Non-Executive Member of UK Health Security Agency

1 day ago

£7883 per annum – 3 days/momth

About the appointment

Introduction from the Chair

Dear candidate,

Thank you for your interest in the role of Non-Executive Member (NEM) of the UK Health Security Agency Advisory Board.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) prevents, prepares for and responds to infectious diseases, and environmental hazards, to keep all our communities safe, save lives and protect livelihoods. We provide scientific and operational leadership, working with local, national, and international partners to protect the public’s health and build the nation’s health security capability.

This is an exciting time to be joining UKHSA, which was formed from four previous organisations at the height of Covid and has since radically downsized and stabilised. In the context of volatile geo-politics, climate change, increasing human mobility and changes in societal attitudes, our next three-year strategy is crucial in fulfilling our broad public health remit.

The UKHSA Advisory Board provides support, advice and constructive challenge to the Chief Executive and Executive on the development and delivery of UKHSA’s priorities. The successful candidate will be exposed to leading edge scientific activity and an expansive learning opportunity as part of a diverse board.

Diversity at UKHSA is about reflecting the communities we serve, holding the principles of equality and inclusion at the heart of everything we do and all that we stand for, embracing differences, creating possibilities, and growing together. We aim to foster a culture where individuals of all backgrounds feel confident in bringing their whole selves to work, feel included and their talents are nurtured, empowering them to contribute fully to our purpose.

If you believe you have the experience and qualities to contribute our work and the future development of UKHSA, we very much look forward to hearing from you.

Ian Peters

Chair of the UKHSA

Appointment description

Ministers are seeking to make 1 appointment to the board of the UKHSA.

UKHSA Non-Executive Members (NEMs) provide independent and constructive challenge to enable the Board to achieve its responsibilities. All NEMs must be independent of management and able to allocate sufficient time to the Board to discharge their responsibilities effectively. This includes ensuring that high standards of corporate governance are observed at all times and ensuring that the Agency operates in an open, accountable and responsive way.

As a NEM, you will:

Contribute to the development of the Agency’s strategic direction and strategic objectives, taking into account your own understanding of the external environment that could impact on the achievement of these objectives.
Contribute to the governance of the Agency by ensuring that independent oversight is maintained on the Agency’s operational effectiveness, patient engagement, risk management, financial efficiency and working relationship with key stakeholders.
Monitor the overall performance of the Agency and advise UKHSA’s Executive on the delivery of the agreed strategic imperatives and business plan objectives.
Become an active and constructive member of at least one of the four UKHSA Board Committees and take on at least one special interest role, so that the Board can benefit from independent, specialist expertise built outside the Agency.
Act as an ambassador for the Agency at all times and help connect the Agency with stakeholders in other organisations when appropriate. Individual NEMs may be asked to represent the Agency in external meetings in some situations, but only with the prior agreement of both the Chair and the Chief Executive.
Identify any matters that may adversely affect the reputation or public trust in the Agency’s work, through a broad understanding of the wider UK and international environment in which the Agency operates.
Act as a “critical friend” by providing independent counsel, support and constructive challenge to members of the Executive Committee without straying into the day-to-day management of the organisation.

Organisation description

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) prevents, prepares for and responds to infectious diseases, and environmental hazards, to keep all our communities safe, save lives and protect livelihoods.

We provide scientific and operational leadership, working with local, national and international partners to protect the public’s health and build the nation’s health security capability.

UKHSA is an executive agency, sponsored by the Department of Health and Social Care.

We are a centre of scientific and operational excellence in health protection. Our reach is local, national and global as we collaborate and share learning across the NHS and wider health and care system and with partners to improve health security worldwide. The threats we protect against range in type, scale and intensity, covering infectious diseases – from pathogens with pandemic potential to everyday infections such as measles – and environmental threats including radiation, chemical, nuclear and extreme weather events.

UKHSA’s Strategic Plan 2023 to 2026 sets out our goals and strategic priorities for the next 3 years, to protect the nation’s health from current and future threats.

We have 3 overarching goals supported by a commitment to improving health outcomes for groups whose health is disproportionately affected.

Prepare – UKHSA aims to ensure that the country is fully prepared for, and wherever possible can prevent, future health security hazards. We establish which threats are on the horizon, develop the right evidence, insight and tools to best protect against them and have the right tested response plans in place to protect the population.

Respond – UKHSA?protects people from health threats every day. We deliver agile, rapid, evidence-based responses at a local, national and international level. We respond to infectious disease outbreaks, health security incidents, and ongoing health security threats.

Build – We continue to build and invest in the scientific, public health and operational capabilities needed to protect the country’s health now and in the future. We are modernising our approaches and technology, ensuring we are a high-performing and efficient agency.

For most of UKHSA’s work, our remit covers England as health protection is largely a devolved policy area. We hold some UK-wide responsibilities on reserved matters where the UK government has retained policy responsibility.

Details of UKHSA’s Governance structure, including previous Advisory Board minutes, can be found at: Our governance – UK Health Security Agency – GOV.UK

Board composition

Advisory Board meetings take place at UKHSA’s London headquarters with two regional meetings taking place each year.

Upcoming meeting dates: 11 March 2025, 8 July 2025.

Person specification

Essential criteria

To be considered, you must be able to demonstrate that you have the qualities, skills, and experience to meet all the essential criteria for appointment:

A career track record of achievement in a significant senior role in either the public or private sector.
An ability to operate effectively on the board of a significant national organisation, with the highest standards of personal propriety in relation to governance, accountability and conduct.
Demonstrable interest in the work of the UKHSA, and particularly in the development of new and improved methods of prevention, detection and response to infectious diseases and other threats to the nation’s health.
Excellent communication skills, sound judgement and demonstrable experience of strategic thinking, with the ability to scrutinise and challenge complex proposals constructively.

Desirable criteria

We would particularly welcome applications from candidates with previous senior experience in the pharmaceutical industry.