Job description
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About the job
Benefits
Things you need to know
Apply and further information
Location
About the job
Job summary
This role is based at the office in Chilton, OX11RQ.
Each regional team operates in line with UKHSA guidance, and therefore work in a hybrid model with staff expected to attend site 40-50% of their time. On non-office days, the individual may work from home. Other travel from time to time may be required
Working Pattern – Full Time, Part Time, Job Share, Flexible Working, Hybrid Working,
Responsibilities:
As the Business Support Officer your main responsibilities will provide day-to-day administrative and / or dedicated PA support to the Directorate or senior management team. They will maintain effective working relationships with a variety of stakeholders both internal and external to the organisation. The post holder will work with minimal supervision and be expected to work flexibly as part of a multi-disciplinary team providing a wide range of specific administrative duties. The post holder may work with colleagues who are based across the country at different sites and / or who work remotely.
Job description
Administrative Support
- Provide comprehensive administrative support to teams across the Directorate
- Lead and act as a central coordinating point of contact for a range of business administration activities. This will include delegated lead responsibility for certain corporate function processes. For example, compiling and updating health and safety risk assessments or reporting of sickness absence and preparing and submitting returns on behalf of the team as required.
- Communicate and engage effectively with a range of people, including internal and external staff and stakeholders. This will include dealing with stakeholder enquiries promptly and courteously by email, telephone, letter or in person, referring to the relevant lead where appropriate.
- Responsible for the organisation of meetings and events and production of reports, papers, minutes and updating action logs as required. This will include providing secretariat support to teams and other internal meetings and networks as required.
- Support the development of systems and procedures where necessary to ensure efficiency, quality and cost effectiveness across the business support and administration function.
- Participate in relevant internal working groups/projects, services and initiatives across the organisation representing the Team, Directorate or Centre.
- Carry out timely and accurate information analysis and reporting on agreed areas of their working area and present findings in an agreed manner. This will include developing and maintaining databases as required by the job using a variety of digital and IT applications.
- Contribute to effective information management (including maintaining administrative and information resources, i.e., filing systems) and assist with the dissemination and / or collation of information/returns, in a timely manner.
- Responsible for organising and controlling own workload ensuring deadlines are observed and duties performed efficiently.
- Provide cover as directed by line manager for other members of the team in their absence and assist with their workloads as necessary.
Project Support
- Undertake project support in the absence of a dedicated project support role in the structure, responding to information requests and other tasks which will involve meeting tight deadlines and may include using digital tools, for example JIRA. This will include assisting and working closely with members of the project team(s), supporting elements of projects as directed by the relevant lead or project manager; maintaining project plans; supporting the provision of management information; and participating in working groups.
Financial and Resource Management
- Provide support and information to aid effective management of budgets, in liaison with the Finance Business Partner, including overseeing the placement and/or orders for goods and/or stationery using the FARM system, receipt goods and maintain log of expenditure.
- Support the end of year/monthly close down of accounts.
Leadership and Management
- Be a visible, positive, and competent role model and motivator, and provide training, advice, and support in own area of responsibility.
- Undertake effective line management of staff (if applicable) within area of responsibility, including undertaking annual appraisals and ensuring direct reports have access to appropriate training and induction; progressing any disciplinary or capability issues, as necessary; and participating in recruitment process of administrative staff.
- Supervise the business support team on their day-to-day activities, which may include call handling or data inputting.
Communication and Key Working Relationships
- The post holder will develop effective working relationships and communicate regularly either by phone, email, or face to face with a wide range of individuals including clinical and non-clinical staff, scientists, support staff, managers and corporate team staff for example, HR or Payroll. The post holder may make or receive phone calls, receive emails and decide relevant action, responding directly where appropriate and this may include external people for example, stakeholders and/or from members of the public as well as other public health organisations e.g., NHS and the Dept. of Health.
Personal and 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.
Other
- In addition to the job specific requirements above, this role will require adherence to all UKHSA Policies and Procedures. A full list of these is available on UKHSA net and form part of the employment contract.
- All staff are expected to contribute to the delivery of corporate goals and objectives.
- The role holder may be expected to support corporate service activity as set out in the Corporate Services Standard Operating Procedures
- As a Category 1 responder under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, UKHSA has a set of civil protection responsibilities which it must fulfil in the response to any emergency or major incident. Staff may be asked to contribute to the preparedness for and response to major incidents and emergencies (as defined in the UKHSA Concept of Operations) as required.
- This document provides an outline of the tasks, responsibility and outcomes required of the role. The job holder will carry out any other duties that may reasonably be required by their line manager.
The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the team, Directorate, and the Organisation
The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.
Person specification
It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 1000 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the following criteria:
Essential
- Educated to a level 3 qualification and / or relevant experience working at a similar level
- Significant administrative / secretarial experience including developing, implementing, and maintaining office systems and handling sensitive information.
- IT skills and advanced Microsoft Office experience, including Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint. Experience of organising meetings and producing supporting paperwork, including agendas, and taking minutes / action notes.
- Experienced at working under pressure handling multiple tasks and prioritising own workload.
- Ability to use finance systems and support financial analysis for reports.
- Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing. Take time to consider the best communication channel to use for the audience, including making the best of digital resources and considering value for money.
- Ability to follow relevant policies, procedures, and legislation to complete your work.
- Ability to work without supervision working to tight and often changing timescales.
- Ability to work well as part of a team and strive to ensure the team pulls together and is effective.
- You are inquisitive, you seek out new information and look for new ways to develop yourself.
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.
Benefits
For more information on the UKHSA please visit: UK Health Security Agency - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
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 average employer contribution of 27%
- Range of health and wellbeing support
Things you need to know
Selection process details
STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT:
You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed in line with the advertised essential criteria – please do provide evidence of how you meet this.
Your Statement of Suitability should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria (outlined in the person specification section).
You will also be asked to provide information within the ‘Employer/ Activity history’ section of the application form. This is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV, setting out your career history.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview.
STAGE 2 – INTERVIEW
This competition will involve an interview by video.
As part of the process, candidates will be invited to interview which will involve an in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification.
For further information on the selection process, please refer to the attached Candidate Pack.
Expected Timeline:
Advert close: 23:55hrs on 15th April 2023 – unfortunately, late applications will not be considered. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Shortlist: 22nd April 2023
Interviews: w/c 29th April 2023 onwards
Please note these dates could be subject to change.
Eligibility Criteria
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants)
Nationality requirements
Appointments to roles within UKHSA will be made in accordance with the Civil Service nationality rules. These can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- Nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
- Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
- Certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.
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. People working with government assets must complete Basic Personnel Security Standard checks.
For posts on UKHSA Civil Service terms and conditions, new entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. For existing Civil Servants and roles advertised across government, the rules of transfer apply, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive a 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.
Please Note
This role is to be appointed under Civil Service Terms & Conditions. Full details on the T&C’s are found https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/
Are you already a civil servant, or employed by a Civil Service Commission accredited public body? Please state home department on your application form.
Do you meet the nationality requirements for this post? https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
- certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
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).
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
Recruitment team