Public Inquiry Strategy Lead
UK Health Security Agency
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 6th October 2024
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About the job
Job summary
We will offer you support at every level and help you to shape the team into what you need. We are a flexible and friendly team and are happy to discuss flexible working arrangements were possible.
Job description
• Identifying the policy, scientific and operational issues which are likely to be contested and/or a source of potential reputational risk, supporting the development of strategies to address them and helping secure approval of those strategies; and ensuring that they are addressed accurately and appropriately in UKHSA evidence.
• Providing strategic input into the design, development and delivery of written statements (corporate, opening, closing), with a particular focus on ensuring that the high-risk issues are identified and escalated appropriately. This role will support the ‘response’ function of the UKHSA Public Inquiry team.
• Working with senior colleagues across UKHSA to identify lessons learned and the UKHSA strategic approach to critical issues, with a view to supporting the Inquiry’s recommendation-making work.
• Making preparation for public hearings, overseeing thematic analysis of relevant material and ensuring that UKHSA individual witnesses are appropriately supported to best assist the Inquiry.
• Making preparations for, and the organisational response, to the Inquiry’s Module reports.
• Working with colleagues across UKHSA to allow the organisation to assist the Inquiry to understand ‘lessons learned’.
• Building close working relationships with the UKHSA legal team and UKHSA’s external legal advisors.
• Build effective working relationships with other key internal and external stakeholders particularly subject matter experts to support delivery.
Working as a member of the Senior Leadership Team to provide strategic steers, support and advice to team members and model the UKHSA values, which are to be Impactful, Insightful and Inclusive.
This role forms part of a small team, led by a senior clinician who reports directly to UKHSA’s CEO. The role will deliver key elements of cross cutting work related to delivery of corporate statements, preparing for public hearings supporting witnesses, and coordinating UKHSA’s response to the Inquiry’s reports which are published in response to each module.
The successful candidate will be required to develop an in depth understanding of technical, scientific, policy and operational issues across key areas of the work undertaken by UKHSA covering the entire scope of the Government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Person specification
Essential criteria
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral. In particular, the ability to tailor messages for the audience and to communicate succinctly and effectively to very senior stakeholders.
• An ability to rapidly understand, synthesise, evaluate and summarise large amounts of complex information.
• Proven track record of building and sustaining robust and effective relationships with senior stakeholders. Ability to provide both critical challenge and innovative ideas.
• Experience of working in a fast-paced environment. Ability to prioritise effectively.
• Ability to work in a flexible and supportive way to achieve the team’s joint priorities.
Desirable criteria
• Experience of working on or with Public Inquiries and understanding the legal framework that they operate in.
• Experience of working within the ‘Health Family’ on the Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Experience of working closely with legal teams and leading work within a legal framework, such as that around a Public Inquiry.
• The confidence and presence required to work effectively with senior stakeholders and technical experts, advocating for strategies to mitigate risks and best explain the work of UKHSA to the public inquiry.
• Experience of delivering challenging projects in a fast-paced environment, working across UKHSA at senior levels and with technical experts, developing and advocating for their proposed approach to managing the issue under consideration.
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Stage 1: Application & Sift
You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the above essential criteria, and this will be in the form of:
• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• a 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 and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.
In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on the lead essential criteria of:
Excellent communication skills, both written and oral. In particular, the ability to tailor messages for the audience and to communicate succinctly and effectively to very senior stakeholders.
Late applications will not be considered.
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
You will be invited to a single remote MS Teams interview.
Behaviours, technical, experience, abilities and strengths will be tested at interview.
The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:
• Seeing the Big Picture (lead behaviour)
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace
Interviews dates 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
The UK Health Security Agency (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 one of UKHSA's locations (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London). Specialist or regional roles will be based at the appropriate UKHSA site. 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).
Reasonable Adjustments
The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone.
To help you during the recruitment process, we will consider any reasonable adjustments that could help you.
An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work.
This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme.
If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should:
Contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs.
You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/
Security Clearance Level Requirement
Successful candidates will require Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) as a minimum with a willingness and capability to work towards Security Check (SC).
International Police check
If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and it could be time accrued over that period.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Your application may be rejected and/or you may be subject to disciplinary action if evidence of plagiarism is detected. Examples of plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence (AI), as your own.
Careers website:
Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Lisa Tweedie
- Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk
Further information
The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: Complaints@ukhsa.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/
