Head of Technical Services & Design

The Head of Technical Services & Design will join the UK Health Security Campus Programme. The overall aim of the programme is to deliver new modern fit for purpose science facilities, creating a hub for the critical scientific capabilities the UK needs to deliver on key health security objectives and National Biosecurity. The UK Health Security Campus Programme aims to enhance and replace existing UKHSA critical infrastructure, most importantly its aging high containment laboratories, which are essential for protecting the nation against potentially highly infectious diseases.

The programme has a small civil service core team to deliver high value complex capital infrastructure construction programme of works. It leads, directs, manages and controls the day-to-day work. Overall, this is headed by the Programme Director, supported by Lead Project Manager, project teams, PMO and technical assurance team. The programme is supported by professional services delivery partners appointed through framework of specialist suppliers for design, technical, project management, commercial and cost management and other disciplines.

As Head of Technical and Design, you will be responsible for managing and implementing the technical specifications and design guides for the UK Health Security Campus Programme by working closely with end-users, scientific facilities, scientists and Subject Matter Experts (SME).

You will lead the Technical Assurance Team and use your knowledge, experience and drive to implement and embed existing strategies into the UK Health Security Campus Programme, whilst continuing working with scientific facilities, scientists and Subject Matter Experts (SME) to develop and improve technical specifications and design guides for the future.

You will act as the lead or intelligent client to turn operational requirements into building design solutions and deliver an enhanced user experience by creating great places to work.

This role may include offsite design in Modern Methods of Construction. Tracking measurable results, you will hold responsibility for the compliance for policies and standards in support of projects throughout delivery across all design aspects, ensuring all new-build, renovation, change and fit out works follow approved guidelines.

The role will require senior management engagement and will develop a suite of fit for purpose and forward-thinking design guides, fostering innovation, share lessons learned, and promote technical standards internally and externally to move the construction industry forwards. This is excellent opportunity to balance your senior management skills with your technical expertise.

Responsibilities include:

• Overall leadership and management of the programme Technical Assurance team, providing clear direction and focus, visibly championing the changes which deliver greater efficiencies.
• Ownership of Specifications & Design Guides for the UK Health Security Campus Programme.
• Ensuring that design standards, specifications and guides are compliant with legislation, fit for purpose and provide value for money.
• Continuing to rationalise specifications and seek avenues to harmonise across the agency’s assets and wider Government Departments.
• Supporting the project teams in all design matters where specialist advice is needed to overcome challenges or uncertainty.
• Considering and make decisions on all Value Engineering that relates to technical specifications and consider all non-compliance requests through a derogation process.
• Supporting both new and existing suppliers understanding of UKHSA’s requirements and where applicable oversee the product testing procedure and product acceptance criteria.
• Continuing to improve processes and develop strategies to implement on projects at differing stages.
• Supporting the business case team with the development of the programme business case, providing expert input where required.
• Gathering and challenging operational requirements, and develop appropriate, cost effective and timely design solutions through RIBA stages.
• Overseeing the maintenance and development of a Building Information Modelling (BIM) technical standards library
• Leading on all aspects of building planning for a diverse workforce/service user, working in partnership with the supply chain to ensure innovative solutions including off site construction where appropriate.
• Providing direction and advice to consultants to ensure designs meet the operational needs of service users.
• Championing inclusive and accessible design.

The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of this role.  You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required.  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

• Undergraduate Degree or equivalent industry experience/knowledge in a related subject (e.g. project management, quantity surveying, design/architectural, civil/structural/Mechanical/Electrical engineering, building surveying, construction or relevant technical subject matter).
• Experience of leading a varied and senior team of professionals to deliver ambitious targets.
• Ability to set technical design and assurance strategy for the UK Health Security Campus Programme.
• Experience of working with complex and high value project/framework procurement processes.
• Knowledge and experience of risk management and benefits realisation.
• A strong communicator and able to present confidently to a wide range of audiences.
• Knowledge of RIBA stages and experience of construction projects.
• A strong delivery and commercial focus with understanding of potential cost reduction strategies and leveraging purchasing power to drive savings and benefits.
• Extensive knowledge of statutory regulations & processes, Planning & building regulations and construction related legislation.

Desirable Criteria

• Knowledge of the wider (global) construction methods including offsite market.
• Financial management experience.
• Contract management experience such as PPC 2000, NEC3 forms of contracts and contract remedies.
• Understating of Project Management techniques and processes.
• Awareness of Government Property Profession.

Behaviours

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Changing and Improving

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £70,797, UK Health Security Agency contributes £20,509 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• 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%

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: UKHSA Hub , Civil Service Careers

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours.

Application & Sift  

This vacancy is using the Success Profiles framework.

At sift stage you will be assessed against the essential criteria listed in the job advert.

You will be required to complete an:

• Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
• 1,200-word Statement of Suitability

This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role.

You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. The application form is the kind of information you would put into your CV – please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible.

Longlisting

In the event of a large number of applications, we may longlist into 3 piles of:

• Meets all Essential Criteria
• Meets some Essential Criteria
• Meets no Essential Criteria

Only those that ‘Meet all Essential Criteria’ will progress to Shortlisting.

Shortlisting

In the event of a large number of applications/successful candidates, we may shortlist against the Desirable Criteria.

Please note feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Interview 

You will be invited to a remote interview.

This vacancy is being assessed using Success Profiles. During the interview we will assess you against the below Behaviours:

• Leadership (lead behaviour)
• Making effective decisions
• Working Together
• Changing and Improving

You will be asked to prepare and present a 10-minute presentation at the start of your interview. The presentation will be designed to allow you to demonstrate your knowledge of and experience in:

• Leading Technical Service and Design team in a complex infrastructure capital programme.

Further details will be provided at interview stage.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Eligibility Criteria

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).

Salary

Salary Breakdown (Grade 6):
•    Grade 6 Inner London: £75,104 – £85,436
•    Grade 6 Outer London: £72,950 – £83,443
•    Grade 6 National:  £70,797 – £81,450

If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at any of our Core HQ’s – Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, 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 one of UKHSA’s core HQ’s (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London).

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

All successful candidates must meet the basic security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is:

• Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS)

DBS Requirement:

• Basic DBS

Future location

UKHSA is investing in a new state-of-the-art National Biosecurity Centre in Harlow, Essex, which will eventually bring together teams currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale and Porton Down. For more details, please see: Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection – GOV.UK. The new facilities will start becoming operational in the mid-2030s, with full completion by 2038. Staff will move in phases as facilities become available. If you’re appointed to a role currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale or Porton Down, please note that we’ll continue investing in these sites for the next decade. As we get closer to the transition, we’ll provide full information about relocation support available to staff.

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/

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.

Internal Fraud Check 

If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant’s personal details – name, national insurance number and date of birth – will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional circumstances. Currently this is only for External candidates to the Civil Service.

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 the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name :Sarah Handy
• Email :sarah.handy@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

https://www.healthjobsuk.com/job/v7685828