About this role
Job summary
Do you enjoy working on projects and seeing them through to completion? Are you passionate about collaborating with others to deliver? Do you want to work somewhere where you can make a difference?
At the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) we are looking for a Project Support Officer to join us in our critical work to protect the nation from health threats.
The successful candidate will be assigned to National Response Operations, supporting delivery projects within a contact centre operating environment. This could include, but is not limited to supporting:
Pandemic preparedness work. Setting up and scoping new projects to stand up new services. Working at pace in incident response to processes to mitigate health threats. Business integration activity to deliver efficient systems and processes for contact with stakeholders and the general public.
This role sits at the intersection of project delivery, operational readiness, and incident response, providing a flexible capability that enables the organisation to respond effectively to both planned change and emerging priorities.
Main duties of the job
This role supports the delivery of small-scale change, continuous improvement initiatives, and operational readiness activity within a fast-paced response environment. It brings together project support, business integration and incident response activity - including time-critical and surge situations - to ensure that change is effectively delivered, embedded and adopted within operational teams.
You will enable the smooth running of projects within National Response Operations, utilising project management techniques to support Project Managers with the co-ordination of business management actions and activities on their behalf.
This is a hands-on, delivery-focused role requiring sound judgement, adaptability, and the confidence to operate effectively across both structured project environments and dynamic, fast-moving operational contexts.
Elements of the role align to the Project delivery capability framework - Government Project Deliverycareer pathway for a Project Support Officer HEO. Successful candidates will be supported in their professional development, including working towards Government Project Delivery Accreditation where this is not already held.
The above is not an exhaustive list.
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
Work with operational teams to design and implement changes. Support the adoption of new processes, ensuring they are embedded and sustained. Implement and maintain systems to enable effective planning and scheduling. Prepare and produce status reports, performance data and research new information. Manage and monitor compliance of projects in line with UKHSA guidelines and legislation, including Health & Safety, Equality & Diversity, Security. Support with workforce planning. Build and maintain strong professional relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders. Draft and sign off correspondence. Act as point of contact for responses to requests for information and signpost accordingly. Manage the procurement of goods and services. Monitor project spend, compile budgets, and support the development of business cases. Maintain the risk and issues log, working with risk managers to resolve issues and escalating where appropriate. Use data analytics and digital tools to present project information, sharing in line with data standards. Support incident response work, re-prioritising quickly and efficiently. Be an active member of the UKHSA Project Delivery Profession Community. 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.
Essential Criteria
Lead Essential Criteria: Recent experience of working in a fast-paced, operational or service environment, with the ability to adapt to changing priorities. Recent working knowledge of planning, scheduling, resource management, risk and issue management, change control, governance, and project delivery methodologies. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to challenge effectively to ensure the correct information is presented at the right time. Strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to develop effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders. Works well under pressure, effectively manages multiple tasks, with a keen attention to detail. Ability to use digital tools and data analytics to support effective decision making in projects. Experience of promoting best practice and lessons learned to support continuous improvement. Strong capability in using Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. Desirable Criteria
Contact Centre experience. Ability to work at pace in pressured operating environments. Incident response experience
Selection Process Details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles Success Profiles - GOV.UKand will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
Application & Sift
At sift stage you will be assessed against the 8 Essential Criteria listed in this job advert. You will be required to complete:
An Application Form (Employer/Activity history section on the application) A 1000 word Supporting Statement - do not exceed 1000 words as we will not consider any words over this amount The application form is the kind of information you would put into your CV please note you will not be able to upload or email us your CV. Please complete the Application Form in as much detail as possible.
Please structure your Supporting Statement in two parts:
Part 1 Lead Essential Criteria(maximum 300 words)
Describe how you meet the Lead Essential Criteria listed in this job advert.
Use a specific example that clearly explains what you did, how you did it, and the outcome.
Part 2 Remaining 7 Essential Criteria (maximum 700 words)
Describe how you meet the remaining 7 Essential Criteria listed in this job advert for this role.
Please use clear, evidence-based examples to demonstrate your skills and experience.
Longlisting
In the event of a large number of applications, we may longlist into 3 piles of:
Meets all Essential Criteria Meets some Essential Criteria Meets no Essential Criteria Only 'Meets all Essential Criteria' will progress to Shortlisting.
Shortlisting
In the event of a large number of applications, we may conduct an initial sift on the following 3 Essential Criteria:
Recent experience of working in a fast-paced, operational or service environment, with the ability to adapt to changing priorities. Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications/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 single remote interview. Interview date(s) to be confirmed.
The Behaviours being tested at interview stage will be:
Delivering at Pace - Lead Behaviour Changing and Improving Leadership Working Together Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Eligibility Criteria
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service as well as internal applicants.
Salary Information
Civil Service: Higher Executive Officer (HEO)HEO (Inner): £37,749 - £45,353HEO (Outer): £35,587 - £43,244HEO (National): £33,422 - £40,731Per annum, pro-rata - please be aware salary is based on the office location
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.
Location
This role is being offered as hybrid working based at any of our core HQs in Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, 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 one of UKHSA's core HQs (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London).
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 (BPSS).
Person Specification
Application Form & Supporting Statement Essential
Application Form & Supporting Statement
Behaviours Essential
Delivering at Pace - Lead Behaviour Changing and Improving Leadership Working Together
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 Hybrid working based at any core HQ
Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, London Canary Wharf
E14 4PU
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency (Opens in a new tab)