Candidate Information Pack
Secretary to the Independent Statutory
Inquiry into the Omagh Bombing
Northern Ireland Office
SCS Pay Band 1
Closing Date: 23:55 on Monday 15 September 202
Secretary to the Independent Statutory Inquiry into the Omagh Bombing
Introduction
Welcome
“Thank you for your interest in becoming Secretary to the Omagh Bombing Inquiry"
This is an exciting opportunity to work in a high profile and meaningful role to learn
whether anything could have been done to prevent the Real IRA bombing of Omagh on 15
August 1998. Thirty-one lives were lost in the atrocity, and over 300 people were injured.
To this day, it remains the largest loss of life in a single incident in Northern Ireland. It took
place mere months after the signing of the landmark Belfast Good Friday Agreement, just
as Northern Ireland had overwhelmingly expressed its desire for a future of peace and
stability.
We are looking for a compassionate leader with exceptional interpersonal skills who can
work calmly under pressure and deliver results through a high performing team.
The Inquiry was established in February 2024, under the Inquiries Act 2005. The Rt Hon
Lord Alan Turnbull is Chair of the Inquiry.
The Inquiry Secretary is a statutory officeholder, and one of the Chair’s key advisers. The
successful candidate should expect to lead the Inquiry team in whatever way necessary to
fulfil its terms of reference. The post holder will play a pivotal role in delivering a complex
and sensitive piece of work, engaging with a range of stakeholders, including those directly
affected by the bombing.
As the most senior civil servant in the Inquiry, the Secretary will act as the main contact
between the Inquiry and the sponsor department - ensuring the Northern Ireland Office is
provided with financial and governance assurance while maintaining the independence of
the Inquiry.
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Secretary to the Independent Statutory Inquiry into the Omagh Bombing
About the Northern Ireland Office
Who we are
The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) supports the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in
promoting the best interests of Northern Ireland within a stronger United Kingdom.
We make sure that Northern Ireland interests are represented within the UK Government
and that UK government responsibilities are fully and effectively represented in Northern
Ireland.
The NIO employs around 170 staff, with offices in Belfast and London. As a small
Department, we adopt a flexible approach to ensure that we have the right people, with the
right skills, in the right place to support the delivery of our key objectives.
Due to our structure and size, we are able to offer extensive exposure to Ministers and the
opportunity to work on a far wider portfolio of policy and responsibilities than might be the
case in a larger department. This creates an interesting and challenging work
environment.
What we do
Our key priorities are set out in our Operational Delivery plan and includes:
• Sustain and support effective devolved government in Northern Ireland.
• Ensure a more secure Northern Ireland.
• Deliver a growing and strengthening economy to build prosperity.
• Ensure a stronger society by supporting initiatives designed to build better
community relations and a genuinely shared future.
• Support the United Kingdom’s effective exit from the European Union and ensure
that Northern Ireland’s interests continue to be represented in the post-Exit
settlement.
The Omagh Bombing Inquiry
The independent statutory inquiry into the Omagh Bombing Inquiry was established by the
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in February 2024.The Rt Hon Lord Alan Turnbull is
the Inquiry’s Chair
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Secretary to the Independent Statutory Inquiry into the Omagh Bombing
About the role
Job Title
Secretary to the Independent Statutory Inquiry into the Omagh Bombing
Location
London or Belfast
Due to the nature of the role, the postholder can be based in either London or Belfast
Please note the requirements for travel and level of flexibility required to undertake this key
role as set out in the FAQs section.
Salary
The salary for this role is set within the SCS PB1 range.
External candidates should expect their salary upon appointment to be £81,000
Existing Civil Servants will be appointed in line with the Civil Service pay rules in place on
the date of their appointment.
Contract Type
This role is being offered on a two year-loan, secondment, or on a 2-year fixed term
contract, extendable by mutual consent until the Inquiry’s conclusion.
Background
On 2 February 2023, the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland announced that he
would establish an independent statutory inquiry into the Real IRA bombing of Omagh on
15 August 1998, in which 31 lives were lost.
The Inquiry was formally established on publication of its Terms of Reference in February
2024. Since then, it has conducted a number of preliminary and commemorative public
hearings in Omagh and Belfast
The Role
The post holder will report to the Chair of the Inquiry in terms of line management but will
also be overseen by the Senior Sponsor for the Inquiry in the Northern Ireland Office.
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Secretary to the Independent Statutory Inquiry into the Omagh Bombing
The Secretary of an inquiry is one of the Chair’s key advisers, alongside the Solicitor and
Counsel to the inquiry. The Secretary role provides leadership to the inquiry team and
works alongside the Chair in delivering the Inquiry’s terms of reference (which have yet to
be published). The post holder will be responsible, alongside the Inquiry Chair, for leading
the inquiry team. The team is made up from a mixture of civil servants, solicitors,
paralegals and barristers. The Secretary is the key contact between the Inquiry and the
sponsor team at the Northern Ireland Office, ensuring that the sponsor is provided with
governance assurance while maintaining the independence of the Inquiry.
