Project Support Officer

Job description

Job responsibilities

This role is based on the Government Project Delivery Profession Project Support Officer (HEO) role profile and is closely aligned to the Project Delivery Capability Framework (PDCF). Operating within a Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) environment, the role contributes to the delivery of projects, programmes, portfolios and services.

Depending on business needs and assigned responsibilities, activities may include governance and assurance coordination, portfolio support, project reporting, digital and data project coordination, service coordination, Jira workflow administration, Confluence knowledge management, stakeholder engagement, risk and dependency management, and support to the delivery of digital, data and technology services.

Other, typical role responsibilities:

• Planning and scheduling Implement and maintain appropriate systems to enable effective planning and scheduling.
• Monitoring and reporting Establish and maintain project controls, keeping the project manager aware of the project status. Prepare project performance reports, presenting statistics and researching new information.
• Administration Ensure organisational tasks are carried out efficiently. Manage and monitor compliance of the project with Departmental Security, Health and Safety, Equality andDiversity, Business Continuity and Business Planning.
• Resources Lead a team responsible for identifying, developing and deploying resources. Manage workforce planning, providing information to support effective decision-making by the Project Manager. Procurement of supplies and services related to project support within Delegated Financial Authority limits.
• Stakeholder management Manage professional relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders and act as the lead point of contact for some external parties. Draft and sign-off correspondence.
• Financial control Monitor project spend and contribute to the compilation of budgets and the development of the business case. Ensures an accurate asset register is maintained.
• Risks and issues Manage potential risk areas, working with risk managers and escalating as appropriate

This is not an exhaustive list.

Please note: The Digital and Data Directorate, where this role sits, is reviewing its Target Operating Model. While the process is still in the planning stage, some roles may be affected by future changes. We are committed to keeping candidates informed and will share updates as they become available.

Essential criteria

• Working knowledge in a project or programme environment covering planning, scheduling, resource management, risk and issue management, change control, governance, project methodologies and assurance.
• 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 and has 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

Selection criteria

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

Stage 1: Application & Sift

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

• an application form(Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
• a 300 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 than 300 words. We will not consider any words over 300 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:

• Working knowledge in a project or programme environment covering planning, scheduling, resource management, risk and issue management, change control, governance, project methodologies and assurance
• Ability to use digital tools to support effective decision making in projects

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 via MS Teams.

Behaviours and technical skills will be tested at interview.

You will be required to prepare a one-page A4 document containing an exemplar of one of the following:

1. Project status report
2. RAID log extract
3. Project plan excerpt
4. A brief summary outlining any concerns, risks, issues or dependencies you would raise with the Senior Project Manager or Project Lead, together with the actions you would recommend.

This will need to be submitted to sarah.patel@uksha.gov.uk at least three days prior to your scheduled interview and will be used to help assess your technical skills.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

• Working together (Lead behaviour)
• Communicating and influencing
• Delivering at pace

Interviews will be held in early 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

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 andbenefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Eligibility criteria

Option 1 - External

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

Security clearance level requirement

Part 1

Successful candidates must pass a basic Disclosure and Barring Security (DBS) check before they can be appointed.

Part 2

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.

Higher Executive Officer (HEO)

£33,422-£40,731 (National)£35,587- £43,244 (Outer London)£37,749- £45,353 (Inner London)

Person Specification

Application form and supporting statement

• Application form and supporting statement

Behaviours

• Working together
• Communicating and influencing
• Delivering at pace

Presentation

• Presentation

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

Employer details

Employer name

UK Health Security Agency

Address

Core HQs

Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool or London (Canary Wharf)

E14 4PU

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency