Vaccine & Immunisation Programme Operations Manager
The United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is a system leader for health security; taking action internationally to strengthen global health security, providing trusted advice to government and the public and reducing inequalities in the way different communities experience and are impacted by infectious disease, environmental hazards, and other threats to health.
UKHSA’s remit, as an agency with a global-to-local reach, is to protect the health of the nation from infectious diseases and other external threats to health. As the nation’s expert national health security agency UKHSA will:
- Prevent: anticipate threats to health and help build the nation’s readiness, defences and health security
- Detect: use cutting edge environmental and biological surveillance to proactively detect and monitor infectious diseases and threats to health
- Analyse: use world-class science and data analytics to assess and continually monitor threats to health, identifying how best to control and mitigate the risks
- Respond: take rapid, collaborative and effective actions nationally and locally to mitigate threats to health when they materialise
- Lead: lead strong and sustainable global, national, regional and local partnerships designed to save lives, protect the nation from public health threats and reduce inequalities.
Job overview
The Vaccine and Immunisation Programme Team in Vaccines & Countermeasures Delivery plays a critical role in delivering UKHSA's mission to protect and improve public health. This team oversees the supply and delivery of a comprehensive portfolio of life-saving vaccines and immunisation products across the UK, spanning children's, adults', and seasonal programmes.Drawing on expertise from diverse disciplines, the team ensures the seamless operational execution and optimal supply of regulated pharmaceutical products while adhering to Good Distribution Practice best practices and maintaining the resilience of these essential public health initiatives.
By coordinating and supporting the relevant internal and external workstreams across the UK, the team ensures all nations (where appropriate) are effectively represented and operationally prepared. This includes ensuring supply reaches the right place, at the right time, and in the right volumes, while supporting the mobilisation of those supplies into impactful delivery campaigns.Through extensive collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, suppliers, clinical experts, and data analysts, the team drives continual improvement, fosters knowledge-sharing, and ensures better patient outcomes—all while delivering value for taxpayers.
Main duties of the job
As part of the Vaccines Programmes & Operations Team, reporting to the Deputy Director for Vaccines Programme and Operations, the team manages a diverse portfolio of vaccine and immunisation programmes, with each team holding complete oversight of the end to end supply and operational expertise for each and every programme that UKHSA delivers and its current contractual lifecycle.We balance the need to maintain supply for existing campaigns with launching new initiatives and ensure that we provide support and auditable data relevant to the specifics and nuances of each programme within our remit for every nation.
Working for our organisation
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
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
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
We support and provide insights where requested to track and demonstrate performance on both ourselves, our suppliers and nations, striving to be transparent and receptive to feedback and improvements. Employing operational management and our project delivery expertise, the team proactively mitigates supply chain challenges, ensuring stability in dynamic and complex environments.By partnering with suppliers, devolved nations, and enabling functions such as storage and distribution, commercial and finance teams, the team addresses risks, manages contracts effectively, seeks out strategic and operational opportunities and controls unforeseen spending.
This collaborative approach maximises value, enhances performance, and explores new opportunities for strategic and, where appropriate, delivery and operational improvements.
The team also leads on the development of business cases for vaccine procurements, integrating insights from clinical experts, finance and commercial partners, operational teams, and data analysts. This ensures evidence-based, strategically aligned proposals that meet public health objectives while adhering to operational and financial feasibility.
As senior leads for UK supply, the team ensures value for money and operational efficiencies are achieved. We maintain critical connections to governance boards and forums at both UK and devolved nation levels, providing regular updates on supply status and escalating risks or decisions through appropriate channels and governance processes.
Our team is built on a culture of engagement, collaboration, and high performance. As credible and respected leaders, we remain steadfast in our mission to safeguard public health, maintain supply chain integrity, and deliver world-class vaccine and immunisation programmes for the UK.
This role is part of the Vaccines Programmes & Operations department and reports into V&I Programme Lead. This role supports the G7 lead in delivering on a set of immunisation programmes for VCD, taking action on the programme of work to contribute to continued supply of vaccine for those specific programmes.They will support the procurement and supply activity necessary.
The main duties will be:
- Responsible for the management of centrally procured vaccines within UKHSA control to ensure compliance with business requirements and policies including distribution to the NHS and other providers. Drawing on enabling functions as needed.
- Management of stockpiles and inbound supply, identifying risks and developing mitigation strategies to avoid both shortages and wastage. This includes feeding into future requirement models to support strategy development and business cases, drawing on enabling functions as needed.
- Work with the Devolved Administrations to ensure that UK wide supply is maintained where appropriate.
- To prepare and manage product information and access through ImmForm, to ensure vaccines are available and appropriately controlled and managed.
- Develop and deliver cost saving approaches to vaccine supplied to the NHS, working with NHS England and Devolved Nations to drive efficiencies and deliver improvements.
- Resolving supply issues/customer service queries.
- Helping to develop relevant business cases for approval, coordinating the production of the Economic, Commercial and Financial Cases, and when necessary, liaising with DHSC Investment Appraisals for review and final DHSC Finance sign off.
- Supporting correspondence, briefings, and other materials on operational and supply issues in addition to keeping senior officials and ministers informed and updated on issues as necessary.
- Workstream support for wider Programme Governance.
- Operational Procurement meetings secretariat, briefing and correspondence.
- Controls: Implement and maintaining systems to enable effective planning and scheduling for the project. Produce project status reports, performance data and research new information. Managing and monitoring compliance of the project in line with UKHSA guidelines and legislation, including Health & Safety, Equality & Diversity, Security.
- Delivery: Undertaking concise packages of delivery work. Building and maintaining strong professional relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders to enable this.
- Governance: Maintaining the project risk and issues log, working with risk managers to resolve issues and escalating where appropriate. Drafting and signing off correspondence.
Please see the job description for the full list of duties and responsibilities.
Essential Criteria- Educated to degree level in a scientific, clinical, economic, numerate discipline, or equivalent subject, or with equivalent relevant experience.
- Experience of working with internal and external stakeholders to ensure smooth running of programme operations
- Demonstrable experience of working in a pharmaceutical/supply chain environment or in a similar role where there is evidence of transferable skills.
- Ability to maintain comprehensive project documentation, including RAID and decision logs, supporting governance frameworks, and ensuring data-driven reporting to facilitate effective decision-making and process improvements.
- Ability to lead on the preparation of business cases.
- Ability to quickly understand the core aspects of the vaccine programs that they are supporting, and how to best access the range of expertise needed across to maximise impact.
- Ability to demonstrate discretion.
- Ability to tackle problems and find ways to identify suitable solutions.
- Ability to work with limited supervision to tight and often changing timescales.
- An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships.
Desirable Criteria:
- Experience liaising with internal and external stakeholders to address supply and policy queries, including oversight of helpdesk interfaces and supporting the coordination and activation of expanded providers.
- Demonstrated ability to manage vaccine stock and distribution across the NHS and private customers in the UK, ensuring accurate communication, risk mitigation, and timely actions to maintain consistent supply.
Selection Process Details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours and experience.
Stage 1: Application & Sift
You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed 9 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:
- Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application)
- 1000 word Statement of Suitability.
This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.
The Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.
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
Please note that only those meeting all essential criteria will be moved through to shortlisting.
Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on:
- Demonstrable experience of working in a pharmaceutical/supply chain environment or in a similar role where there is evidence of transferable skills.
Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications / large amount of successful candidates.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview and assessment
Please do not exceed 1000 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.
Please note you will not be able to upload your CV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible. Please do not email us your CV.
Feedback will not be provided at this stage.
Stage 2: Interview
You will be invited to a remote interview.
Behaviours and experience will be tested at interview.
The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be- Seeing the Big Picture
- Making Effective Decisions
- Changing and Improving
- Managing a Quality Service
- Delivering at Pace
Eligibility Criteria
Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).
Location
This role is being offered as hybrid working based at any of our Core HQ’s in either Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool or London. 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 HQ’s.
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)
Security Clearance Level Requirement
Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard.
Person specification
Application form and statement of suitability
Essential criteria- Application form and statement of suitability
Behaviours
Essential criteria- Seeing the Big Picture
- Making Effective Decisions
- Changing and Improving
- Managing a Quality Service
- Delivering at Pace
IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ
Your application may be rejected and/or you may be subject to disciplinary action if evidence of plagiarism is detected. Examples of plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence (AI), as your own.
