Visa Note for International Applicants
This position comes with a certificate of sponsorship for eligible international candidates. However, it is essential to verify your visa eligibility directly with the employer before applying. The UK Health Security Agency welcomes applications from skilled workers requiring sponsorship, but final determination of eligibility rests with the employer.
Job Overview
The Academic Relationships Manager position represents an exciting opportunity to join the Research, Support and Governance Office at the UK Health Security Agency. This role focuses on developing, managing, and strengthening relationships with universities across the UK. The successful candidate will help ensure UKHSA has access to the best scientific advice and expertise while supporting collaborative research activities.
About the UK Health Security Agency
UKHSA is committed to being an employer of choice where everyone matters. We actively encourage applications from all groups, including those currently underrepresented in our workforce. Our ethos is to create, nurture, and sustain an inclusive culture where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities.
Role Purpose
As an Academic Relationships Manager, you will contribute significantly to UKHSA’s development and strengthening of partnerships with academia. This position is vital for delivering better health outcomes across various health security hazards through the management of honorary academic contracts and ensuring the academic network supports UKHSA’s strategic priorities.
Key Responsibilities
The postholder will work with UKHSA programme leads, academics, and university staff to promote and integrate health protection academic activity. You’ll be responsible for managing workflows, handling complex enquiries, and contributing to the development of strong relationships with academics and their institutions.
Specific Duties Include:
- Managing, maintaining, developing, and evaluating workflows for honorary academic contracts
- Managing the academic commissioning model and scheduling workload
- Dealing with complex and sensitive internal and external enquiries
- Building and maintaining effective communication channels with stakeholders
Person Specification
To be successful in this role, you will need to demonstrate several key competencies and qualifications. The person specification outlines both essential and desirable criteria that all candidates should carefully review before applying.
Essential Qualifications and Experience
You must be educated to degree level in a STEM subject or have equivalent experience working at a similar level in a specialist area. Experience in workflows, document management, and report creation (e.g., SharePoint, MS Forms, Power BI) is essential, along with proficient use of Microsoft Word and Excel.
Essential Behaviours
The role requires you to demonstrate specific behaviours including managing quality services, seeing the big picture, and communicating effectively. These behaviours are critical for success in this position and will be assessed throughout the application and interview process.
Application Process
This vacancy uses Success Profiles, and at sift stage, you will be assessed against 14 essential criteria. You will need to complete both an application form and a 1,000-word supporting statement that outlines how your skills, experience, and knowledge provide evidence of your suitability for the role.
Longlisting and Shortlisting
In the event of a large number of applications, candidates will be longlisted into three categories: meets all essential criteria, meets some essential criteria, or meets no essential criteria. Only those who meet all essential criteria will progress to shortlisting, which will focus specifically on experience in workflows, document management, and report creation.
Interview Process
If successful at shortlisting, you will be invited to a remote interview where you will be assessed against specific behaviours: managing quality services, seeing the big picture, and communicating and influencing. Your previous skills and experience as listed in the essential criteria will also be evaluated.
Salary Information
The salary for this position varies depending on location: HEO Inner London: £37,749 – £45,353; HEO Outer London: £35,587 – £43,244; HEO National: £33,422 – £40,731. If you are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, relevant transfer principles may apply.
Working Arrangements
This role offers flexible working patterns including full-time, part-time, job share, and flexible working options. The position is based on a hybrid working model with a minimum of 60% of contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week) spent at one of UKHSA’s core HQs in Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, or London.
Location Details
The role is based at UKHSA’s core offices in Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, or London. These modern, newly refurbished offices offer excellent city centre transport links and co-location with other government departments like the Department for Health and Social Care.
Security Requirements
All successful candidates must meet basic security requirements before appointment. The position requires Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance and a Basic DBS check. These security measures are standard for public health roles and ensure the protection of sensitive information.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, you must complete the application form via the NHS Jobs website. Please ensure you provide comprehensive information in both the application form and supporting statement, highlighting how you meet each of the essential criteria.
Application Checklist for International Applicants
- Verify your visa eligibility with UKHSA before applying
- Prepare a detailed CV with evidence of your academic qualifications
- Prepare a 1,000-word supporting statement addressing all essential criteria
- Gather documentation for your security clearance
- Contact Sarah Handy (Resourcing Support) with any questions
Contact Information
For questions about the job, contact Sarah Handy (Resourcing Support) via email at sarah.handy@ukhsa.gov.uk. Please note that phone contact information is not provided, so all inquiries should be made by email.
Employer Details
The UK Health Security Agency is located at Core offices in Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London (NW9 5EQ). For more information about the organization, visit their official website at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency.
Privacy Notice
When applying for this position, your personal data will be processed in accordance with the UK Health Security Agency’s privacy notice. You can view the full privacy notice on the UK government website.
Application Deadline
The closing date for applications is 12 January 2026. It is recommended to submit your application well before this date to avoid any potential technical issues with the application system. Once the job has closed, the advert will no longer be available.
Diversity and Inclusion
UKHSA is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We actively encourage applications from all backgrounds, including international candidates who require sponsorship. Our goal is to build a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve.