Head of Scientific Partnerships

Key working relationships

• Internal - CDEP Deputy Director
• Other Deputy Directors
• Heads of sections in CDEP
• Operational/Scientific Resources Managers
• Other Scientific Leaders in DPC, CDEP and HCBS
• Scientific Leaders and Research Scientists in Science group
• Department heads and other senior staff in other functional areas in UKHSA (e.g., Safety, Quality, HR, Facilities Management, Finance, IT, Business Development, Legal, Commercial, Security, information governance, etc.).
• Director, Specialised Microbiology and Laboratories
• External - Customers, including national and international commercial organisations, universities and research institutes
• Suppliers and contractors
• Members of other UK Government departments and UK Government agencies and academic institutions.
• Funding bodies, including Research Councils, European Union, Department of Health, charities, US National Institutes of Health, NIAID, BARDA, FDA etc.
• Regulatory authorities as required (e.g. Health and Safety Executive, Home Office, DEFRA, Foreign Office, US Gov Depts, Security).

• Determine tactical and strategic operational requirements to support the scientific strategy prepared by the Deputy Director.
• Determine, implement and deliver plans to maintain and develop staff capability to meet UKHSA, customer and emergency preparedness needs.
• With Deputy Director, to lead, develop and implement a strategy for Divisions new business acquisition and execution; monitoring financial/business performance; workforce and headcount management; facilities development/equipment acquisition.
• Represent CDEP in various fora to ensure business needs are met.
• Join working groups/projects, services and initiatives to provide project, information and analytical advice and expertise.
• Take a lead in influencing other departments/service providers to improve/enhance the service they provide to the CDEP Division.
• Manage Scientific Partnership Lead and support Division Managers to ensure establishment, operation and completion of projects to customers' satisfaction, to budget, time and quality.
• Responsible for implementation of a range of policies and procedures.
• Line manage Scientific Partnership Lead. Support and develop staff in all people management issues, including succession planning, appraisal, training, recruitment, performance, and absence management.
• Contribute to Corporate and Business Plans as required, and ensure relevant objectives are met.
• With Deputy Director, to establish and support overall income and expenditure budget for CDEP and ensure delivery.
• Ensure Business Planning and Risk Registers for CDEP are current and operable.
• Interact with other UKHSA functions (Finance, HR, IT, Quality, Safety, Engineering, Commercial, Security, information governance, etc.) to ensure Divisions operations run optimally.
• Undertake all assigned work in accordance with UKHSA Risk
• Management Systems, policies, and procedures.
• To comply with all UKHSA policies and procedures.
• To perform any other duties required by the Line manager commensurate with grade.

This is not an exhaustive list.

Essential criteria

• BSc in a relevant scientific or business subject (or equivalent qualification) or equivalent experience in a similar role
• Specialist knowledge in ops management disciplines, e.g. resource management, finance, safety, quality etc
• Evidence of experience and a proven track record of strategic and tactical operational management: working at a senior level in specialist scientific function.
• A proven track-record and evidence of working effectively with the confidence to lead, intervene and act as a trouble-shooter to resolve issues and tensions.
• Significant experience of developing and managing effective working relationships with a wide range of customers and stakeholders on a personal level and on behalf of management in the delivery of business plans.

Desirable criteria

• Project management experience
• Experience of line management: including, manage, motivate, and develop staff within the team to ensure that they can deliver responsibilities. Including the management of disciplinary procedures as required, undertake staff consultation and consider welfare and safety matters. Recruit as necessary and performance manage a team that delivers a range of tasks. Use of appraisal and development policy and procedures.
• Ability to recognise and materialise scientific innovations into new business, experience with staff and budget management
• Strategic thinking -Have complex problem-solving skills and ability to anticipate and respond to sudden unexpected demands.
• Ability to keep a cool head in high-pressured situations and ability to react calmly and at speed in a very wide range of circumstances.

Selection criteria

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your behaviours, experience and technical skills.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

You willbe requiredto complete an application form. You will be assessed onthe listed5 essentialcriteria,and this will be in the form of:

• an application form(Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
• a 1000 wordsupporting statement.

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.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 C.V please beadvisedyou will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible). Please do not email us your CV.

HealthjobsUK has a word limit of 1500, but your supporting statement must be no more than1000 words. We will not consider any words over1000 words.

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
• Meets no essential criteria

If used, the pile Meets all essential criteria will proceed to shortlisting.Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on:

• Significant experience of developing and managing effective working relationships with a wide range of customers and stakeholders on a personal level and on behalf of management in the delivery of business plans.

Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications / large amount of successful candidates.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview and assessment.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview

You will be invited to face to face interview in Porton Down.

Behaviours, technical skills and experience will be tested at interview.

You will be required to prepare a 5 - 10 minute presentation as part of the interview. This will assess your technical skills. The presentation title will be: How would you identify and take forward the first partnership if you are successful?

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

• Working together (Lead behaviour)
• Communicating and influencing
• Seeing the big picture
• Delivering at pace

Interviews will be held 20th and/or 27th of November 2026. Please note, these dates are subject to change.

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

Location

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 https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

Essential: - Application form and supporting statement

Essential: - Presentation

Essential: - Working together (Lead behaviour); - Communicating and influencing; - Seeing the big picture; - Delivering at pace