Senior Project Support Officer (Risk and Governance)

Job summary

The government has committed to a multi-billion-pound investment in UKHSA's new laboratory facilities - the most significant investment the UK has made in biosecurity infrastructure in a generation. These state-of-the-art laboratories, to be built at a new site in Harlow, will replace UKHSA's existing facilities at Porton Down and Colindale and will be critical to the UK's public health resilience and national security for decades to come.

This decision marks a pivotal moment for UKHSA and the wider government science landscape. The new facility will bring together world-class capability under one roof, enabling cutting-edge research, pandemic preparedness, and the protection of the UK from major biological threats.

We are looking for a Senior Project Support Officer (Risk and Governance), to help shape the direction of the UK Health Security Campus Programme estate, to ensure it is fit for the future.

Main duties of the job

The role of the Senior Project Support Officer covers a diverse range of activities to support the delivery of the project's objectives, which will typically be high in complexity. You will enable the smooth running of the project by supporting the Project Manager through the operation of project management processes, and the co-ordination of business management actions and activities on their behalf.

This role is a government project delivery profession role and part of UKHSA's project delivery resource model. It is aligned to the Project Delivery Capability Framework (PDCF) career pathway Project Support Officer SEO.

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: 29 June 2026
• Pay scheme: Other
• Salary: £41,983 to £52,113 a year per annum, pro rata
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working
• Reference number: 919-TM-633000836-EXT
• Job locations: Core HQ, Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, London, E14 4PU, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

• Implement and maintain systems to enable effective planning and scheduling for the project.
• Implement and manage project controls, including risk and issue management, change control and information management.
• Prepare and produce project performance reports, using data analytics and digital tools effectively.
• Manage and monitor compliance with HMT orange book guidance.
• Manage the incoming programme change requests in line with Delegated Financial Authority Build and maintain strong professional relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Draft and sign off correspondence.
• Manage and monitor project spend and contingency budget as part of change management, contributing to budget management.
• Support the development of the project business cases.
• Lead potential risk areas, working with risk managers to resolve issues and escalating where appropriate.
• Collect and share data in line with data standards
• Identify, share and promote best practice and lessons learned.
• Be an active member of the UKHSA Project Delivery Profession Community.

This list is not exhaustive.

The job holder will be supported to work towards achieving Government Project Delivery Accreditation where they do not already hold this.

Essential criteria

• Significant experience of risk and issue management and change control in a project delivery environment.
• Experience of information management and governance in a project or programme environment, or appropriate skills that have been gained in a non-project delivery environment.
• Working knowledge of project methodologies and frameworks.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment, managing complex and involved pieces of work that have lots of dependencies and moving parts.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence, challenge effectively and collaborate across boundaries.
• Strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to develop effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Ability to use digital tools and data analytics to compile and present project information with strong capability in using Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

Selection Process Details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours/Experience/Technical skills.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

You willbe requiredto complete an application form. You will be assessed onthe listed 7 essential criteria,and this will be in the form ofa:

• Application form(Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
• 1000 word supporting statement.

This should outline how you consider your skills,experienceandknowledgeprovide 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 1000 words. We will not consider any words over 1000 words.

In the event ofa 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 willproceedto shortlisting.

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

• Significant experience of risk and issue management and change control in a project delivery environment.

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 remote interview.

Behaviours, Technical skills and Project Delivery Technical Knowledgewill be tested at interview.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

• Leadership (Lead Behaviour)
• Working together
• Delivering at pace

Interviewsdates 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. 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 one of UKHSA's core HQs (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London). 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 Security Clearance.

For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 5 years as the role requires Security Check (SC) clearance. UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

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.

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