Descriptions & requirements
Would you like to have an active role in delivering change in Scotland? We are looking for an exceptional individual to join the Scotland Office Private Office team.
This is a challenging, high-profile and rewarding role as Deputy Principal Private Secretary (DPPS) at the Scotland Office, working directly with the Secretary of State, Ministers and Special Advisers (SpAds). The postholder will take on a significant leadership role in the Department, deputising for the Principal Private Secretary from time to time, leading the Private Office Division
The Deputy Principal Private Secretary has a critical role in supporting the Secretary of State in delivering on the Scotland Office’s four priorities, and by extension on the delivery and communication of the Government’s missions in Scotland. As a team, we are all working on:
- Delivering programmes to support regional economic growth, implement the Industrial Strategy, and promote ‘Brand Scotland’ overseas
- Ensure Scotland is at the centre of the Clean Energy mission and UK Government's work to tackle poverty
- Demonstrating UK Government is delivering for Scotland by ensuring that mission outcomes are seen and felt in Scotland and by working with the Scottish Government
The role is at Grade 7 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, worth an extra £9,180 per year. 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.
We strongly encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. The Scotland Office is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit. We offer a range of family-friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible location-based working arrangements, people engagement forums, facilities and services to support people from different backgrounds to have a rewarding career. The post holder will also have an active leadership role across the office and support making it a fantastic and inclusive place to work, championing diversity.
The Role
The role is highly rewarding, varied and stimulating. As DPPS you are a key link between Ministers and the Department. In this role, you will need to get to grips with complex issues across a range of policy and communications areas. Using your judgement, provide effective briefings to Ministers to support their decision-making. It is a fast-paced, dynamic, and challenging environment, so strong planning and organisational skills with a willingness to work flexibly are all essential.
We are looking for an enthusiastic and highly organised individual who is also an empathetic leader, with people and capability-building experience. You will be a team player who will be able to balance competing priorities and manage a busy workload, with the ability to horizon scan and react quickly to emerging priorities. You will play a key leadership role within the Division, supporting the wider team to provide support to Junior Ministers and Special Advisers, while sustaining a positive culture and supporting the personal development of team members. You will be assertive and confident in your ability to effectively communicate with Ministers, Special Advisers and officials at all levels, and will need excellent judgement and political awareness.
Key responsibilities
Key responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:
- Deputise for the Principal Private Secretary as needed.
- Lead a high-performing team based in London and/or Edinburgh. Line management of the Private Secretaries (SEO) to the Secretary of State and Junior Minister.
- Ensure the smooth and efficient running of the Private Office, building and sustaining a high-performing, inclusive and resilient team of Private Secretaries, diary managers and correspondence management.
- Ensuring day-to-day Ministerial business is transacted efficiently and in a timely manner, managing the workflow across Private Offices, identifying and prioritising work to very tight deadlines;
- Build strong internal relationships with Ministers, SpAds and departmental teams; and externally across UK and Scottish Governments, and with key stakeholders to gain credibility for the Secretary of State and Department.
- Manage change, supporting Ministers and the department as the role adapts to meet Ministerial expectations and business needs.
- Lead on a portfolio of policies and priorities, ensuring the department provides cohesive advice to Ministers and that their direction is translated into clear and concrete actions for officials to take forward. Work across the Scotland Office help negotiate and influence successful outcomes to deliver the Ministerial team’s priorities
- Regularly review Private Office processes to ensure they are efficient, fit for purpose and maintain a high quality of service.
- Assume a wider corporate leadership role within the Department,
- Acting as a leader within the Private Office, helps to develop the right culture and behaviours and supports individuals to do well in their roles. Supporting the personal development of team members.
- Be a visible team player by pitching in and helping out with whatever might need doing around the office.
Contact details
If you are interested in the role and would like to discuss in further detail, please contact: joseph.beck@ukgovscotland.gov.uk to arrange a conversation with the PPS.
Skills
Essential:
- Exceptional interpersonal and management skills, with the ability to understand different perspectives.
- Proven experience of working effectively with Ministers and senior officials, with a strong ability to influence and work collaboratively at all levels to resolve difficult issues.
- Experience of problem-solving and political awareness.
- Proven experience of translating ministerial priorities into sound engagement opportunities in collaboration with policy and communications professionals.
- Strategic and creative thinker, recognising where improvements can be made and implementing them.
- Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills, with the ability to work effectively across a range of tasks and under pressure.
- Strong management experience, including the ability to organise yourself and your team’s workload, showing initiative and proactivity.
- Proven experience in identifying and implementing continuous improvement.
Desirable:
· Knowledge or interest in Scottish policy issues, and/or devolution
Additional Information
Private Office Expectations
In order to ensure the consistency of support offered to the Minister, it is expected that the successful candidate would commit to remaining in the post for at least 18 months.
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 and internationally 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.
This role requires SC level clearance. Applicants for National Security Clearance (SC) must be resident in the UK for 5 years immediately prior to their application for Security Clearance. If you have spent significant time abroad (a total of 6 months in the past 3 years), you would be required to give a reasonable account of the reasons why.
If you do not meet the above requirement, you may still be considered for the role if, for example:
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 7534
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
MoJ Private Office allowence
Job Description Attachment
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DPPS Job Advert (2).docx (Job Description Attachment)