Assistant Private Secretary to the Secretary of State (Scotland Office)
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.
Working Arrangements & Further Information
The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is
an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your
base location, different MoJ sites and/or from home (please be aware that this role
can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). All employees will be expected to
spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate
capacity.
Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not
suit everyone's circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the
successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.
For nationally advertised roles: All successful candidates will be appointed to the
nearest viable office to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale. This will
be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre
(JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) - See Map. All employees will be expected
to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate
capacity).
For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the
nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO
within the National Office Network and moved to its location's respective pay scale
(any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).
Some of MoJ's terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service
reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service.
Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will
Application process
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:
● A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and
achievements.
● A statement of suitability (750 words), where you should explain your
motivation for applying for the role and how you meet the essential and, if
applicable, the desirable criteria under the Skills and Experience section
above.
The interview stage will be a blended assessment consisting of a series of questions
against behaviours and strengths as part of the Civil Service Success Profiles.
● Seeing the Big Picture
● Communicating and Influencing
● Delivering at Pace
● Making Effective Decisions
The application process closes to applicants on the 20th of June. Interview dates are
expected to be scheduled from the 24th of June and will end no later than the 3rd of
July.
Expected timeline (subject to change)
Expected sift date - w/c 22 June
Expected interview date/s - w/c 29 June
Interviews - Your interview will be conducted in person
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months, from which further
appointments can be made.
CONTACT & ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
For more information about this role, please contact Kaelan O’Bhate (Private
Secretary to the Secretary of State) - kaelan.o’bhate@ukgovscotland.gov.uk