Address
Form of work
SalaryDetails
Reference number
Salary
Job grade
Contract type
Business area
Type of role
Operational Delivery
Other
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
About the job
Benefits
Things you need to know
Apply and further information
Location
About the job
Job summary
Vetting is going through a period of substantial change. This is an exciting opportunity to work alongside the UKSV Transformation Director in the role of Private Secretary and be at the forefront of delivering the most fundamental change to our nation’s vetting services. This role will form an integral part of the Transformation team to deliver a radical overhaul of National Security Vetting. Leading the Directors Private Office, you will be a highly organised leader, efficient, and able to juggle
competing priorities effectively. This role would suit a self-starter who has a genuine interest in improving the way UKSV delivers its services.
You will work closely with the Director on a day-to-day basis, in order to be successful in the role, you will quickly gain an understanding of his values and working style using this insight to create ways of working within the private office and wider programme team to best effect. You will be required to convey priorities, thoughts, and feedback to a wide range of stakeholders, and need to be able to act autonomously on the directors behalf, demonstrating sound judgement. The role
demands exceptional stakeholder management skills, requiring the incumbent to forge strong relationships with counterparts across UKSV and the Cabinet Office, customers across government and suppliers.
As Private Secretary, you will build a comprehensive understanding of the work of the entire programme, to enable you to identify priorities, commission work, provide advice to colleagues and have sufficient knowledge of project and programme management to be able to interact effectively with colleagues. The complexity and challenge of the role provides an opportunity for the development of skills and experience that will help the right candidate progress their career.
Job description
Key responsibilities:
- Lead the Transformation Directors programme, including managing the team’s Forward Look of work in pipeline and ensuring work is delivered on time. This will require excellent organisation and problem solving skills, and we’re looking for someone who can approach issues with a problem solving attitude.
- Build trusting and effective relationships, anticipating the Directors requirements, developing their confidence in you, and demonstrating discretion.
- Acting as a source of advice for the Director on a range of issues, collating best available information and distilling into succinct, user-friendly briefing and other materials.
- Being an effective channel of communication on the Directors Strategic priorities with their SLT.
- Commissioning and drafting briefings and submissions and ensuring they meet quality standards and expectations, providing feedback to teams as necessary.
- Deputise where appropriate for the Transformation Director
- Working collaboratively with the Chief of Staff/Private Office network across the Cabinet Office and wider government to ensure a co-ordinated approach and to leverage engagement and benefit from other CO business areas.
- Lead the day to day running of the Private Office, line managing the team.
Candidate Information Session
We will be running a candidate information session for this role to give you greater insight about the role as well as the chance to learn more about UK Security Vetting. If you would like to join us, then please use the link below to join the call at the appropriate time.
Thursday, 21st March 5:00pm – 5:30pm
Person specification
As the Private Secretary to the Transformation Director within UK Security Vetting, we are looking for people who have the following expertise and attributes:
- Experience of working on complex transformation programmes
- Ability to quickly assimilate and analyse material that may be unfamiliar, making sound judgements and recommendations.
- An understanding of policy and strategic analysis to provide challenge and fresh ideas across a broad range of issues and in response to emerging events.
- Expertise in developing and managing effective working relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders including those with competing interests.
- Ability to confidently influence more senior stakeholders both internally and externally.
- Excellent written, oral and presentation skills.
- Proven, demonstrable experience of delivering across complex organisational boundaries and through multi-disciplinary teams to deliver successful outcomes and a collaborative culture.
- Strong analytical and organisational skills to build operating and governance models in a highly complex organisational environment.
Essential:
- Have experience of working on complex transformation programmes
- Have experience of managing and developing high-performing teams.
- Be able to demonstrate extensive experience of senior level negotiating, influencing and relationship management across a range of stakeholders and partners.
- Evidence the ability to write well, present confidently and quality assure other people’s work
Desirable:
- Previous experience of representing a senior leader (Director / DG / Perm level) effectively with the confidence to intervene to resolve organisational issues and tensions
- Strong digital and or programme delivery experience
Additional information:
A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Making Effective Decisions
- Delivering at Pace
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Communicating and Influencing
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role.
- An environment with flexible working options.
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
- A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and average employer contributions of 27%.
- A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30.
- This role will be based in Manchester. UKSV operates a hybrid working policy. There is flexibility to split your working week but with a minimum requirement of 60% in the listed Cabinet Office Hubs.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application process
At the sift stage you will be assessed on the Behaviours and Experience elements of the Success Profiles.
You will be asked to provide a 250-word statement on the Behaviour Communicating and Influencing.
To assess experience you will be asked to provide 500 word personal statement and a name blind (anonymous) CV as part of the application process.
Your personal statement should provide a summary of your skills and achievements to show that you have the relevant experience, skills and attributes required for the role. Please detail your experience relevant to the role and carefully consider the criteria listed in the person specification.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the lead Behaviour Communicating and Influencing as well as the personal statement.
Selection process
At interview, you will be assessed on the Behaviours, Experience and Strengths elements of the Success Profiles.
The Behaviours being assessed are Communicating & influencing, Making Effective Decisions and Delivering at Pace.
The Strengths assessed will be relative to requirements listed in person specification and Behaviours being assessed so please read the advert carefully and consider what Strengths might be relevant to the role.
Expected timeline (subject to change)
Expected sift date – 25/03/2024
Expected interview date/s – 08/04/2024
Interview location - Google Meets Video Conferencing
Reasonable adjustments
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 at: cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
- Complete the ‘assistance required’ section in the ‘personal information’ page of your application form to provide information we should be aware of that will enable us to support you further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Further information
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'contact point for applicants' section.
Please note that this role requires SC clearance, which would normally need 5 years UK residency in the past 5 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting
Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
Any move to Cabinet Office 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 at: https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk.
A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.
However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances 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-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
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 will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
Nationality requirements
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).
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
Recruitment team
Further information
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at info@csc.gov.uk. For further information on the Recruitment Principles. and bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk.
