Company: NHS

Apply for the Head of Delivery Operations

Location: London

Job Description:

The Directorate provides strategic leadership and oversight for developing and managing a common and bespoke suite of performant, modern, secure, data and analytical tools, services, platforms and applications, ensuring access to high quality data and analytics services, internally and externally.

The Directorate is focused on acquiring, collecting, processing and enriching data as well as guiding the design and delivery of the data platforms, dashboards and tools with a responsibility for surveillance systems and the UKHSA bioinformatics capability. We work with Agency wide stakeholders, business owners and suppliers to revolutionise enterprise data capability and technology.

This critical post will lead the Service and Project Delivery Operations function in the Data and Surveillance Services division. The remit includes overseeing a team to design, build and run processes and capabilities within key parts of the Directorate that supports UKHSA colleagues across areas such as; relationship building across clinical, scientific and health protection. This will support the development and translation of requirements, drive health incident responsiveness – learning and embedding best practice locally, utilise standardised tools and approaches to drive delivery of data roadmaps and business continuity. It also includes oversight and improvement of a ‘Front Door’ capability, key services used to manage demand and access specialist resource to support with data related projects.

Main duties of the job

This post will ensure close matrix working and collaboration between Subject Matter Experts, Data Specialists and colleagues working within core and temporary roles. As an experienced Manager, you will have responsibility for driving the delivery of large scale, complex or contentious projects. This will include:

the associated business change activities
establishing appropriate governance and assurance processes
monitoring progress, risks and issues
ensuring the business readiness for change

The role requires professional expertise in the effective use of project delivery methodologies and techniques. You will be responsible for the overall integrity and coherence of the programmes and services delivery status. Delivery of results through others and effective negotiation at senior levels will be key. It will be critical to develop and maintain strategic partnerships and relationships and influence others where there may be divergent and conflicting views. This role requires significant leadership, management, problem solving, representational and influencing skills both within the organisation and with external stakeholders. Work at this level can have a major impact on the achievement of departmental objectives or bear a significant risk for the department. Finally, the Head of Delivery will coach and mentor junior members of the team and the wider profession to help build professional capability.

Job responsibilities

Your key responsibilities will include:

Delivery: Create and lead the project/service to deliver the agreed outcomes within time, cost and quality constraints.
Project/Service Delivery: Provide effective leadership and management controls. Set project/service controls. Design the project/service structure and organisation appropriate to meet deliverables and realise benefits. Set and use appropriate delivery methodologies. Manage effective transition between project/service phases.
Business Case: Develop and draft business cases, with input from specialists as necessary.
Budget and Resources: Develop the budget and track delivery within budget. Identify skill requirements; and deploy and develop resources. Day to day management and leadership of the project/service and the project/service team.
Benefits Realisation: Deliver the agreed Business Case benefits and outcomes. Ensure appropriate Benefits Realisation Strategy is in place and monitor longer term delivery of benefits against the Business Case.
Stakeholder Management: Identify and manage stakeholder relationships and need for senior level support. Manage internal and external relationships as appropriate.
Risks & Issues: Identify and monitor risks and issues, working closely with the directorate risk lead. Develop mitigating actions and escalate as appropriate. Identify and work with related projects to manage interdependencies.
Governance: Support effective governance and decision making. Provide reporting and engage in mechanisms that hold you, as Head of Delivery, to account for delivery.
Assurance: Engage with assurance reviews and support action on recommendations. Organise assurance processes such as gateway reviews, as required.
Change Management: Ensure effective Change Management processes are in place to agree and document changes to deliverables as agreed with stakeholders.
Guidance & Support: Provide support, guidance and coaching for the team. Show commitment to personal development. Promote effective individual and team performance.
Project Performance & Controls: Cascade vision and translate into delivery objectives for the team. Develop and maintain Project Plan. Identify and set appropriate Project Controls. Manage performance and report progress to sponsors.
Communication and Key Working Relationships: The post holder will develop effective working relationships and communicate regularly with a wide range of individuals, clinical and non-clinical, internal and external to UKHSA.

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.

Essential criteria – you will be assessed on the below 8 essential criteria, which have been selected from the Job Description Document.

Masters level qualification in an appropriate project delivery discipline of relevance to the role/NVQ7 or equivalent experience working at a senior management level, leading large complex digital and data projects, including people and stakeholder relationship management.
Experience of leading large scale, complex or contentious projects, programmes or portfolios.
A track record in delivering major or complex projects.
Significant knowledge and understanding of project delivery practice.
Understanding of procurement and business development policies and procedures.
Experience using digital tools and knowledge of when best to apply them.
Experience of working on incident responses or fast paced issues.
Knowledge and experience of digital product discovery and familiarity with database technologies.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Ability, Experience and Technical skills.

Stage 1 – Application & Sift:

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the 8 essential criteria listed, and this will be in the form of a:

Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application

750-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.

Please note that you will only be assessed on the essential criteria listed within the advert and not all those listed in the job description.

Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:

Meets all essential criteria

Meets some essential criteria

Piles Meets all essential criteria will be moved through to the shortlisting stage.

Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on:

Experience of leading large scale, complex or contentious projects, programmes or portfolios

Please do not exceed 750 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number. If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview. Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered.

Please note you will not be able to upload your CV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible. Please do not email us your CV.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview (success profiles)

You will be invited to a (single) remote interview.

Behaviours, technical, experience, ability and strengths will be tested at interview.

There will be a 510-minute presentation at interview, full details of the subject will be provided at the shortlisting stage.

The Behaviour’s tested during the interview stage will be:

Changing and Improving (lead)
Leadership
Developing Self and Others
Managing a Quality Service

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

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at any of our Core HQs. 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 HQs (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London).

Eligibility Criteria

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

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Person Specification

Application form and interview

Application form and Statement of Suitability

Behaviours

Changing and Improving
Leadership
Developing Self and Others
Managing a Quality Service

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Any UKHSA Core Office – Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, London (Canary Wharf)

£68,568 to £82,746 a year Per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working

Reference number

919-HM-307748-EXT

Job locations