Job summary We are looking for a collaborative, engaging and confident leader to provide the national leadership and co-ordination of the public health response to the emergency preparedness, resilience and response (EPRR) systems. This is a high profile, challenging and rewarding leadership role at UKHSA with the ability to make a significant impact on the organisation's future direction. You will take responsibility for the strategic direction and operational delivery of a safe and effective response to EPRR and system resilience across UKHSA; ensuring the agency fulfils its statutory obligations as a Category 1 responder. You will also provide strategic oversight of the CMA Group change portfolio and lead on implementing new services delivered by these programmes. Main duties of the job Key responsibilities will include: oTo provide strategic direction and leadership to Directorate staff, including line management of Deputy Directors and matrix management of Programmes and Transformation Deputy Director, ensuring delivery of excellent services to the public and stakeholders. o Oversee and own change activities within the CMA Group, setting strategic direction and ensuring alignment with the Group's transformation agenda. Act as the Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) for major change projects. o Ensure optimal operational performance and service delivery, meeting Government priorities and maintaining readiness to respond at scale across various operations, including testing, contact tracing, and service centres. o Implement robust business planning, assurance, and risk/issue management approaches, addressing both strategic and tactical risks to support the CMA Group's objectives. o Lead UKHSA's Emergency Preparedness, Resilience, and Response (EPRR) structures, ensuring cross-agency capability to respond to incidents and emergencies, and fulfilling statutory duties under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004. o Foster collaboration with senior leaders, cross-agency partners, and international health emergency response communities, ensuring effective contribution to national and international health EPRR structures and maintaining key relationships. 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 Date posted 29 January 2025 Pay scheme Other Salary £98,000 to £120,000 a year per annum, pro rata Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time, Flexible working Reference number 919-62005018 -EXT Job locations Core HQ Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, London (Canary Wharf) E14 4PU Job description Job responsibilities Please see the candidate pack. Experience: Please see the candidate pack. Selection Process You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on essential criteria, and this will be in the form of an Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application) a Statement of Suitability (max 1500 number of words) This should outline how your skills, experience and knowledge provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria. 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. The Application Form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together. Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on extensive experience of leadership and change management within health protection including at a regional and/ or national level (must be an essential criteria) Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered Feedback will not be provided at this stage. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to psychometric assessments and staff engagement exercises. Assessments. If you are shortlisted, you will be asked to take part in a series of assessments which will include a staff engagement exercise and an Individual Leadership Assessment (ILA) exercise. These assessments will not result in a pass or fail decision. Rather, they are designed to support the panels decision making and highlight areas for the panel to explore further at interview. Full details of the assessment process will be made available to shortlisted candidates. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview Stage 2: Interview You will be invited to a single face to face interview. Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview There will be a 5 minute oral presentation at the start of the interview. Details will be provided when your interview time is confirmed. Interviews will be held week commencing 30 March 2025. Please note, these dates are subject to change. Face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview. External Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants). Security Clearance Level Requirement Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Security Clearance For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 5 years as the role requires Security Check (SC) UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder / Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice. Location: This role is being offered as hybrid working based at any of our Core HQs. If based outside of London, regular travel to London and UK travel will be required.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 link and benefit from benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC). Job description Job responsibilities Please see the candidate pack. Experience: Please see the candidate pack. Selection Process You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on essential criteria, and this will be in the form of an Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application) a Statement of Suitability (max 1500 number of words) This should outline how your skills, experience and knowledge provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria. 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. The Application Form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together. Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on extensive experience of leadership and change management within health protection including at a regional and/ or national level (must be an essential criteria) Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered Feedback will not be provided at this stage. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to psychometric assessments and staff engagement exercises. Assessments. If you are shortlisted, you will be asked to take part in a series of assessments which will include a staff engagement exercise and an Individual Leadership Assessment (ILA) exercise. These assessments will not result in a pass or fail decision. Rather, they are designed to support the panels decision making and highlight areas for the panel to explore further at interview. Full details of the assessment process will be made available to shortlisted candidates. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview Stage 2: Interview You will be invited to a single face to face interview. Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview There will be a 5 minute oral presentation at the start of the interview. Details will be provided when your interview time is confirmed. Interviews will be held week commencing 30 March 2025. Please note, these dates are subject to change. Face to face interviews are planned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview. External Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants). Security Clearance Level Requirement Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Security Clearance For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 5 years as the role requires Security Check (SC) UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder / Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice. Location: This role is being offered as hybrid working based at any of our Core HQs. If based outside of London, regular travel to London and UK travel will be required.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 link and benefit from benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC). Person Specification Knowledge and Experience Essential Significant knowledge and experience of project and operations management and improvement techniques and tools Proven senior-level leadership with a focus on capability building and preparedness. Demonstrated ability to lead and empower diverse, geographically dispersed teams, motivating and engaging them with a compelling vision. Evidence of working in a complex, multi stakeholder environment; building and developing highly-collaborative, effective relationships with senior professionals outside your span of control and organisational boundaries to achieve common goals. A proven track record of delivering large-scale transformational change, driving cultural shifts, service improvements, and cost savings. Demonstrable personal credibility, impact and influence at organisational level, able to operate confidently in a senior leadership role with a proven ability to build, lead and set strategic direction. Experience of managing large budgets, driving efficiencies, and understanding commercial contracts and grants; with a commitment to embedding Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in organizational practices. Person Specification Knowledge and Experience Essential Significant knowledge and experience of project and operations management and improvement techniques and tools Proven senior-level leadership with a focus on capability building and preparedness. Demonstrated ability to lead and empower diverse, geographically dispersed teams, motivating and engaging them with a compelling vision. Evidence of working in a complex, multi stakeholder environment; building and developing highly-collaborative, effective relationships with senior professionals outside your span of control and organisational boundaries to achieve common goals. A proven track record of delivering large-scale transformational change, driving cultural shifts, service improvements, and cost savings. Demonstrable personal credibility, impact and influence at organisational level, able to operate confidently in a senior leadership role with a proven ability to build, lead and set strategic direction. Experience of managing large budgets, driving efficiencies, and understanding commercial contracts and grants; with a commitment to embedding Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in organizational practices. 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). Additional information 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 Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, London (Canary Wharf) E14 4PU Employer's website https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency (Opens in a new tab)