This Inquiry Secretary role offers the opportunity to work on an extremely interesting issue
which is of wide public interest and is likely to attract significant media and political
attention.
Key Responsibilities
The key responsibilities of this post include:
• Working alongside the Inquiry Chair and wider Inquiry team members in discharging
the Inquiry’s terms of reference.
• Ensuring effective Inquiry governance, both setting high governance standards within
the Inquiry and maintaining good relationships with the Northern Ireland Office
sponsors.
• Oversight of programme and project management, ensuring that the Inquiry has the
right resources and tools in place.
• Acting as delegated Accounting Officer for the Inquiry; setting the Inquiry budget,
delivering within the financial envelope, and reporting planning, budgeting, and
forecasting information to the Northern Ireland Office sponsor.
• Recruitment, retention and staff resource planning, across the Inquiry team.
• Ensuring appropriate administrative secretariat support for the Inquiry Chair in running
the inquiry.
• Oversight of commercial management - the Inquiry has procurement authority and a
number of contracts to manage and maintain.
• Information security and knowledge management, including across a variety of IT
platforms and across highly classified material and acting as the organisation’s Senior
Information Risk Owner (SIRO).
• Business planning and financial management, ensuring robust value for money across
the Inquiry’s expenditure.
• Strategic communications, maintaining the public image of the inquiry and its
relationships with the media.
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Secretary to the Independent Statutory Inquiry into the Omagh Bombing
• Delivering effective arrangements for oral hearings.
• The day-to-day running of the Inquiry
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Secretary to the Independent Statutory Inquiry into the Omagh Bombing
Person Specification
It is important through the recruitment process that you give evidence and examples of
proven experience of each of the essential and desirable criteria.
Later on in the pack you will be told what is being assessed at which stage of the process.
Essential Experience:
• Excellent leadership skills with experience of leading mutli-disciplinary teams and
delivering challenging objectives under intense scrutiny
• Experience of working effectively and sensitively with a wide range of people, showing
empathy, compassion, and excellent communication skill
• Experience of delivering substantial programmes of work, achieving high quality results
and value for money
Essential Abilities:
• Highly developed communication, networking and negotiation skills, with the personal
presence and credibility to secure confidence with the Inquiry’s Chair, Counsel and
Solicitor, as well as at the most senior levels across the Civil Service and beyond.
• Ability to maintain a calm, collaborative working style, and wellbeing of yourself and
your team, in a potentially pressured environment
Desirable Experience:
• Previous experience of working on a public inquiry
• Previous experience of working with the legal community
• Previous experience of working with classified or sensitive material
MoJ SCS Pay Band 1 Behaviours:
You will also be assessed against the following Behaviours during the Recruitment
Process:
• Communicating and Influencing
• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Working Together
Read more in the Civil Service Success Profiles Section.
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Secretary to the Independent Statutory Inquiry into the Omagh Bombing
Strengths:
We are looking to understand what motivates and energises you. We want to see what
your natural strengths are and what interests you.
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Secretary to the Independent Statutory Inquiry into the Omagh Bombing
The Recruitment Process
Recruitment Process
The panel members will be:
• Will Gelling - DG Legacy
• Clare Sloan - DD People and Transformation
• Alison Bennett - Secretary to the Patrick Finucane Inquiry
Support during the selection process
If you need any support or have any questions during any stage of the selection process,
please contact the SCS Recruitment Team scsrecruitment@justice.gov.uk.
Stages of the selection process
Application
You will need to complete the online application process accessed via the advertisement
for this role.
This should be completed no later than 23:55 on Monday 15th September 2025. As part
of the application process, you will be asked to complete:
1. Responses to the eligibility questions to check you are eligible to apply for the role.
2. A response to whether you would like to request reasonable adjustments during the
selection process. The Disability Support section explains how adjustments can be
made to the selection process to accommodate a disability.
3. You will also need to complete a CV and Statement of Suitability. It is important that
your CV and Statement of Suitability give evidence and examples of how you meet the
essential experience and skills set out on page 6.
Find out more information about our application process here.
After the Application Stage
You will be advised whether your application has been shortlisted for the next stage of the
selection process. If you are shortlisted, we will contact you to arrange the next stage of
the selection process.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
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Secretary to the Independent Statutory Inquiry into the Omagh Bombing
Panel Interview and Presentation
You will be invited to attend an interview and presentation with the selection panel. You
will be asked to prepare a verbal presentation based on a topic that will be provided in
advance.
