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About the job
Job summary
Background: The UK Space Agency:
The UK Space Agency (UKSA) is an executive agency of the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) and provides technical advice on the government’s space strategy, supporting the UK space sector to deliver the government’s vision.
Space is a part of everyday life. Satellites underpin our national economy, from agriculture and banking to aviation and shipping, and support our national security. Space science provides critical data to understand and address global challenges such as climate change, while missions to explore our solar system unite nations and advance humanity’s horizons.
We support a thriving space sector in the UK, which generates an annual income of £16.5 billion and employs 47,000 people across the country.
Through our portfolio of programmes and projects, we encourage the development of National Space capabilities and are an early-stage investor in space research and development. We also promote the UK space sector’s interests and achievements; make connections to join up industry and academia; and represent the UK in interNational Space programmes.
We have a powerful global voice, partnering with institutions across the world, including the European Space Agency.
More information about the Agency is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-space-agency
To discover more please watch this film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbZZ-o0IkVU
Our Inclusive Environment
We have an inclusive culture to make UK Space Agency a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, not only because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because it will help us be more innovative and make better decisions.
We offer first-class flexible working benefits, excellent employee well-being support and a great pension. We are fortunate to have a range of excellent staff networks and are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We will support talented people from all backgrounds to build a career and thrive.
We actively welcome applications from anyone who shares our commitment to inclusion.
Job description
We are pleased to advertise two positions to join the National Space Innovation Programme (NSIP), that offer candidates the opportunity to be part of an exciting, friendly, and growing team responsible for an integral part of the UK Space Agency’s activities.
The National Space Innovation Programme was launched in July 2020 to support the development of innovation in the UK space sector. The programme provides co-funding opportunities that catalyse investment in novel space technologies and services. NSIP runs a wide portfolio of space-related projects across the country, led by a mix of industry, academia and research teams.
This post will primarily focus on the organisation and delivery of NSIP funding competitions and management of the resulting grant funded projects. This will involve working closely with Project Managers from industry, government and academia with responsibilities for supporting the day-to-day operation and management of NSIP projects to achieve successful outcomes. Core activities will include the development and productions of funding call documentation, organising and facilitating peer review processes, undertaking assurance, due diligence and providing secretarial functions. The post will also require regular engagement with the agency’s financial and commercial teams to support timely project payments. In addition, post holders may be asked to support benefits management processes, gathering information on NSIP projects, developing promotional materials, and engaging with government and the space sector expand awareness of NSIP.
As required by business needs, each of the successful candidates may be requested to provide support across NSIP and Investment Directorate activities.
To support effective delivery of these roles and the career development, post holders will be supported to undertake relevant professional learning and development courses.
The post holder, working closely with other members of the Programme Management Office and the wider NSIP team, will:
- Liaise with Grant Managers to monitor the technical and financial progress and outcomes of NSIP projects, and work with analysts to track its benefits
- Support UK Space Agency Finance leads and Business Manager to enable effective financial controls on grants and contracts
- Support in grant administration and invoice processing
- Support assurance, change control and risk management processes
- Collect and manage data to support governance and monitoring and evaluation
- Work with the UK Space Agency Communications team to promote NSIP and publish project outcomes
- Support all future NSIP funding calls, including the organisation and facilitation of evaluation panels for assessment of proposals
- Develop materials and organise events to promote NSIP and its projects to the wider space community
- Support outreach activities to promote NSIP case studies to government, public sector and private sector stakeholders to increase their impact and catalyse investment opportunities
- Provide Secretariat support to wider project/programme governance boards
- Support assurance of the programme through effective information management within NSIP, including maintaining Sharepoint sites and shared mailboxes
Person specification
Essential criteria
- Experience of supporting projects or programme
- Strong organisational skills and experience managing competing workloads
- Good interpersonal skills with ability to work with a range of stakeholders, manage business relationships and communicate with clarity
- Experience of delivering within a fast-paced environment with the ability to react to changing business needs
- Intermediate Microsoft Office software experience
- Experience working on commercial or financial activities
Desirable criteria
- Project management qualification or willingness to develop capabilities in this skill
- Experience of grant management or other government commercial and financial processes
- Experience of supporting event design and organisation
- Experience of running peer review processes to project proposals
- Interest in or knowledge of the space sector, innovation or technologies
- Experience of risk, issue and dependency management
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Working Together
- Managing a Quality Service
- Delivering at Pace
- Seeing the Big Picture
Benefits
UK Space Agency offers a competitive mix of benefits including:
A culture of flexible working, such as job sharing, homeworking and compressed hours.
Automatic enrolment into the Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.
An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities, which all staff are actively encouraged to pursue.
Access to a range of retail, travel, and lifestyle employee discounts.
A generous maternity/paternity and adoption leave package.
This job role may be suitable for hybrid working, which is an informal, non-contractual and voluntary arrangement, blending a balance of attendance in the workplace (your permanent duty station which is based on business assessment of where the work is best done) and working from home, or elsewhere, as a personal choice (if the role is suitable for this). If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.
The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
UK Space Agency is undergoing a transformation programme which may impact your role, line manager and/or location in the future. We will share more details with you as they become known.
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV, Personal Statement and Behaviour examples. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Please use your personal statement (in no more than 500 words) to provide details of how you meet the experience and skills outlined above.
The CV is for information and will not be scored.
The Sift will be assessed on Behaviours and Personal Statement.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour Working Together. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
The Interview will be assessed on Behaviours.
Sift and interview dates
Expected timelinesubject to change
Sift dates: w/c 22nd April 2024
Interview dates: from 7th May 2024
Interview location: MS Teams
Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.
Further information
This post is advertised as a Fixed Term contract for a period up to 31st March 2025
Civil Servants:
Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs).Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.
UK Space Agency Employees:
You must seek approval from your substantive manager before applying for any non-permanent vacancy, this includes applying for a new post during an existing temporary posting. Please note that if applying for a temporary post within UK Space Agency or elsewhere on promotion, successful appointment will not automatically result in a permanent promotion - you will revert to your current substantive grade at the end of the Fixed Term or Loan period (unless funding has been approved to make the post permanent).
Reasonable Adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
- Contact Government Recruitment Service via uksarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
- Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe carried out.
Any move to UK Space Agency 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 https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/
A reserve list will be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.
Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service /Disclosure Scotland/ on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-Employment.Checks@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
Feedback
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
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) (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
Working for the Civil Service
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).
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
Recruitment team
