Job summary
- Main area
- Public health
- Grade
- Civil Service: Senior Executive Officer (SEO)
- Contract
- Fixed term: 12 months (FTA until 30/6/2026)
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Job share
- Flexible working
- Job ref
- 919-LT-62092795-EXT
- Employer
- UK Health Security Agency
- Employer type
- Public (Non NHS)
- Site
- Core HQ
- Town
- London (Canary Wharf)
- Salary
- £44,852 - £50,472 per annum, pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 27/06/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Senior Healthcare Scientist Secretariat (Reports)
Civil Service: Senior Executive Officer (SEO)
Job overview
The post-holder will be a member of scientific staff working on a range of activities undertaken by the TARZET (TB, Acute Respiratory, Zoonoses, Emerging Infection and Travel Health) Technical Secretariat team. The post holder has lead responsibility for the scientific secretariat support to TARZET led Advisory Committees and associated working groups. Secretariat responsibilities include organising and attending meetings, writing minutes of the discussions, preparing action notes and documenting processes. Scientific responsibilities include producing support papers for the main Committees and working groups and dealing with scientific queries. The post-holder will provide secretariat support to a number of UKHSA internal committees or Programme Boards.
The post holder will be based in the TARZET Technical Secretariat team mainly based in 10 South Colonnade, London.
Main duties of the job
Lead responsibility for the Scientific Secretariat support to TARZET led Advisory Committees and associated Working Groups as required, particularly the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens and New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group. These are non-statutory, Scientific Advisory Committee which advises the Government on issues relating to Emerging Infections and other threats.
This role will work collaboratively with secretariat teams embedded within TARZET specialist teams.
Working for our organisation
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
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The support to this committee involves:
Secretariat function:
- Working closely with the Chair, DH sponsors and other stakeholders to ensure the smooth running of the Committee and assisting the Chair and Members to achieve the Committee’s aims and objectives
- Preparing agendas and other papers within agreed timetables and distributing meeting papers by e-mail in advance of meetings
- Ensuring effective arrangements are made for meeting rooms, equipment, refreshments, travel and other requirements
- Attending meetings to record discussions, prepare minutes and follow up actions arising from the meeting
- Maintaining the membership database and ensuring compliance with the Code of Practice for Scientific Advisory Committees
- Keeping the Advisory Committee websites updated with minutes, papers and agendas from meetings
- Drafting annual report and forward work plans
- Handling correspondence, in collaboration with the Chair or other Committee members as appropriate and provide support to the DH sponsor team on specific pieces of Advisory Committee related work
- Ensuring the Advisory Committee website is up to date (e.g. Membership list, Members’ interests, meeting minutes and new and publication). Organising CPD approval for meetings and providing members with attendance certificates
- Ensuring all processes are documented and communicated for best practice.
Scientific function:
- Writing, reviewing and commissioning support papers as required by the Committee in collaboration with committee members and other key staff as appropriate
- Regularly reviewing the Committee’s guidance documents and identifying which need updating, and then take forward the redrafting of these documents
- Providing responses to queries about TARZET Advisory Committee guidance and other related matters from a range of stakeholders
- Developing and maintaining familiarity with the scientific issues and areas relevant to TARZET Advisory Committees, bringing these to the attention of the Chair and members
- Performing horizon scanning to inform the Committee of any emerging issues that may require their consideration
- Conference participation, publications, training and other means as deemed appropriate
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. This includes the work of the wider TARZET Technical Secretariat team on horizon scanning, production of reports and incident response as required.
The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- Identify, discuss and action own professional performance and training / development needs with your line manager through appraisal / individual development plan. Attending internal / external training events
- To participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e. fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training.
KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
The post holder will develop working relationships and communicate regularly with a wide range of individuals, clinical and non-clinical, internal and external to UKHSA. This will include;
Medical, scientific and administrative staff at all levels in UKHSA; Chair and other members of Advisory Committees, and observers and officials from cross government and other key organisations
Essential Criteria:
- Degree in relevant subject (e.g microbiology, biology, epidemiology) or equivalent level qualification or significant experience of working at a similar level in specialist area
- Experience of writing scientific reports and/or project reports
- Significant experience of successfully operating in a sensitive environment
- Experience of interpreting, evaluating and communicating epidemiological and scientific data
- Experience of using computers and database software packages
- Excellent written and oral communication skills with good attention to details.
- Confident, flexible and diplomatic
- Good organisational, time management and administrative skills.
- Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
- Ability to work under own initiative and as part of a team
- An understanding of biological agents and public health
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems
Desirable Criteria:
- Providing epidemiological information and advice, including to external agencies
- Understanding/experience of microbiology
- Ability to communicate with people at all levels of seniority.
Selection Process Details:
This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
Stage 1: Application & Sift
Success profiles
You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 12 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:
- Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
- 1000 word Statement of Suitability.
This should outline how your skills, experience and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.
The Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.
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
The piles, 'meets all essential criteria' and 'meets some essential criteria' will proceed to shortlisting.
Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on the lead criteria of:
- Experience of interpreting, evaluating and communicating epidemiological and scientific data
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 & assessment.
Please do not exceed 1000 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.
Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Stage 2: Interview
Success profiles
You will be invited to a single remote interview.
Behaviours, technical skills and experience will be tested at interview.
The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:
- Changing and improving
- Making effective decisions
- Leading and communicating
- Collaborating and Partnering
- Managing a quality service
- Delivering at pace
Interviews will be held week commencing 14th July. Please note, these dates are subject to change.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Selection Process
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.
Eligibility Criteria
External- open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
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) working at our Core HQ in London (Canary Wharf).
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).
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 Standard.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
Essential criteria
- Application form and statement of suitability
Behaviours
Essential criteria
- Changing and improving
- Making effective decisions
- Leading and communicating
- Collaborating and partnering
- Managing a quality service
- Delivering at pace
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Lisa Tweedie
- Job title
- Resourcing Support Officer
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Additional information
For additional information relating to role, please contact Eileen Gallagher, [email protected]
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