General Information
Descriptions & requirements
Job Title
Private Secretary
Band
G7
Business Group
People & Capability
Directorate
DG office
Team
DG office
Location
National and London
Purpose
This is a high-profile and exciting opportunity to work at the heart of the Ministry of Justice as part of the private office of the Director General People & Capability and MoJ’s Chief People Officer (CPO).
The Private Secretary plays a critical role in ensuring the CPO’s priorities are clearly understood, effectively driven, and well communicated at the most senior levels across the department. The postholder will work closely with the CPO, the Senior Leadership Team, and colleagues across the People & Capability Group, acting as a key interface with Ministers’ offices, the Permanent Secretary, ExCo members and stakeholders across the wider Civil Service.
You will be part of a high performing private office team supporting the CPO across his full portfolio including across the HR profession, helping to lead and strengthen the MoJ People & Capability of around 1100 colleagues. This role requires excellent judgement, strong organisation, and the confidence to operate credibly with senior leaders. You will need to be adaptable, calm under pressure, and able to manage competing priorities while maintaining a high-quality service.
Responsibilities
• Maintain an overview of all key issues requiring the CPO’s attention, acting as a trusted conduit between the CPO, People & Capability Group Directors and the wider organisation; anticipating risks, resolving issues proactively, and providing timely advice and support.
• Lead within the CPO’s Private Office, deputising for the Chief of Staff where required, to deliver a seamless, high quality service that ensures the CPO’s time is used effectively and he is well briefed on emerging priorities and risks. The role involves line managing a Deputy Private Secretary and an Assistant Private Secretary.
• Build and sustain strong relationships across the department, including with Ministers’ offices, the Permanent Secretary’s office, Executive Committee members, People Function colleagues and senior leaders across MoJ.
• Own and drive a varied and high-profile portfolio of work on behalf of the DG Group, supporting delivery of the CPO’s strategic priorities.
Travel
Travel to London and Manchester will be required on an ad hoc basis, but we will provide plenty of notice and work in line with any personal/caring responsibilities you may have. This travel will be included as part of your in-office days.
Essential criteria
1. Leadership and Stakeholder Management - proven ability to lead others and manage complex relationships with senior stakeholders, including Ministers, Directors and/or ExCo-level leaders, operating with credibility, sound judgement and confidence.
2. Strategic Thinking and Problem Solving - demonstrable ability to anticipate challenges, identify and manage risks, and resolve issues proactively in fast paced environments, balancing competing priorities while supporting delivery of senior strategic objectives.
3. Communicating and Influencing upwards - excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience of drafting and delivering clear, high-quality advice and briefings for senior leaders, influencing effectively, managing upwards, and remaining composed under pressure.
4. Private Office and HR Experience - experience of working in a private office and/or closely supporting senior leaders in complex organisational settings, alongside strong knowledge of people, HR or organisational issues. This may include CIPD membership or equivalent professional HR experience.
Application process:
You will be assessed against the Civil service success profiles framework at level for this post.
Sift
Experience:
• Please provide an anonymised CV.
• Statement of Suitability (750 words) - Please use your statement to tell us about your experience against the responsibilities and essential criteria listed in the job description.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using CV.
Interview:
Please note that interviews will be held remotely.
During the interview, we will be assessing you on Experience and Strengths based questions.
Experience topics will be around the four essential criteria:
• Leadership and Stakeholder Management
• Strategic Thinking and Problem Solving
• Communication and Influence
• Private Office and HR / People experience
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 nearest 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 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 transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.
MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.
All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.
Flexible working hours
The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.
Benefits
The MoJ offers a range of benefits:
Annual Leave
Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.
There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.
Pension
The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.
Training
The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.
Networks
The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.
Eligibility
Staff on fixed term appointments must have been recruited through fair and open competition.
Vacancies advertised “cross-government” are only open to all Civil Service employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) who were appointed on merit following a fair and open competition; or were appointed to a permanent post through an exception in the Civil Service Commissioners' rules.
Support
- A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
- Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
- For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on www.www.GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
- Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
- Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code 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. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order
- To Transformative Business Services (0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk);
- To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team (resourcing-management-office@justice.gov.uk);
- To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)
As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.
You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.
For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.
Diversity & 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 and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.
Redeployment Interview Scheme
Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.
MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.
Civil Service Nationality Rules
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) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
- 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) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules
Reserve list
A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.
MoJ:
If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk
Please quote the job reference 20937
HMPPS
If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk
Please quote the job reference
Job Description Attachment
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BC426- JD - Private Secretary G7.docx (Job Description Attachment)
Application form stage assessments
Interview stage assessments
Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)
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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.