Project Support Officer

This role supports the delivery of small-scale change, continuous improvement initiatives, and operational readiness activity within a fast-paced response environment. It brings together project support, business integration and incident response activity - including time-critical and surge situations - to ensure that change is effectively delivered, embedded and adopted within operational teams.

You will enable the smooth running of projects within National Response Operations, utilising project management techniques to support Project Managers with the co-ordination of business management actions and activities on their behalf.

This is a hands-on, delivery-focused role requiring sound judgement, adaptability, and the confidence to operate effectively across both structured project environments and dynamic, fast-moving operational contexts.

Elements of the role align to the Project delivery capability framework - Government Project Deliverycareer pathway for a Project Support Officer HEO. Successful candidates will be supported in their professional development, including working towards Government Project Delivery Accreditation where this is not already held.

The above is not an exhaustive list.

• Work with operational teams to design and implement changes.
• Support the adoption of new processes, ensuring they are embedded and sustained.
• Implement and maintain systems to enable effective planning and scheduling.
• Prepare and produce status reports, performance data and research new information.
• Manage and monitor compliance of projects in line with UKHSA guidelines and legislation, including Health & Safety, Equality & Diversity, Security.
• Support with workforce planning.
• Build and maintain strong professional relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Draft and sign off correspondence.
• Act as point of contact for responses to requests for information and signpost accordingly.
• Manage the procurement of goods and services.
• Monitor project spend, compile budgets, and support the development of business cases.
• Maintain the risk and issues log, working with risk managers to resolve issues and escalating where appropriate.
• Use data analytics and digital tools to present project information, sharing in line with data standards.
• Support incident response work, re-prioritising quickly and efficiently.
• Be an active member of the UKHSA Project Delivery Profession Community.

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

The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation.

Essential Criteria

• Lead Essential Criteria: Recent experience of working in a fast-paced, operational or service environment, with the ability to adapt to changing priorities.
• Recent working knowledge of planning, scheduling, resource management, risk and issue management, change control, governance, and project delivery methodologies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to challenge effectively to ensure the correct information is presented at the right time.
• Strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to develop effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Works well under pressure, effectively manages multiple tasks, with a keen attention to detail.
• Ability to use digital tools and data analytics to support effective decision making in projects.
• Experience of promoting best practice and lessons learned to support continuous improvement.
• Strong capability in using Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

Desirable Criteria

Contact Centre experience. Ability to work at pace in pressured operating environments. Incident response experience

Selection Process Details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles Success Profiles - GOV.UKand will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Application & Sift

At sift stage you will be assessed against the 8 Essential Criteria listed in this job advert. You will be required to complete:

• An Application Form (Employer/Activity history section on the application)
• A 1000 word Supporting Statement - do not exceed 1000 words as we will not consider any words over this amount

The application form is the kind of information you would put into your CV please note you will not be able to upload or email us your CV. Please complete the Application Form in as much detail as possible.

Please structure your Supporting Statement in two parts:

Part 1 Lead Essential Criteria(maximum 300 words)

Describe how you meet the Lead Essential Criteria listed in this job advert.

Use a specific example that clearly explains what you did, how you did it, and the outcome.

Part 2 Remaining 7 Essential Criteria (maximum 700 words)

Describe how you meet the remaining 7 Essential Criteria listed in this job advert for this role.

Please use clear, evidence-based examples to demonstrate your skills and experience.

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 'Meets all Essential Criteria' will progress to Shortlisting.

Shortlisting

In the event of a large number of applications, we may conduct an initial sift on the following 3 Essential Criteria:

• Recent experience of working in a fast-paced, operational or service environment, with the ability to adapt to changing priorities.

Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications/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

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 & Supporting Statement

Essential: - Delivering at Pace - Lead Behaviour; - Changing and Improving; - Leadership; - Working Together