Job Description

We are looking for someone with strong inter-personal skills, who will act as the link between the NEDs and the wider department, the ability to work with autonomy, and with a strong understanding of the political environment. Due to the dynamic nature of the work, no two days are the same. However, your responsibilities will include:

• Providing a Private Secretary service to the departments NEDs, building and maintaining effective working relationships; ensuring they receive pertinent information at the required time, and ensuring they are fully informed and engaged in Departmental business according to their portfolios. This includes coordinating engagement with senior officials and Ministers and responding flexibly to diary changes.
• Working closely with the Public Appointments team on NED recruitment and reappointment and leading on NED inductions.
• Providing support to the Lead NED, particularly in the run up to Board and Non-Ministerial Board meetings.
• Providing strategic and administrative support for Executive Team and Departmental Leadership Team meetings as needed. This will include liaising with the Permanent Secretary’s office and working with a wide range of colleagues from across Director-General offices.
• Organizing Departmental Board and Non-Ministerial Board meetings, including suggesting agenda items, providing briefs to senior officials, minute taking and recording agreed actions.
• Leading inbox management, along with other members of the team, ensuring they are read, understood, and prioritized for action, identifying where urgent action is needed, flagging high priority issues, and commissioning papers and briefings from senior officials.
• Being an active member of the Strategy Division and working flexibly across teams when needed. This could include supporting on business-critical work to meet the needs of Ministers and the Executive Team.

We are looking for a motivated candidate who will thrive in a lively environment and who is able to manage conflicting priorities whilst ensuring their work is completed to a high standard. The work is fast paced, so the ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate the following skills:

• Excellent organizational skills and proven ability to grasp what is needed and deliver at pace
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills
• Outstanding interpersonal and stakeholder management skills, and the ability to build effective relationships with a variety of people
• Sound political awareness and a good understanding of Departmental priorities
• An ability to understand the big picture when commissioning briefings and how the work will help the Department achieve its priorities

We'll assess you against these behaviors during the selection process:

• Managing a Quality Service
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities