Business Support Officer

Job summary

The post holder will provide day-to-day administrative support to the Directorate or senior management team. They will maintain effective working relationships with a variety of stakeholders both internal and external to the organisation. The post holder will work with minimal supervision and be expected to work flexibly as part of a multi-disciplinary team providing a wide range of specific administrative duties. The post holder may work with colleagues who are based across the country at different sites and/or who work remotely

Main duties of the job

Administrative Support

• Act as a central coordinating point of contact for a range of business administration activities. This will include high quality executive level business support to surveillance and Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response (EPRR) functions.
• Communicate and engage effectively with a range of people, including internal and external staff and stakeholders.
• Responsible for the organisation of meetings and events and production of reports, papers, minutes and updating action logs as required.
• Support the development of systems and procedures where necessary to ensure efficiency, quality and cost effectiveness across the business support and administration function.
• Participate in relevant internal working groups/projects, services and initiatives across the organisation representing the Team, Directorate or Centre.
• Carry out timely and accurate information analysis and reporting on agreed areas of their working area and present findings in an agreed manner.
• Contribute to effective information management (including maintaining administrative and information resources, i.e., filing systems) and assist with the dissemination and/or collation of information/returns, in a timely manner.
• Responsible for organising and controlling own workload ensuring deadlines are observed and duties performed efficiently.
• Provide cover as directed by line manager for other members of the team in their absence and assist with their workloads as necessary

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: 19 June 2026
• Pay scheme: Other
• Salary: £28,547 to £33,196 a year per annum, pro rata
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working
• Reference number: 919-TM-633002517-EXT
• Job locations: Core HQ, Birmingham, B2 4BH, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

Project Support

Undertake project support in the absence of a dedicated project support role in the structure, responding to information requests and other tasks which will involve meeting tight deadlines and may include using digital tools, for example JIRA. This will include assisting and working closely with members of the project team(s), supporting elements of projects as directed by the relevant lead or project manager; maintaining project plans; supporting the provision of management information; and participating in working groups.

Communication and Key Working Relationships

The post holder will develop effective working relationships and communicate regularly either by phone, email, or face to face with a wide range of individuals including clinical and non-clinical staff, scientists, support staff, managers and corporate team staff for example, HR or Payroll. The post holder may make or receive phone calls, receive emails and decide relevant action, responding directly where appropriate and this may include external people for example, stakeholders and/or from members of the public as well as other public health organisations e.g., NHS and the Dept. of Health.

Personal and Professional Development

• Undergo a programme of on-going development and education, including the annual appraisal process, to build on existing knowledge and develop skills to meet the behaviours and competencies required to undertake the role.

Other

• In addition to the job specific requirements above, this role will require adherence to all UKHSA Policies and Procedures. A full list of these is available on UKHSA net and form part of the employment contract.
• All staff are expected to contribute to the delivery of corporate goals and objectives.
• The role holder may be expected to support corporate service activity as set out in the Corporate Services Standard Operating Procedures
• As a Category 1 responder under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, UKHSA has a set of civil protection responsibilities which it must fulfil in the response to any emergency or major incident. Staff may be asked to contribute to the preparedness for and response to major incidents and emergencies (as defined in the UKHSA Concept of Operations) as required.
• This document provides an outline of the tasks, responsibility and outcomes required of the role. The job holder will carry out any other duties that may reasonably be required by their line manager.
• The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the team, Directorate, and the Organisation.

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., fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

• The post holder will develop working relationships and communicate regularly with a wide range of individuals, clinical and non-clinical, internal, and external to UKHSA.

Essential criteria

• Level 3 qualification and/or equivalent experience working at a similar level in Business/Administration.
• Significant administrative/secretarial experience including developing, implementing, and maintaining office systems and handling sensitive information
• Experience in using Microsoft Office software i.e., Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint or equivalent
• Experience of organising meetings and producing supporting paperwork, including agendas, and taking minutes/action notes
• Experienced at working under pressure handling multiple tasks and prioritising own workload
• Ability to use finance systems and support financial analysis for reports
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing. Take time to consider the best communication channel to use for the audience, including making the best of digital resources and considering value for money
• Ability to follow relevant policies, procedures, and legislation to complete your work
• Ability to work without supervision working to tight and often changing timescales
• Ability to work well as part of a team and strive to ensure the team pulls together and is effective.
• You are inquisitive, you seek out new information and look for new ways to develop yourself
• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.

Desirable criteria

• Ability to use digital tools e.g., JIRA
• Experience working in a public sector organisation or other large organisations
• Line management skills

Selection Process Details

This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your qualifications,knowledgeand experience and / or skills and abilities outlined in the essential criteria.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

You willbe requiredto complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 12 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

• Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
• 750 word supporting statement.

This should outline how you consider your skills, experienceand 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 than 750 words. We will not consider any words over 750 words.

In the event ofa large number ofapplicationswe 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 willproceedto shortlisting.

In the event ofa large number ofapplications we may conductan initialsift, on the lead criteria of:

• Level 3 qualification and/or equivalent experience working at a similar level in Business/Administration
• Significant administrative/secretarial experience including developing, implementing, and maintaining office systems and handling sensitive information
• Experience in using Microsoft Office software i.e., Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint or equivalent

Desirable criteria may be usedin the event ofa large number ofapplications/largeamountof successful candidates.

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

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview

You will be invited to a single face to face interview at 23 Stephenson Street, Birmingham, B2 4BH

If face to face interviewsareplanned, in exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer a remote interview.

Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview

There will be a Data Quality Check Assessment. Further information will be provided to candidates invited to interview.

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

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a basic disclosure and barring security check before they can be appointed.

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

Eligibility Criteria

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

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.