Project Support Officer

Project Support Officer – UK Health Security Agency | Salary Up to £45,353

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is recruiting a Project Support Officer to support project delivery within its Regions Data Science, Epidemiology Data Science Unit.

This opportunity is suitable for candidates with experience in project coordination, planning, reporting, stakeholder engagement, risk management and digital project support. The successful candidate will work with Senior Project Managers and Project Leads to ensure projects run efficiently and meet their objectives.

The role is available on a permanent basis, with full-time, part-time, job-share and flexible working options.

Job Overview

• Job Title: Project Support Officer
• Employer: UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)
• Salary: £33,422–£45,353 per annum, pro rata
• National Salary Range: £33,422–£40,731
• Outer London Salary Range: £35,587–£43,244
• Inner London Salary Range: £37,749–£45,353
• Job Grade: Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
• Contract: Permanent
• Working Pattern: Full-time, part-time, job share and flexible working
• Locations: Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool or London (Canary Wharf)
• Working Arrangement: Hybrid, with at least 60% of contractual working hours spent on-site, averaged over a month
• Vacancies: 1
• Reference Number: 485523
• Closing Date: 25 October 2026 at 11:55 pm
• Visa Sponsorship: Not confirmed in the advert. Applicants requiring Skilled Worker sponsorship should verify eligibility directly with UKHSA before applying.

About the Role

The Project Support Officer will help coordinate project activities and support the delivery of projects within UKHSA’s Digital, Data and Technology environment.

Working alongside Senior Project Managers and Project Leads, the successful candidate will help maintain project controls, coordinate business management activities, prepare reports and ensure that project information is accurate and available when needed.

Depending on business requirements, responsibilities may include governance and assurance coordination, project reporting, portfolio support, digital and data project coordination, stakeholder engagement, Jira workflow administration and Confluence knowledge management.

The role also involves monitoring risks, issues, dependencies, resources and project finances.

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Support project planning and scheduling by implementing and maintaining appropriate systems.
• Monitor project progress, maintain project controls and prepare performance reports.
• Research information, analyse statistics and keep project managers informed of delivery progress.
• Coordinate administrative activities and support compliance with departmental policies and procedures.
• Assist with resource planning, workforce management and the deployment of project resources.
• Support the procurement of project-related supplies and services within delegated financial authority.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Act as a point of contact for selected external stakeholders and prepare correspondence.
• Monitor project expenditure and contribute to budgets and business case development.
• Maintain accurate asset registers and project documentation.
• Identify and monitor potential risks and issues, escalating concerns when necessary.
• Support continuous improvement through project governance, assurance and lessons learned.

The postholder may also be required to contribute their expertise to UKHSA incident response activities when necessary.

Essential Requirements

Applicants should demonstrate the following skills and experience:

• Working knowledge of project or programme environments, including planning, scheduling, resource management, risk and issue management, change control, governance, project methodologies and assurance.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to challenge constructively and ensure accurate information is provided at the right time.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
• The ability to work under pressure, manage multiple tasks and maintain attention to detail.
• Experience using digital tools and data analytics to support effective project decision-making.
• Experience promoting best practice and sharing lessons learned to support continuous improvement.
• Strong Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel, Word and PowerPoint.

Candidates should provide clear examples demonstrating how their knowledge and experience meet the essential criteria.

Salary and Benefits

The salary depends on the successful candidate’s work location:

• National: £33,422–£40,731 per annum.
• Outer London: £35,587–£43,244 per annum.
• Inner London: £37,749–£45,353 per annum.

The salary is pro rata for part-time working.

Other benefits include:

• Civil Service pension, with an employer contribution of 28.97% under the relevant Civil Service pension arrangements.
• Learning and development opportunities tailored to the role.
• Flexible working options where business needs allow.
• An inclusive working environment that promotes equality, diversity and opportunity.
• Modern offices with access to public transport and opportunities to work alongside other government departments.

Pension arrangements may differ depending on the terms under which the successful candidate is appointed.

Location and Hybrid Working

The position can be based at one of UKHSA’s core headquarters in:

• Birmingham
• Leeds
• Liverpool
• London (Canary Wharf)

The role follows a hybrid working arrangement. Employees are expected to spend at least 60% of their contractual working hours on-site, averaged over a month. This is approximately three days per week for a full-time employee, adjusted proportionately where applicable.

Applicants should also note that UKHSA is planning a future transition to a new National Biosecurity Centre in Harlow, Essex. The new facilities are expected to become operational in phases from the mid-2030s, with full completion planned by 2038. This is particularly relevant to staff appointed to roles currently based at Canary Wharf.

Application and Selection Process

The recruitment process will assess candidates against the Civil Service Success Profiles framework, including behaviours and technical skills.

Stage 1: Application and Sift

Applicants must complete the online application form and provide a supporting statement of no more than 300 words.

The application will be assessed against the seven essential criteria listed in the person specification.

Candidates should complete the employment and activity history section in detail because CV uploads are not accepted. The supporting statement should explain how their skills, knowledge and experience demonstrate suitability for the role.

If a large number of applications are received, UKHSA may conduct an initial longlisting exercise. Shortlisting may focus particularly on:

• Knowledge of project or programme delivery, including planning, scheduling, resources, risk management, governance and assurance.
• The ability to use digital tools to support effective project decision-making.

Stage 2: Interview

Successful candidates will be invited to a remote interview through Microsoft Teams.

The interview will assess the following behaviours:

• Working Together — lead behaviour.
• Communicating and Influencing.
• Delivering at Pace.

Candidates must also prepare a one-page A4 document demonstrating one of the following:

• A project status report.
• An extract from a RAID log covering risks, assumptions, issues and dependencies.
• An excerpt from a project plan.
• A short summary of concerns, risks, issues or dependencies, together with recommended actions for the Senior Project Manager or Project Lead.

The document must be submitted to the recruitment contact at least three days before the scheduled interview. The advert lists the interview period as early November 2026, although dates may change.

Eligibility and Security Checks

The vacancy is open to external applicants and Civil Service applicants, subject to the stated eligibility requirements.

Successful candidates must pass a basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and meet the Basic Personnel Security Standard requirements.

Additional checks may apply, including international police checks for candidates who have spent more than six months abroad during the previous three years.

Civil Service nationality requirements also apply. Applicants should check the official eligibility rules before submitting an application.

Is Visa Sponsorship Available?

Skilled Worker visa sponsorship is not confirmed in the published vacancy details.

Although the position is permanent and offers a salary of up to £45,353, applicants should not assume that UKHSA will sponsor a visa for this post.

Candidates who require sponsorship should contact UKHSA to confirm whether sponsorship is available for this particular vacancy and whether they meet the relevant immigration and recruitment requirements.

Applicants must also satisfy the role’s nationality and right-to-work requirements.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should review the complete job description, essential criteria and eligibility requirements before applying.

Applications must be submitted online through the employer’s recruitment portal.

Closing date: Sunday, 25 October 2026, at 11:55 pm.

Apply here: Project Support Officer – UK Health Security Agency

Job Reference: 485523

Contact Information

For questions about the vacancy, contact:

Job Contact: Jon Payne
Email: jonathan.payne@ukhsa.gov.uk

Recruitment Team: recruitment@ukhsa.gov.uk

Source: UK Health Security Agency via Civil Service Jobs. Applicants should consult the official vacancy page for the complete terms, eligibility requirements and any updates before applying.