Apprentice Emergency Preparedness Administrator

Job summary

The Apprentice Emergency PreparednessAdministrator will work within the National Response Centre (NRC) to provide administrative support towards the management and co-ordination of the UKHSA national response to public health incidents.

The postholder will work in a collaborative and flexible manner with all members of the National Response Centre team and the wider EPRR Division to provide effective administrative support. The post holder may work with colleagues who are based across the country at different sites and/or who work remotely.

The UKHSA National Response Centre is responsible for coherence and coordination of:

• situational awareness and preparedness to effectively respond to incidents.
• response to incidents; and
• recovery from incidents.

The National Response Centre works closely with the network of Regional Response Centres and aligns with the WHO Framework for Public Health Emergency Operations Centres.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to complete a Level 3 Business Administrator Apprenticeship. To qualify for a government-funded apprenticeship, you must be legally permitted to work in the UK and have been ordinarily resident in the UK or EEA for at least the three previous years prior to starting.

Main duties of the job

Your key responsibilities will include to:

• Provide administrative and operational support to the National Response Centre (NRC), including meeting coordination, minute-taking, and diary management.
• Maintain and manage information systems, databases, and records in line with data protection, information governance, and security requirements.
• Support incident response activity, including setting up new incidents and assisting with exercises and training events within the NRC.
• Act as a point of contact for enquiries and for internal systems (e.g. MaPS), including procurement, invoicing, and financial administration.
• Contribute to wider team and organisational priorities, including project work and continuous professional development.
• Maintain physical assets that the NRC owns.

About us

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

Details

• Date posted: 27 July 2026
• Pay scheme: Other
• Salary: £25,651 to £30,266 a year per annum, pro rata
• Contract: Fixed term
• Duration: 23 months
• Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working
• Reference number: 919-JP-307069-EXT
• Job locations: Core HQs, Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool or London (Canary Wharf), E14 4PU, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

Your main responsibilities will include:

• Provide administrative support to the National Response Centre Team and other emergency response functions/staff as required, including arranging and taking minutes of meetings, diary management and support to Heads of NRC
• Be responsible for the development and maintenance of various information databases of emergency plans, contacts, distribution lists and other relevant information
• Handle information effectively and in line with Caldicott and Information Governance Guidelines
• Be a point of contact for the Money and People Services (MaPS) system, including sourcing, ordering and receipting of goods, as well as the prompt raising, payment and recording of invoices
• Manage and respond to enquiries, escalating complex issues or matters requiring input from other colleagues where appropriate.
• Support the set-up of new incidents
• Undertake an appropriate operational role in support of ongoing incidents following completion of the required training. This may occasionally involve working outside of normal working hours and over a seven-day period at times
• Support the closure of incidents and the debriefing process.
• Provide cross cover to other parts of UKHSA, as and when required
• Support Portfolio work and undertake project work as required
• To ensure 24/7 responsiveness, doing the work necessary to protect public health in the UK, you may be required to work over a seven-day period at times.

Professional Development

• Identify, discuss and action own professional performance and training / development needs with your line manager through appraisal / individual development plan. Attending internal / external training events.
• To participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e. health and safety information governance and all other mandatory training.
• Undergo a programme of on-going development and education, to build on existing knowledge and develop skills, which could include a range of professional or management pathways.

This is not an exhaustive list.

Essential criteria

• Educated to GCSE level in English and Maths at grade C (4) or above or other equivalent qualification.
• IT skills and effective in the use of Microsoft Office , including Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing.
• Ability to follow guidance, policies and processes, including handling sensitive and confidential data.
• Understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.
• Ability to use guidance, analyse relevant information and ask colleagues for input to support decision making.

To qualify for a government-funded apprenticeship, you must be legally permitted to work in the UK and have been ordinarily resident in the UK or EEA for at least the three previous years prior to starting.

You must also not currently hold an A-Level (or equivalent level 3; or higher qualification) in Business Administration.

Selection Process

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your behaviours and strengths.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

You willbe requiredto complete an application form. You will be assessed onthe listed8essentialcriteria,and this will be in the form of:

• an application form(Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
• a 750 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 than750words. We will not consider any words over750words.

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

Only those meeting all essential criteria will be taken through to shortlisting.Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on:

• Educated to GCSE level in English and Maths at grade C (4) or above or other equivalent qualification.

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 a remote interview over MS Teams.

Behaviours and strengths will be tested at interview.

The behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

• Making Effective Decisions (Lead behaviour)
• Developing Self and Others
• Seeing the Big Picture,
• Working Together

Interview dates are to be confirmed.

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 in Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool or London (Canary Wharf).

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) on-site.

Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport link and benefit from benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).

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 basic Disclosure and Barring Security (DBS) check before they can be appointed.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard.

Salary information

If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary.Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.

Please be aware that the salary is based on the office location.

Administrative Officer (AO)

£25,651-£27,220 (National)£27,335 -£28,442 (Outer London)£29,613-£30,266 (Inner London)