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About the job
Job summary
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has been set up to provide health security and health protection for the nation by protecting from infectious disease and external hazards. We will act like no other organisation previously to mitigate threats to health before they materialise.
UKHSA will build the nations health resilience and security, strengthening our ability to detect and monitor infectious diseases and external threats to health. Using robust evidence and world-leading expertise, we will go deeper to analyse threats to health, and how best to prevent and control them. UKHSA will ensure a system-wide response in partnership with local authorities, NHS, academia, global professional institutes, and industry.
You will be joining the Finance, Commercial and Corporate Directorate which operates across the whole of UKHSA at various locations.
The role sits within the corporate business area. The Sustainability Team sits in the Property and Security Division, which exists to enable our customers to perform to their very best. We provide specialist services including facilities management, security, technical design expertise, as well as sustainability.
We continue to deliver new ways of working across the estates cluster leading on the scale and pace of activity for central government proposing ways to achieve, and then providing, more dynamic and flexible workspace, while driving down the cost of the estate.
Location
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) offers hybrid working this means that whilst the role will be based in one of our offices, there will be opportunities for an element of working from home. UKHSA have office locations across the UK.
This role can be based at one of our UKHSA offices/locations (Bristol, Birmingham Nottingham, Liverpool, Leeds & Newcastle) with opportunities for an element of working from home. This role will require travel to all UKHSA sites potentially 2-3 times a month.
You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process.
The balance between home and workplace working is to be agreed with the line manager, determined primarily by business needs and in line with departmental policy.
*Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available.*
Job description
As the Senior Sustainability Officer your main responsibilities will include:
This role can be home based with the option to work from an UKHSA office/site a couple of days a week, where space is available. You will be responsible for:
- Assisting with the implementation of our sustainable development strategy
- Energy and resource management in line with our Net Zero Carbon plan
- Co-ordinating and compiling the reporting of the Greening Government Commitment (GGC) targets
- Supporting the Head of Sustainability in the planning and organisation of remedial activities
- Lead, plan and undertake a program of environment audits of the estate
- Compilation of and interpretation of audit and analytical data.
- Ensuring sustainability objectives and advice are embedded into property projects
- Member of the corporate sustainability development group, working with Head of Sustainability to co-ordinate group activities, meetings, and action plans and decision logs
As part of the team, you will also advise on:
- Waste management
- Water efficiency
- Sustainable construction
- Sustainable procurement
- Sustainable travel
- Biodiversity protection and enhancement
- Energy management
We operate in a fast paced and complex environment, so you must be flexible and resilient. A big part of what we do is delivered through others, so you will need to be enabling and inspiring to bring others on board with our vision.
You are expected to display a commitment to continuous improvement, leading change, and improving performance. All those appointed to new roles in the team must be wholeheartedly committed to these principles and evidence this in their application.
The role may involve occasional travel to UKHSA establishments throughout the UK, however our larger science sites are located in the south of England.
Working to the Head of Sustainable Development, you will be part of the Corporate Sustainability team sitting within the Client Solutions, Sustainability and Project team part of the Estates and Security group.
This role offers the opportunity to take a leading role in Sustainability within UKHSA. You will be able to contribute to policy and recommend actions that deliver against our Net Zero Policy. Through the Corporate Sustainability Group, you will be able to monitor and challenge the performance of the organisation. Working with the Head of Sustainable Development you will be able to set the agenda and direction of the group. Our property projects will also require your input to ensure they deliver against our organisational and government sustainability objectives and that emerging trends or technologies are considered.
You will gather the data for, monitor, and contribute to meeting our wider sustainability targets such as Greening Government Commitments, Sustainable Development Management Plan, Nature Recovery Plan and other environmental and sustainability requirements. Advising on energy and resource management will also be a key aspect of your role, along with water and waste management, sustainable construction/building operation and biodiversity protection and enhancement. You will also have a key role in analysing and interpreting corporate travel and other data sets, which include highlighting key trends or improvements.
Leading and undertaking a series of environmental audits of the entire estate will also be a key part of the role. This is new activity for UKHSA so you will have a chance to develop this function. Working with other teams who undertake similar compliance checks e.g. Facilities Management, Health & Safety, Security etc. you will help plan and programme visits to minimise disruption to local sites. You will be expected to develop action plans after each audit and liaise various teams to identify proactive or remedial or activities either by site or programme basis.
You will therefore need to have:
- Strong sustainable development knowledge
- Good understanding of carbon management programme development and delivery experience are critical elements of this role
- Ability to prioritise and manage a workload
- Analyse complex information
- Present recommendations
- Make effective decisions
- Provide clear direction and focus, visibly championing the changes which deliver greater efficiencies.
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 1500 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the following criteria:
Essential
- Excellent knowledge and experience of commissioning net zero carbon studies and projects along with business case development skills
- Significant understanding of energy efficiency and carbon management in a large complex public or private sector organisation
- Strong understanding of low carbon solutions especially in the context of decarbonisation of power and heat for existing estate
- Ability to understand and interpret complex datasets, technical issues, get to the core of performance issues and explain this concisely to stakeholders.
- Significant experience of environmental management, governance, scheduling, assurance and change control in a project or programme environment.
- At least 5 years environmental sustainability work
Desirable
- Membership of the Government Property Profession or Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) or The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) or the Energy Institute is desirable.
- Strong capability in using Microsoft Office applications, including Excel and PowerPoint
- Working knowledge of planning in a project or programme environment, or appropriate skills that have been gained in a non-project environment.
- Working knowledge of project methodologies and frameworks.
Please use attached JD for full essential criteria. We ask you use the statement of suitability to demonstrate your proficiency in these areas.
Benefits
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.
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
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
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.
Please ensure that your statement of suitability contains no personal identifiers e.g name in either the file name or content of the document.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview.
STAGE 2 INTERVIEW
This stage 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.
All applicants that progress to interview will be assessed on behaviours, strengths, technical and experience through Success Profiles.
When assessing strengths, we want to find out whether you and the job role are a good fit. We will look at what you enjoy doing and what you do well and often. By ensuring that the role is the right fit for you, you are more likely to enjoy it and perform well.
The Success Profiles framework will be used to assess and recruit the most suitable candidate. The following behaviours will be used at the interview:
For further information on the selection process, please refer to the attached Candidate Pack.
Expected Timeline:
Advert close: 23:55hrs on 3rd September 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: WC 18th September 2023
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.
Security clearance level requirement
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.
Check just a basic check is required
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&Cs are found https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/
OR
This role is to be appointed under NHS Terms & Conditions. Full details on the T&Cs 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/
Complaint process:
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: Complaints1@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.
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).
Apply and further information
You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Hannah Burton
- Email : UKHSA.recruitment@reed.com
Recruitment team
- Email : UKHSA.recruitment@reed.com
