About this role
Job summary
UKHSA's legal team sits within the Chief Operating Officer Group and plays a central role in supporting the organisation's mission to protect people from health threats. The team provides high-quality, strategic and solutions-focused legal advice across the full breadth of UKHSA's activities, working closely with operational, scientific and policy colleagues.
Main duties of the job
We are seeking a newly qualified solicitor to join this growing and dynamic team. This role offers an excellent opportunity to develop as an in-house lawyer in a uniquely varied and impactful environment. You will gain exposure to a broad mix of legal work across UKHSA's functions, including commercial and research agreements, information governance, and public law issues, including Freedom of Information requests, coroner's inquests and public inquiries.
You will have a particular focus on life sciences, information law and public health law. This will include advising on scientific research collaborations, material transfer arrangements, the lawful use and sharing of data, and the regulatory frameworks underpinning UKHSA's work, enabling you to build specialist expertise in areas that are central to UKHSA's mission and at the forefront of public health.
You will be encouraged to take ownership of your work while being supported by experienced colleagues in a collaborative team environment and line managed by a Senior Legal Counsel.
About us
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 Job responsibilities
Reporting to a Senior Legal Counsel, you will be expected to:
Provide legal advice primarily in the areas of life sciences, information law and public health law; Support the Commercial, Vaccines and Countermeasures Department (CVCD) vaccine sector industry engagement programme, including the Moderna/UK Strategic Partnership; Support UKHSAs scientific teams and business development teams on contractual and regulatory matters, including a range of commercial agreements typical to the life sciences sector; Advise on data protection and freedom of information matters; Provide legal support to outbreak management activities, including the lawfulness of information sharing, and the interpretation and application of public health legislation; Demonstrate good communication and collaboration skills when working with internal stakeholders and multidisciplinary teams; Manage a varied caseload and work with internal clients, government lawyers, external law firms and counsel as required; Contribute to the wider team by taking a proactive role in areas such as knowledge management, training and projects; and Work flexibly across different legal disciplines and undertake such other duties as required. This is not an exhaustive list.
Essential criteria
Newly qualified solicitor with a current practising certificate and admitted to the roll of solicitors in England and Wales (regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority). Demonstrable interest and experience in life sciences (including intellectual property, commercial contracts and regulatory requirements), information law (including data protection and Freedom of Information) and public health law. Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage a varied caseload effectively. Sound legal judgement, analytical ability and an appreciation of legal risk, with the confidence to provide clear, balanced and risk-based advice. A solutions-focused and commercially minded approach, with the ability to think strategically, understand the wider context of legal issues, and respond in an agile and timely way. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to communicate clearly, confidently and sensitively with stakeholders, including those unfamiliar with legal processes and concepts. Desirable criteria
Experience of working in an in-house legal team. An understanding of the government and wider public sector context, or experience in a similar size organisation Selection process
This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your behaviours, experience and technical skills.
Stage 1: Application & Sift
You willbe requiredto complete an application form. You will be assessed onthe listed7 essentialcriteria,and this will be in the form of:
an application form(Employer/ Activity history section on the application) a 1500 wordsupporting 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 beadvisedyou 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.
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 used, the pile Meets all essential criteria will proceed to shortlisting.Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on:
Newly qualified solicitor with a current practising certificate and admitted to the roll of solicitors in England and Wales (regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority). Demonstrable interest and experience in life sciences (including intellectual property, commercial contracts and regulatory requirements), information law (including data protection and Freedom of Information) and public health law. 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 and assessment.
Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Stage 2: Interview
You will be invited to a remote interview via MS Teams.
Behaviours, experience and technical skills will be tested at interview.
The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:
Working together (Lead behaviour) Communicating and influencing Managing a quality service Interview dates are 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 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) on-site.
Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport link and benefit from benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).
Eligibility criteria
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
Security clearance level requirement
Part 1
Successful candidates must pass a basic Disclosure and Barring Security (DBS) check before they can be appointed.
Part 2
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard.
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.
Please be aware that the salary is based on the office location.
Person Specification
Application form and supporting statement Essential
Application form and supporting statement
Behaviours Essential
Working together Managing a quality service Communicating and influencing
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details Employer name UK Health Security Agency
Address Core HQ
London
E14 4PU
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency (Opens in a new tab)