What is being assessed?
Behaviours, as listed on page 6.
Strengths
You will be informed at interview which strengths you are being assessed against.
After the Panel Interview
Following the interview, the performance of all candidates will be reviewed, and the
successful candidate identified. All candidates will be notified of the outcome as soon as
possible after the conclusion of all interviews. If you are not the successful candidate but
you meet the standard required, you may be invited to have your details retained on a
merit list to be considered for future SCS roles.
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Secretary to the Independent Statutory Inquiry into the Omagh Bombing
Civil Service Behaviours
What are Behaviours?
The Civil Service recruits using Success Profiles and Behaviours are an element of
Success Profiles used to see whether candidates are able demonstrate specific
Behaviours associated with the role they are applying for during the selection process. In
this process the below Behaviours are most relevant to this role and will be assessed
during the interview stage of the process. The definitions of Behaviours are set out below:
Communicating and Influencing
You communicate clearly and with confidence, both verbally and in writing. You are open,
honest and transparent in your communications. You communicate effectively with internal
and external senior stakeholders to present information in a convincing and influential
manner. You tailor your communication methods and content to the audience, simplifying
strategic messages.
Leadership
You visibly demonstrate the organisation’s values in all your activity, leading authentically.
You seek to engage staff in the aims of the organisation and communicate the
organisation’s strategy in an inspiring way. You create an inclusive and fair culture which
creates a sense of belonging by treating staff as individuals and actively valuing diversity
within the organisation. You empower teams and individuals to excel by creating a shared
vision and objectives and demonstrate trust in staff by giving autonomy.
Seeing the Big Picture
You understand the wider context of the organisation’s work, considering the political,
social, economic, and technological environment both currently and in the future. You
create and implement strategies to achieve the organisation’s aims and meet the needs of
the public. You promote the organisation externally, advocating positive outcomes for the
sector you operate within. You motivate staff by ensuring they understand how their work
fits into the big picture.
Working Together
You work collaboratively to achieve outcomes both within your area of responsibility and
across the organisation. You create a supportive working environment where all opinions
are considered, and individuals are valued for their expertise and unique contribution. You
proactively maintain relationships with peers and external senior stakeholders and utilise
these to achieve positive outcomes.
Please click here or more information on Behaviours and Success Profiles
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Secretary to the Independent Statutory Inquiry into the Omagh Bombing
Guidance for writing your Statement and CV
As part of the application process, you need to submit a Statement and CV. Both your
Statement and CV should demonstrate how you meet the essential experience and ability
skills outlined in the Person Specification section.
Ensure you read through the role information thoroughly and identify the essential criteria
for each area. You should ensure you provide evidence for each of the essential
experience and abilities which are required for the role in your Statement and CV. You
may not be progressed to the next stage of the assessment process if you do not provide
this evidence.
When structuring your Statements try to:
• Group evidence of the same experience and abilities together by using subheadings and
paragraphs. This will help to ensure you are writing about the experience that is directly
relevant for the role you are applying for.
• You should ensure that you detail recent and relevant examples of the essential
experience and abilities and/or technical skills required for the role and describe the
outcome that came from this.
Providing a name-blind CV and Success Profile Statements
In both your CV and Success Profile Statements please remove references to any
personal information that could identify you. For example:
• Name and title
• Educational institution names
• Age and gender
• Email address
• Postal address and telephone number
• Nationality and immigration status.
This will help us to recruit based on your knowledge and skills, and not on your
background, gender or ethnicity. Recruiting this way is called name-blind recruitment.
For more information on how to write your Statement and CV please visit the Civil Service
Careers Website
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Secretary to the Independent Statutory Inquiry into the Omagh Bombing
Expected Timeline
We will try and offer as much flexibility as we can, but it may not be possible to offer
alternative dates for assessments or interviews. You are therefore asked to note the below
timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process, in order to
meet the dates given. Please note that these dates may be subject to change.
The anticipated timetable is as follows:
Advert Closing Date
23:55 on Monday 15 September 2025
Outcome of CV and Statement of Suitability
From week commencing 29 September 2025
Panel Interview and Presentation
From week commencing 6 October 2025
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Secretary to the Independent Statutory Inquiry into the Omagh Bombing
Working for the Civil Service
Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing
Our departmental values - purpose, humanity, openness and together - are at the heart of
our commitment to create a culture where all our people are able to thrive and flourish in
the workplace.
We want to attract and retain the best talent from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
We want everyone to be the best of themselves, to feel supported and have a strong
sense of belonging in the workplace. Our commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive
workforce is reflected in all of our people policies and strategies.
Benefits
As a Civil Service employee, you’ll be entitled to a large range of benefits which include
but are not limited to:
Pension
The Civil Service Pension Scheme is one of the best workplace pension schemes in the
UK public sector. Visit www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk for more details.
