JOB DESCRIPTION

About the Role

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) Group helps the MoJ run well, bringing together the corporate functions, services and governance that enable the department to deliver. The COO Private Office is hiring two Grade 7 Private Secretaries.

These are challenging and high-profile posts in the COO Group of Whitehall’s largest department. You will play a key role in enabling the COO to focus on his priorities and discharge his responsibilities effectively for the Group, the Department and across Government.

As a Private Secretary, you will act as a trusted adviser and sounding board, managing issues effectively on the COO’s behalf. You will be expected to spot issues early, help shape the Director General’s priorities, and drive progress across the Group and wider department.

You will support the Chief of Staff in setting the direction for, and helping lead, the COO’s Private Office. You will be joining an inclusive, high-performing team who are trusted to get things done, work at pace with judgement, and support each other and our colleagues with calm and clarity. You will establish and maintain strong relationships with Heads of Functions, Ministerial Private Offices, Permanent Secretary and Second Permanent Secretary Private Offices, the COO Group Senior Leadership Team, and senior leaders across the wider department. You will field and respond to requests, commission and draft briefings and ministerial responses, and represent the COO on a regular basis.

This role is fast-paced, challenging and rewarding in equal measure. You will need to exercise good judgement in a rapidly changing environment and grasp complex information quickly. You will need to interpret and answer questions promptly and accurately and confidently steer others’ work on the COO’s behalf. You will co-lead a strong team, build trusted and effective relationships across the MoJ and wider Civil Service, and influence others to deliver results.

If your base location is outside of London, you should expect to travel occasionally for in-person team days at 102 Petty France.

Main Activities / Responsibilities

The job holder will be required to undertake the following duties and responsibilities:

• Leading your own portfolio, comprising Group directorates, departmental committees and other areas in which the COO is frequently engaged.

• Anticipating risks and issues, working with stakeholders across the department to manage and mitigate them, and maximising opportunities.

• Building effective relationships across the Department, including with ExCo offices, policy colleagues, COO Group colleagues, the senior management team and Ministers’ offices, to support delivery of the COO’s priorities and those of the Permanent Secretary and Ministerial team.

• Supporting the Chief of Staff in setting the direction for, and helping lead, the COO’s Private Office.

• Coaching and developing colleagues in the Private Office and the wider business support network, building capability, confidence and consistency in support to senior leaders.

• Leading the coordination and quality assurance of advice, briefings, submissions and papers for the COO, ensuring they are clear, accurate, timely and strategically aligned.

• Managing communications to and from the COO with pace and judgement, ensuring priorities are clearly understood and acted on across the Group.

• Tracking, challenging and driving progress on actions commissioned by the COO, working with senior teams to maintain momentum and resolve blockers.

Management of Resources

• Line management of up to two SEO/HEO colleagues.

Essential Criteria

• Operates with autonomy, judgement and pace in a complex, fast-moving environment, maintaining strong organisational grip, prioritising competing demands and ensuring senior leaders are sighted on the right issues. (assessed via statement of suitability)

• Provides confident leadership, setting direction, developing others and maintaining high standards under pressure. (assessed via statement of suitability)

• Shows excellent judgement and political sensitivity, spotting risks early and bringing practical solutions to complex problems. (assessed via statement of suitability)

• Takes ownership of issues, makes sound recommendations and contributes to the wider effectiveness of the Private Office. (assessed via statement of suitability)

• Manages upwards effectively, advising, challenging and steering senior leaders with professionalism and judgement by building trusted relationships quickly with senior stakeholders to influence outcomes and resolve issues. (assessed via lead competency)

• Communicates clearly and persuasively, distilling complex information for senior audiences, working confidently with detailed functional, financial, commercial and governance material. (assessed via lead competency)

Desirable Criteria

• Private Office experience in an organisation of similar size and complexity.

• Understanding of financial management, e.g. familiarity with Managing Public Money principles.

• Understanding of the MoJ’s strategy, priorities and operating context.

We may consider any evidence within the application form that demonstrates meeting the desirable criteria as set out in the job description. This will only be after essential criteria is scored and where there is a need to differentiate between closely scored candidates.

Application process

You will be assessed against the Civil service success profiles framework which will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Sift

Behaviour:

• Communicating and Influencing (lead behaviour)

Experience:

• Anonymised CV

• Statement of Suitability (750 words), please provide a statement of no more than 750 words outlining your suitability for the role and how you meet the essential criteria.

Should we receive a large number of applications, we will sift primarily on the lead behaviour of Communicating and Influencing. Successful applicants will then be invited to an interview, testing both behaviours and strengths.

Interview:

Interviews will be held in person at 102 Petty France, London.

We'll assess your experience and strengths in alignment with the following behaviours:

• Communicating and Influencing (lead behaviour)

• Leadership

• Delivering at Pace

• Seeing the Big Picture

Please refer to the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/717275/CS_Behaviours_2018.pdf

You will also be asked to do a presentation at interview, this will be shared with candidates who are successful at the sift stage.

For any enquires regarding the role, please contact Maeve.OConnor@justice.gov.uk.