Deputy Director PHM Operations and CSO Group Performance

Job responsibilities

The key deliverables are to develop and implement laboratory microbiology operations to reduce the impact of infectious diseases on health and to ensure that public health microbiology is at the heart of relevant policies, programmes, and interventions in the UK and internationally. The postholder will ensure that the operations are underpinned by an effective performance management system.

This role may be a Senior Leader for one of our main scientific sites.

• Ensure the Division operates effectively, efficiently and to consistent high standards of quality.
• Ensure that PHM services are delivered to budget and within agreed service level agreements.
• Ensure that income is recovered for services provided to external and internal partners.
• Implement a culture of continuous process improvement and service improvement.
• Ensure robust contracting, procurement, capital and business planning, leading the management of NHS and other partner commercial contracts.
• Own emergency response planning, business continuity arrangements and continuous improvement of services for PHM.
• Ensure that performance is recorded, reported and monitored across PHM and that action is taken where intervention and improvement is necessary.
• Lead the PHM directorates input to business planning and SR activity to support group submissions.
• Ensure that recruitment across the Division is efficient.
• Ensure the Division has robust planning for workforce development, career pathways, training and succession.
• Lead the development of a new performance function for the CSO Group, developing performance metrics to enable the senior leadership team.
• Be accountable for the implementation of enhanced operational and performance analytics across the Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) Group, driving a data-led approach to performance improvement.
• Continually develop and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of PHM.
• Work with colleagues to identify and ensure the maintenance of business-critical activities, e.g. through contracts, supply chains and to ensure that there are effective business continuity plans in place, and they are tested regularly.
• Work with colleagues within and external to UKHSA to ensure surge capacity is in place at all times.
• Ensure effective succession planning within the PHM Division.
• Resolve complaints, grievances, capability and disciplinary issues at the appropriate level.
• Lead and manage change positively, when necessary.
• Take responsibility for the upkeep and provision of quality and information systems related to the Division.
• Support and develop the workforce across the whole system, in line with UKHSAs remit, to support capability and capacity, including scientific and professional skills to meet the challenges involved in protecting and improving the publics health.
• Ensure oversight and assurance of ongoing research is maintained within the Division.
• Develop and implement the Division workforce plan, including retention, recruitment and career development of staff.
• Work with PHM DDs, Head of Science Profession and Head of Science Talent Management to ensure the Division provides training opportunities appropriate for its clinical, scientific and other staff groups and students, including programmes for Biomedical Medical Scientist (BMS) placement students, Scientist Training Programme (STP) and Higher Specialist Scientist training (HSST) programme candidates.
• Developing and maintain relationships with key partners and stakeholders in the UK and internationally.
• Providing input to policymakers in DHSC and other government departments.
• Maintain technical expertise and research commitments and support report writing and relevant peer review publications.
• Manage Project Management transition programmes across Public Health microbiology delivering innovative new functions including Molecular, genomics, proteomics and serology (as they are developed and implemented).

Please see Candidate Pack for full overview of duties.

Essential criteria

• Demonstrable experience in creating, leading and managing high performing multidisciplinary teams and laboratory services either in the public or private sectors.
• Broad experience and understanding of public health microbiology and virology.
• Evidence of managing major changes successfully, including experience of creating and implementing continuous improvement programmes and business planning for future success.
• Experience of managing budgets to balance, across a geographically dispersed operational organisation.
• Experience in contracting, contract negotiations and procurement.
• Experience with specialist training and development of staff.
• Experience of successfully leading responses to and investigation of health and safety- and quality- related incidents.
• Demonstrated ability to operate at pace in a fast-changing complex environment to manage competing priorities effectively.
• Experienced at introducing and managing Information Systems projects.
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems

• Programme or Project Management Qualification or equivalent experience

Desirable criteria ...