This is a Non-Reserved post under the Civil Service Nationality Rules. To be eligible for employment in the UK Civil Service applicants must meet the Civil Service Nationality Rules (CSNRs) which operate independently of and additionally to the Immigration Rules.Applicants must also meet necessary security and vetting requirements, along with any other relevant pre-employment checks.
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
For more information on job nationality requirements and the right to work in the UK, see the Civil Service Nationality rules (opens in a new window) and the UK Visas and Immigration rules (opens in a new window)
For posts on UKHSA Civil Service terms and conditions, new entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. For existing Civil Servants and roles advertised across government, the rules of transfer apply, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive a 10% increase.Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.
The Civil Service pay structure and progression is different from NHS Agenda for Change (AfC), most local authority pay grades and other systems that have annual pay increments. For further details, please refer to the Information Sheet- Starting Salaries & Benefits attachment.
For AfC or Medical/Dental posts, you must have the correct professional registration to be appointed. The pay will follow the AfC or Medical & Dental terms & conditions. You may be asked to provide evidence of previous service whilst we are conducting pre-employment checks to determine your starting salary.
For Temporary Appointments, if you are not currently a civil servant, you will take up the post on a Fixed Term appointment. You may be able to take this role up as a Secondment. If you are an existing Civil Servant, based outside of the UKHSA, you will take up the post as a loan which you will need your department to agree.You cannot take the post up as a fixed term. If you are an existing UKHSA member of staff, you will take up the post as either a level transfer or a temporary promotion as per the UKHSA’s Pay policy.
Given the nature of the work of the UKHSA, as a Category 1 responder under the Civil Contingencies Act, you may be required in an emergency, if deemed a necessity, to redeploy to another role at short notice. You may also be required to work at any other location, within reasonable travelling distance of your permanent home address, in line with the provisions set out in your contract of employment.
Late Applications will unfortunately not be considered.
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: [email protected] If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website here.
Reserve List - If more than the required number of suitable candidates pass the interview criteria, you may be kept on a reserve list for 12 months subject to your agreement. You may be contacted, in merit-order, if similar roles with closely matching essential criteria become available and the department choose to appoint from a reserve list.
The panel will assess if candidates meet the requirement of the role first, using a specific benchmark system. If you are interviewed for the post and do not meet the required threshold for the specified grade, your application may be assessed against a similar, lower grade role and you may be offered the post should one be available.
Interview expenses will not be reimbursed.
UKHSA is required to check employment and/or education history covering three consecutive years. Please ensure you give details of at least two different referees, even if you were employed in one company for three years or more.
If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system. Please note, all communication regarding your application will be made via email, please ensure you check your junk/spam folders as emails are sometimes filtered there.
Any move to UKHSA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
Benefits of working at UKHSA include:
- Generous annual leave:
- 26 days for the first 5 years of continuous service
- 28 days after 5 years of continuous service
- 32 days after 10 years of continuous service
- Plus public holidays and one privilege day for the King’s birthday
- Access to a generous Defined Benefit pension scheme with employer contributions.
- Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme, season ticket advances and payroll giving.
- Access to a retail discounts and cashback site.
- We also promote flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours). UKHSA views flexible working as essential in enabling us to recruit and retain talented people, ensuring that they are able to enjoy a long-lasting career with us. All employees have the right to apply for flexible working and there are a range of options available including working from home, compressed hours and job sharing.
- We also offer a generous maternity/ paternity and adoption leave package.
Hybrid Working
UKHSA operates 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 usually spend a minimum of 60% of your contracted hours (averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's locations (approximately 3 days a week pro rata) and the rest of your time working from home.
Disability Confident Scheme
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria at sift to ensure these candidates are invited to interview.If you wish to be included in this scheme please tick the box on your application form.
Reasonable Adjustments
The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone.
To help you during the recruitment process, we will take into account any reasonable adjustments that could help you.
An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work.
This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme.
If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should:
Contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs.
You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/
International Police Check
If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and could be time accrued over that period.
Internal Fraud check
If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant’s personal details – name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional circumstances.Currently this is only for External candidates to the Civil Service.
Security Vetting
Please check the Security Clearance needed for the role and follow the link for more information:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels