Job Description

Details

-----------


###

Reference number

386998
###

Salary

54,416 - 68,344
per annum, pro rata (plus Market Pay Supplement of up to 10,000)
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP
###

Job grade

Grade 7###

Contract type

Permanent###

Type of role

Engineering

Information Technology

Other###

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time###

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

------------

Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information

Location

------------


Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, London

About the job

-----------------

###

Job summary

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.


The Digital and Data Directorate has primary responsibility for scientific computing and research computing services and support. The key functions of the Digital and Data Directorate are to provide and support such platforms required by the staff of The UK Health Security Agency, and to provide the technical capabilities to enable public health services, both within the Organisation and between the Organisation and its customers and stakeholders.

###

Job description

Plan, configure, manage and maintain all hardware and software components of all High Performing Computing HPC, UNIX operating system, Virtualization and Cloud platforms in UKHSA to deliver optimum system availability to users, and ensuring all supplier provided patches and upgrades to the operating system, database, tools and utilities are applied in a timely manner. Support High Performance and High Throughput computing operations. Maintaining the security and integrity of all HPC, UNIX, Virtualization and Cloud platforms in UKHSA, including managing all user access rights and implementation of backup regimes and other disaster recovery procedures. Providing technical and administrative support for all HPC, UNIX, Virtualization and Cloud platforms within UKHSA to all levels of staff. Ensuring systems are documented and formulate relevant procedures and protocols. Liaise with the relevant HPC specialist suppliers to ensure that the organisation is equipped with correct and appropriate technology to support the achievement of UKHSA's objectives. Creating and maintaining comprehensive documentation, including procedures and protocols for technical staff and users, on the licensing, components, connectivity, configurations and operation of specialist systems and services, and supporting relevant hardware and software. Maintaining such documentation and ensuring it is up to date and in an auditable condition. Providing training, where appropriate, to technical staff and users to enable them to utilize HPC systems and services optimally. Monitoring and managing HPC, UNIX, Virtualization and Cloud platforms performance and capacity growth, providing advice on necessary upgrades and replacement of hardware and software so as to maintain the ability of UKHSA HPC, UNIX, Virtualization and Cloud platforms to support UKHSA business. Implementing hardware changes, upgrades, database upgrades and migrations to maintain system performance and growth capacity. Ensuring compliance with all relevant policies in UKHSA, HPC, UNIX, Virtualization and Cloud platforms usage. To maintain awareness of technical developments and research new technologies in HPC, UNIX, Virtualization and Cloud platforms with a view to providing advice on suitable deployment strategies for UKHSA. Advise on the choice of software solutions and hardware platforms for the management of Big Data and analytics platforms and solutions. Provide a level of work that adheres to the high standards and best practices in line with the SLAs as agreed with UKHSA Users.

The main purpose of the role is to manage, support and maintain the hardware and software components of mission critical High Performance Computing (HPC), Unix/Linux, virtualization and cloud platform required for the execution of UKHSA business. The post holder will be responsible for availability, performance, efficiency, monitoring, capacity planning, change management, emergency response, and expected to work in conjunction other UKHSA departments to ensure that the organisation is equipped with state-of-the-art technology to support the rapidly expanding public health services.


The role holder will also ensure that the HPC and Unix/Linux systems are correctly maintained and managed to provide authorized users with optimum levels of access to data and applications as and when required, in order to effectively conduct UKHSA business.


An in-depth working knowledge of Linux clustered computing environments, hybrid networks (Ethernet and InfiniBand), high performance parallel filesystems, software defined storage and enterprise class open source technologies is an essential requirement of this role.


This role will also support the expansion of HPC Cloud computing platform and associated environments to support the wider achievement of UKHSA business objectives. Software engineering skills are desirable to solve problems relating to mission critical services and build automation to prevent problem recurrence, with the goal of automating response to all non-exceptional service conditions.

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. This will include;

Internal

UKHSA business staff across all locations, disciplines, and levels of seniority, who constitute management, audit and control customers of HPC and Technology services Development and Operations Senior Management Local leads in Business Centres and Divisions; particularly Bioinformatics & Microbiology Project teams HPC and Technology staff in associated organisations and regulatory bodies, such as Connecting for Health (NHS etc) Auditors

External

HPC and Cloud industry technical specialists Suppliers of HPC software, hardware and services Third party support providers at all levels Scientists of all levels Auditors ###

Person specification

Essential Criteria

A recognised industry standard qualification, such as RHCE, CIIT, MCSE or equivalent A degree in a relevant subject (e.g. Computer Science, HPC Computing) or equivalent level of knowledge Knowledge/substantive experience of: Enterprise class Linux distribution such as RHEL, CentOS, SUSE, Debian, Ubuntu; Basic storage configuration: LVM, iSCSI; Unix/Linux scripting; TCP/IP, DHCP, VLANs, spanning tree protocol, link aggregation for performance (MTU settings) and reliability requirements; Design/implementing Unix/Linux system and services open source solutions and performance tuning; Open-source storage technologies such as: Lustre, CEPH, NFS, SMB, Apache, Ngnix, HAproxy Experience of providing a support service for own specialist area Experience of implementing risk management processes and monitoring system risks Candidate must be able to demonstrate good verbal and written skills and be able to present complex information to a variety of audiences Possesses problem solving skills and the ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands Able to analyse complex facts and situations and develop a range of options Strategic thinking - ability to anticipate and resolve problems before they arise Works well as part of a team and collaborates effectively across team and departmental boundaries

Benefits

------------


Alongside your salary of 54,416, UK Health Security Agency contributes 15,764 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.Learning and development tailored to your role An environment with flexible working options A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

---------------------------

###

Selection process details

Stage 1: Application & Sift- Success Profiles

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the above listed 10 essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

Application form ('Employer/ Activity history' section on the application 500 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.


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

In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on:

Knowledge/substantive experience of: Enterprise class Linux distribution such as RHEL, CentOS, SUSE, Debian, Ubuntu; Basic storage configuration: LVM, iSCSI; Unix/Linux scripting; TCP/IP, DHCP, VLANs, spanning tree protocol, link aggregation for performance (MTU settings) and reliability requirements; Design/implementing Unix/Linux system and services open source solutions and performance tuning; Open-source storage technologies such as: Lustre, CEPH, NFS, SMB, Apache, Ngnix, HAproxy

Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications / large amount of successful candidates (see attached job description)


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


Please do not exceed 500 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.


Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview

You will be invited to a (single) remote interview.


Behaviours, technical, experience and abilities will be tested at interview.


The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be

Delivering at Pace (Lead behaviour) Seeing the Big Picture Changing and Improving Communicating and Influencing

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.

Selection Process

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.

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 HQ's (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London).


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

External-

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

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 consider 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 it could be time accrued over that period.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

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.

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.

Careers website

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers



Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.###

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.###

Nationality requirements

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) 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
Further information on nationality requirements
###

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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 .
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.###

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

---------------------------------


The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.###

Contact point for applicants

####

Job contact :

Name : Lisa Tweedie Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk
####

Recruitment team

Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk ###

Further information

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: Complaints@ukhsa.gov.uk 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: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/


http://www.healthjobsuk.com/vacancy/6936512