JOB DESCRIPTION: ASSISTANT PRIVATE SECRETARY

General information

Salary: £40,014-42,859 plus Private Office allowance of £5,799 per year

Civil Service Grade: Higher Executive Officer

Location: London or Edinburgh

Post Type: Loan (two years plus one year possible extension)

Working Pattern: Full time

Number of jobs available: 2

Vacancy approach: Cross Government, open to Higher Executive Officers and Executive Officers on temporary promotion

The Department

The Advocate General is a UK Government Minister and Law Officer. She provides legal advice to Government departments on a wide range of issues, including human rights and constitutional matters. She is the Government’s principal legal adviser on Scots law and the Scottish devolution settlement. She is also a member of a Cabinet committee and undertakes parliamentary work on behalf of Government. The Advocate General is based in Edinburgh, with regular visits to London.

In addition to supporting the Advocate General, the Office of the Advocate General (OAG) is the UK Government’s Scottish legal team. It has staff based in Dover House in Whitehall and Queen Elizabeth House in Edinburgh.

Private Office is an energetic and busy team with exposure to a wide variety of the most high-profile and interesting matters within Government. It is the interface between the Minister and her department, wider Government and external stakeholders. Private Office currently comprises a Senior Private Secretary and Assistant Private Secretary based in Whitehall, and an Assistant Private Secretary based in Edinburgh.

The Role

We are looking for two highly-organised individuals with enthusiasm for their work, who have a keen eye for detail and are able to work independently. You will work closely with the Minister, with the ability to identify and implement improved ways of working. You will be a team player who will be able to balance competing priorities and a fast-paced workload. You will have the ability to horizon scan by building a sophisticated understanding of the relevant contacts and organisations relevant to the work of the Advocate General allowing you to anticipate and respond quickly to emerging issues. You will build strong relationships and effectively communicate with the Minister and senior officials across Government, including No.10, and a range of external stakeholders.

The key responsibilities of the roles include:

• Contribute to the delivery of a professional and high-quality private office service to the Minister: leading on logistics for meetings and engagements; timely provision of information and briefings; support for meetings and engagements; making travel arrangements; effective and strategic diary management, including leading regular meetings with minister to coordinate the diary.

• Develop and maintain strong relationships across the department, wider Government, and external stakeholders, being assertive and confident in advocating and driving forward the Minister’s priorities as well as protecting and promoting her interests.

• Engage with the wider office and other departments to secure the timely provision of effective advice and support to the Minister.

• Lead on various portfolio areas in Private Office.

• Contribute to delivery of the wider responsibilities of Private Office as appropriate, including cover for the Senior Private Secretary.

Post holders will be based in Dover House, London or Queen Elizabeth House, Edinburgh. The roles involve:

• Some travel to Edinburgh if based in London or vice-versa, and occasional travel accompanying the Advocate General on visits to other parts of the UK or abroad;

• Some evening and weekend working, with a team rota for weekend duty;

• In person working when business needs require and in accordance with in office attendance policy.

Person Specification

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate skills and experience against the following essential criteria:

• Excellent team player, who is able to both collaborate effectively and work independently.

• A great communicator, with strong interpersonal and team working skills, and experience of building strong working relationships with Ministers and/or senior officials.

• An effective decision maker, strong organisational skills and detail orientated, with capacity to absorb large volumes of information and possessing sound judgment under pressure.

• Experience of delivering a high-quality service, driving forward multiple priorities simultaneously, and ability to identify and implement improved ways of working.

Experience working in a private office is desirable but not essential. The successful candidate does not need to have legal experience.

This role is open Cross Government to Higher Executive Officers and Executive Officers on temporary promotion.

Additional Information

The Office of the Advocate General (OAG) is not an employer in its own right. On appointment, the holder of the role will be an employee of the Ministry of Justice, which provides employment services on behalf of OAG, but this is not a role in the Ministry of Justice.

The vacancy will be filled on loan for an initial period of two years, with the possibility of a one year extension by mutual agreement. If the incumbent is applying on temporary promotion, they will revert to their previous substantive grade and salary after the loan.

The transfer would be considered voluntary and so would not attract excess fares, travel costs or relocation costs.

It is envisaged that the successful candidates will take up the roles in August or September.

Candidates should discuss the loan with management at their home department prior to application. Upon acceptance of the role, we will require confirmation that management in the home department are content to release the successful candidate.

To discuss this role, please contact Max Graham (max.graham2@advocategeneral.gov.uk)