team responsible for implementation of immunisation programmes – leading to tangible public health benefits. As such, our ideal candidate thrives in a challenging environment, has an attention to detail, and is comfortable with at times working under pressure as well as working to strict timelines. The role requires someone who has the confidence to liaise with senior members of the team to handle all aspects of the correspondence and get sign-off, often at short notice. 

Essential criteria

•    Educated to degree level in relevant subject or equivalent level qualification or significant experience of working at a similar level in specialist area. 
•    Appreciation that tasks are expected to be delivered at pace, with competing priorities, but always delivered in an assured and professional manner.
•    Excellent organisational skills and flexibility, including ability to multi-task, prioritise workload, and to work at pace and to tight deadlines and unexpected demands. 
•    A clear communicator with excellent writing skills; capable of constructing and delivering clear ideas and concepts concisely and accurately for diverse audiences - from senior officials to laymen.
•    Skills for communication on complex matters and difficult situations, requiring persuasion and influence.
•    Skills for nurturing key relationships and maintaining networks.
•    Attention to detail combined with the ability to extract key messages from complex information.
•    Independent thinker and decision maker with demonstrated good judgement, and problem-solving skills.
•    Ability to work on own initiative and organise own workload without supervision.
•    An ability to maintain confidentiality and trust.
•    An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.

Desirable criteria

•    Evidence of Personal Development.
•    Demonstrable understanding of an evidence-based approach to decision making.
•    Experience in minute taking and the preparation of meeting papers.
•    Demonstrates a strong desire to improve performance and make a difference by focusing on goals.

Selection Process:

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

Stage 1: Application & Sift  

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

• a CV/ Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application) 
• a 1500 word Statement of Suitability.  

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. The  CV/ Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.

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

Please do not exceed 1500 words.  We will not consider any words over and above this number.  

Feedback will not be provided at this stage. 

Stage 2: Interview 

You will be invited to a remote  interview

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

 There will be a test at the interview.  Further information about the test will be provided before the interview date.

 Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered

Location information  

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 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 your contractual location - Canary Wharf.  For certain roles, some additional flexibility may be possible, which will be agreed upon with the hiring manager based on individual requirements and business needs

Eligibility Criteria:

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

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.

Working for the Civil Service: 

The Civil Service Code 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.   

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.   

It’s important to note that there are currently exceptions to applications being considered if your conviction relates to any of the following:   

• life sentences   
• arson   
• sexual offences  
• hate and terror offences   

Some departments will also consider the specific offence against the nature of the business, i.e., a conviction for fraud may rule you out for a finance role.   

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  

Starting salary  

Entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.    

The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase.    

Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.   

For further details please refer to the Information Sheet - Starting Salaries & Benefits attachment