Head of Public Inquiry Strategy
UK Health Security Agency
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 6th October 2024
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About the job
Job summary
The Public Inquiry Team leads UKHSA’s response the COVID-19 public inquiry and other ongoing inquiry processes. This role will be responsible for establishing how UKHSA addresses the key issues in its evidence to the public inquiry and articulates UKHSA’s position on those issues with a view to supporting the Inquiry’s role in making recommendations to improve the UK’s preparedness for future pandemics.
This role leads a team in a fast paced and ever-changing environment. Working with a small team, led by a senior clinician who reports directly to UKHSA’s CEO, the role will deliver cross cutting work related to delivery of corporate statements, preparing for public hearings including directly supporting very senior witnesses, and coordinate UKHSA’s response to the Inquiry’s reports which are published in response to each module.
We are seeking that person who thrives on working in a fast paced and ever-changing environment. 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.
The post holder will be required to develop an in-depth understanding of technical, scientific, policy and operational issues across all areas of the work undertaken by UKHSA and its predecessor organizations during the pandemic.
Working with the Deputy Directors, other Heads of Depatments and our legal teams to provide overall leadership to the UKHSA Public Inquiry team.
Job description
Working with a small team, led by a senior clinician who reports directly to UKHSA’s CEO, the Head of Public Inquiry Strategy will deliver cross cutting work related to delivery of corporate statements, preparing for public hearings including directly supporting very senior witnesses, and coordinate 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 content related to UKHSA and its predecessor organisations covering the entire scope of the Government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Identifying the policy, scientific and operational issues which are likely to be contested and/or a source of potential reputational risk 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 address 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.
• Working with colleagues across UKHSA to allow the organisation to assist the Inquiry to understand ‘lessons learned’.
• Leading preparation for public hearings, overseeing thematic analysis of relevant material and ensuring that UKHSA individual witnesses are appropriately supported to best assist the Inquiry.
• Leading 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.
For a full list of the main duties and responsibilities of the role, please refer to the attached Job Description.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
• Experience of leading teams in a fast-paced environment, managing risks to ensure that work is delivered to time and quality.
• 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.
• 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 working in a fast-paced environment. Ability to prioritise effectively, enabling the team to make best use of available resources to deliver the team’s work.
• 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 of both solicitors and counsel, and leading work within a legal framework, such as that around a 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 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of:
• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• a 1500-word Statement of Suitability
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.
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 the lead essential criteria: - Experience of leading teams in a fast-paced environment, managing risks to ensure that work is delivered to time and quality.
Late applications will not be considered.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview.
Please do not exceed 1500 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 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
- Communicating and influencing
- Working Together
- Delivering at Pace
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.
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 must pass a disclosure and barring security check.
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.
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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 : Chris Williams
- Email : Resourcing@ukhsa.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : Resourcing@ukhsa.gov.uk
Further information
