This position is based at Dover House, London, SW1A 2AU
Job Summary
Please refer to Job Description
Job Description
The Role
The Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland supports the Secretary of State in promoting the best interests of Scotland within a stronger United Kingdom. It ensures Scottish interests are fully and effectively represented at the heart of the UK Government, and the UK Government's responsibilities are fully and effectively represented in Scotland.
We are seeking a motivated and ambitious individual to join the Private Office Directorate as Assistant Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Scotland. The successful candidate's portfolio will focus specifically on science and technology, the environment and rural affairs, and culture and sport. However, this may be subject to change depending on business need and the priorities of the Secretary of State. They will work closely with the Secretary of State, Private Secretaries, Special Advisors and officials within the Scotland Office.
We are looking for someone with impeccable organisational skills, strong written and verbal briefing skills, confidence in their own judgement and strong political awareness. They will possess the ability to work independently at pace, driving progress on issues across Whitehall on behalf of the Secretary of State. The Scotland Office is a small department, and delivery often requires drawing upon wider cross-Whitehall networks and the ability to deliver through others.
This role provides exposure to strategic decision-making, as well as offering significant responsibility and autonomy. You will need to be flexible and responsive to ministerial direction, take pride in high-quality and timely work and have a proven track record for delivering in a pressurised environment. In return, we will offer you a collaborative and trusting working environment, with a strong team culture and clear sense of purpose and objective.
Private Office roles require you to work some unsociable hours – including weekends – when required. For this, a Private Office Allowance is payable to the successful applicant while in post.
Key Responsibilities:
- Delivering a sleek, professional and high standard of service to the Secretary of State in a high-pressure environment.
- Building working relationships with officials across the Scotland Office and developing an extensive cross-Whitehall network within your brief.
- Identifying potential issues at an early stage, being mindful of political sensitivities and keeping Ministers and senior colleagues across the department appraised.
- Taking responsibility and ownership for the quality of advice that goes to the Secretary of State. Working with officials during the policy process to communicate preferences and actively shape advice, using your network to support policy-making.
- Commissioning briefings and submissions, providing background and handling advice and producing thoughtful and high-quality box notes to guide decision-making and provide essential context.
- Working with officials and Special Advisors to translate the Secretary of State's asks into tangible and deliverable action.
- Working creatively and kindly, remaining cognisant of the resourcing pressures unique to a small Office.
Skills
Essential:
- Experience working in a pressurised, fast-paced environment which requires high levels of personal organisation and resilience.
Desirable:
- Experience working in a private office, either directly or through working as a locum.
Following the interview, there may be a further stage of the selection process where candidates will meet the Secretary of State.
Additional Information
If you would like to discuss this role further, please contact the hiring manager.
The role is at Grade HEO level and will be based in the Scotland Office in our London site, Dover House. The role comes with an additional stipend, known as a Private Office Allowance. The Scotland Office is not an employer in its own right. Staff recruited to work at the Scotland Office will be employees of the Ministry of Justice who provide employment services on our behalf, but this is not a role within the Ministry of Justice itself.
The relevant candidate would require SC.
Private Office Expectations
As the role is within a Private Office, the role requires an ability to work in a fast-paced environment and sometimes to work unsociable hours.
The role will be based in London, and will require:
- Regular in-person responsibilities
- Frequent travel around Scotland to support the Minister on visits and meetings with key stakeholders.
- Unsociable hours, including the team rota for weekend duty
As such, the role includes a Private Office allowance. The role is not suitable for part-time or job-share.
The Role
The Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland supports the Secretary of State in promoting the best interests of Scotland within a stronger United Kingdom. It ensures Scottish interests are fully and effectively represented at the heart of the UK Government, and the UK Government's responsibilities are fully and effectively represented in Scotland.
We are seeking a motivated and ambitious individual to join the Private Office Directorate as Assistant Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Scotland. The successful candidate's portfolio will focus specifically on science and technology, the environment and rural affairs, and culture and sport. However, this may be subject to change depending on business need and the priorities of the Secretary of State. They will work closely with the Secretary of State, Private Secretaries, Special Advisors and officials within the Scotland Office.
We are looking for someone with impeccable organisational skills, strong written and verbal briefing skills, confidence in their own judgement and strong political awareness. They will possess the ability to work independently at pace, driving progress on issues across Whitehall on behalf of the Secretary of State. The Scotland Office is a small department, and delivery often requires drawing upon wider cross-Whitehall networks and the ability to deliver through others.
This role provides exposure to strategic decision-making, as well as offering significant responsibility and autonomy. You will need to be flexible and responsive to ministerial direction, take pride in high-quality and timely work and have a proven track record for delivering in a pressurised environment. In return, we will offer you a collaborative and trusting working environment, with a strong team culture and clear sense of purpose and objective.
Private Office roles require you to work some unsociable hours – including weekends – when required. For this, a Private Office Allowance is payable to the successful applicant while in post.
Additional Information
If you would like to discuss this role further, please contact the hiring manager.
The role is at Grade HEO level and will be based in the Scotland Office in our London site, Dover House. The role comes with an additional stipend, known as a Private Office Allowance. The Scotland Office is not an employer in its own right. Staff recruited to work at the Scotland Office will be employees of the Ministry of Justice who provide employment services on our behalf, but this is not a role within the Ministry of Justice itself.
The relevant candidate would require SC.
Private Office Expectations
As the role is within a Private Office, the role requires an ability to work in a fast-paced environment and sometimes to work unsociable hours.
The role will be based in London, and will require:
- Regular in-person responsibilities
- Frequent travel around Scotland to support the Minister on visits and meetings with key stakeholders.
- Unsociable hours, including the team rota for weekend duty
As such, the role includes a Private Office allowance. The role is not suitable for part-time or job-share.
Person specification
Please Refer To Job Description
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Delivering at Pace
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
Alongside your salary of £40,014, Ministry of Justice contributes £11,592 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
- Access to learning and development
- A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance
- A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
- Annual Leave
- Public Holidays
- Season Ticket Advance
For more information about the recruitment process, benefits and allowances and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page.
Link: https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
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
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
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).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
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).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact :
- Name : SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team
- Email : moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk
- Telephone : 0345 241 5359
Recruitment team
- Email : moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk
Further information
Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles and would like to raise this, please contact SSCL (Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com) in the first instance. If the role has been advertised externally (outside of the Civil Service) and you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitment/complaints/
https://jobs.justice.gov.uk/careers/JobDetail/18467?entityId=18467
