Salary
£40,876 – £45,998
Job grade
Senior Executive Officer
Contract type
Fixed Term
Length of employment
FTC until 31st March 2025
Type of role
Project Delivery
Working pattern
Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time
Number of jobs available
1
Location
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) offers hybrid working this means that whilst the role will be based in Nobel House, there will be opportunities for an element of working from home.
About the job
Job summary
About us
At the United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) our mission is to provide health security for the nation by protecting from infectious disease and external hazards. We are a trusted source of advice to government and to the public, focusing on reducing inequalities in the way different communities experience and are impacted by infectious disease, environmental hazards, and other threats to health.
Our mission is challenging, innovative and in the spotlight. We will work to ensure our people have the diverse skills, experiences and backgrounds we need to thrive, that our employees are representative of the communities we serve and feel valued and enabled to play their part in delivering our work.
Creating our working culture is an ongoing process which we are developing by listening and learning together, hearing and acting upon diverse voices and opinions to develop a common sense of identity and effective ways of working.
GLOBAL OPERATIONS
This post is located within UKHSA’s Global Operations Division, led by the Director of Global Operations. Global Operations supports the delivery of UKHSA’s Global Health Strategy. It provides a corporate service to UKHSA supporting the oversight, coordination and delivery of UKHSA’s international activity and working with UK government departments and other UK partners to build and strengthen international public health links. The division also maintains its own extensive portfolio of global health programs and projects, focusing on technical capacity building and health system strengthening in partner countries.
Job Summary
The post-holder will support the Global Operations (GO) Division to provide quality, timely monitoring, evaluation and learning support as part of the Monitoring, Reporting, Evaluation and Learning (MREL) team. The post-holder reports to the Monitoring and Quality Assurance Manager to deliver on the MREL strategy which itself fulfils the Global Public Health Operational Framework. The MREL team itself is accountable through the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Reference Group which meets monthly to manage the implementation of the MREL strategy. This role is varied and often time sensitive requiring strong technical as well as inter-personal skills. The post holder is likely to be expected to undertake some international travel up to 4-8 weeks a year.
The MREL team is newly established within the GO Division, with close working relations with the Global Programmes’ teams as well as Strategy and Information management. The portfolio of global projects has expanded considerably from both Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding, business-as-usual as well as grant-in-aid resources. Its work is expected to not only improve global health security but also contribute to the growing body of evidence of effective interventions which can demonstrate good value-for-money (VfM). The MREL provides support in five key areas:
- Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) related tools, systems and methodologies including data management through online platforms – to improve the quality and availability of robust, tested evidence which harmonise across the portfolio of projects
- Capability strengthening to project staff in M&E related issues – to support the designated MREL official use MREL products within their project efficiently and effectively
- Quality assurance of external M&E products (i.e., Theory of Change, logframe, MREL plan, Annual Reviews) – work with Technical Leads to ensure all MREL related documents are relevant and fit-for-purpose
- Cross-project learning and reflection – support opportunities to learn from projects as well as relevant external stakeholders as part of the Division’s commitment to flexible, adaptive management
- Reviews and evaluations – either undertaking internal reviews (i.e., VfM or learning case studies) as well as supporting external evaluations (i.e., support and contract management of externally appointed evaluators)
The post-holder will focus on the development and refining of tools and support their uptake and use within projects.
Job description
- Support the embedding of the MREL framework (including Theory of Change and measurement plan) across all staff/teams, for our 5-year strategy 2020-2025
- Take a role in identifying lessons from across the Directorate of relevance to stakeholders internally and externally. These will relate to the role out of The Learning Cycle which is the approved tool to ensure projects use a robust system for: analysis; planning; implementation; learning and reflection. This includes supporting project teams to appropriately record their progress using agile software (Jira and Confluence) or other methods as relevant.
- Ensure all projects conform to the GO MREL framework
- Support the ongoing development and capability building for relevant staff in MREL tools, systems (including digitalisation of monitoring processes where relevant) and procedures through a variety of methods (i.e., training, written documents, mentoring, peer support, community of practise)
- Maintain a risk register of projects’ monitoring systems
- Provide technical support to programmes and other partners to strengthen the evidence base of Global Operations.
- Maintain up to date knowledge of good practice and external developments in monitoring and evaluation of development projects and build the capacity of staff through training and support for effective implementation of monitoring and evaluation systems.
- Facilitate knowledge sharing between projects related to MREL tools, procedures and systems
- Carrying out other projects and functions as agreed with line manager.
- Review relevance, efficiency and effectiveness of tools by observing their use in projects and revise as relevant as part of our commitment to adaptive systems and processes
- Participate in cross-project learning fora
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 Division. The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation.
Person specification
Essential Criteria:
It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of no more than 1000 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the following criteria:
Essential
- Degree in science, international or health subjects or equivalent experience
- In Depth knowledge and practical experience of using the main tools of M&E: Theory of Change, Logframes, MREL plans, indicator development
- Experience of qualitative and / or quantitative tools, systems and methods
- Experience of developing a range of (non-technical) staff in subject area
- Excellent communication skills including the ability to train and develop others and to relay complex technical information to non-technical audience to ensure understanding
- Ability to analyse complex issues where material is conflicting and drawn from multiple sources and present in visually engaging ways
- Able to work independently as well as part of a team
- Demonstrates commitment to continuous learning and improvement particularly in adapting and improving MREL tools based on project experience
- Ability to make quick, informed decision in an independent manner
- Confident working with senior colleagues, stakeholders and high-profile delegates
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.
Desirable
- Master’s in Public Health or equivalent experience
- Experience with global health or international development organisations in designing, implementing and management of monitoring and evaluation in the health sector
- Understanding of the public health / public sector and global public health infrastructure especially in Low, middle-income Countries
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
Any move to UKHSA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at Childcare Choices , 30 Hours Free Childcare, Tax-Free Childcare and More , Help with Costs , GOV.UK
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Your Statement of Suitability (no more than 1000 words) 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.
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.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview.
STAGE 2 – INTERVIEW
This competition will involve an interview by Teams.
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.
Expected Timeline:
Advert close: 23:55hrs on 27th March 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.
Interviews: w/c 17/04/2023
Please note these dates could be subject to change.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
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
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
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).
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.