Generous Annual Leave and Bank Holiday Allowance
25 days annual leave on entry, increasing on a sliding scale to 30 days after 5 years’
service. This is in addition to 8 public holidays. This will be complemented by one further
day paid privilege entitlement to mark the King’s Birthday.
Flexible Working
While not every type of flexible working will be suitable for every role and business area,
flexible working can take many forms and The Ministry of Justice is committed to delivering
its business effectively and sustainably by creating modern and inclusive workplaces that
enable smart, flexible and hybrid working.
For more information on our amazing benefits including our Civil Service Pension Scheme,
annual and special leave, and our Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing schemes
please visit our Senior Civil Service website
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Secretary to the Independent Statutory Inquiry into the Omagh Bombing
Disability Support
What reasonable adjustments can be made if I have a disability?
We are committed to supporting all candidates to take part in the recruitment process. This
includes supporting individuals who have a disability by making reasonable adjustments to
the recruitment process.
If you feel you require any kind of support and/or would like to discuss this with someone,
please indicate 'yes' to requesting reasonable adjustments in your application form and
ensure that you respond to the Reasonable Adjustments Scheme team by email.
How we can support you
There are many types of reasonable adjustments that can be made during assessment
processes.
Examples of some types of adjustments include:
• Extra time to complete assessments;
• Providing a break within an assessment;
• Providing interview questions in a written format at the interview as well as orally;
• An interview at a certain time of day;
This is not an exhaustive list but rather some examples of how we can support you during
the SCS Recruitment Process.
Whilst we aim to confirm all adjustments requested, there may be occasions where this
isn't possible. If an adjustment cannot be provided, the reasons for this will be explained to
you.
Help with your application
It is important you contact us as early as possible by email if you would like to request
reasonable adjustments so that the recruitment process runs smoothly for you.
If you do decide during the process that you do require adjustments and you have not
completed all your assessments, please contact the SCS recruitment team in advance of
your next assessment.
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Secretary to the Independent Statutory Inquiry into the Omagh Bombing
If you have any questions in advance of making your application regarding reasonable
adjustments please contact the SCS recruitment team at scsrecruitment@justice.gov.uk.
Do you offer a Disability Confident Scheme for Disabled Persons?
As a Disability Confident employer, the MoJ offer an interview to disabled candidates who
meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. This could
be in terms of the advertised essential skills and/or application form sift criteria. Within the
application form, you will be asked if you would like to be considered for an interview under
this scheme, so please make us aware of this when prompted.
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Secretary to the Independent Statutory Inquiry into the Omagh Bombing
FAQs
Can I apply if I am not currently a civil servant?
Yes.
Is this role suitable for part-time working?
This role is available for full-time or flexible working arrangements (including job share
partnerships). If you wish to discuss your needs in more detail please get in touch with the
named point of contact in this pack.
Where will the role be based?
The post can be based in either Belfast or London.
You may also work from your home address, in line with guidance on hybrid working and
with the agreement of the Director/SRO.
Some travel between sites may be required as necessary to support delivery of key
objectives, but our experience of Covid-19 has shown how much we are able to work
virtually between our locations
Relocation costs will not be reimbursed.
Can I claim back any expenses incurred during the recruitment process?
Unfortunately, we will not be able to reimburse you, except in exceptional circumstances
and only when agreed in advance.
Am I eligible to apply for this role?
For information on whether you are eligible to apply, please visit Gov.UK.
Is security clearance required?
Yes. If successful you must hold, or be willing to obtain, security clearance to DV level.
More information about the vetting process can be found here.
Will this role be overseen by the Civil Service Commission?
No. However, the recruitment process will still be governed by the Civil Service
Commission’s Recruitment Principles.
What do I do if I want to make a complaint?
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Secretary to the Independent Statutory Inquiry into the Omagh Bombing
The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on 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 and
you wish to make a complaint, you should contact scsrecruitment@justice.gov.uk in the
first instance.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department you are able to
raise a formal complaint in the following order.
1. To Shared Service-Connected Ltd (0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 08.00 - 18.00) or
e-mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com)
2. To Ministry of Justice Resourcing (resourcing-services@justice.gov.uk)
3. To the Civil Service Commission
(https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/contact-us/)
What should I do if I think that I have a conflict of interest?
If you believe that you may have a conflict of interest you must declare it by contacting SCS
Recruitment on scsrecruitment@justice.gov.uk before submitting your application
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Secretary to the Independent Statutory Inquiry into the Omagh Bombing
Data Sharing
We will ensure that we will treat all personal information in accordance with data protection
legislation, including the General Data Protection Regulation and Data Protection Act
2018.
Data Sharing
To process your application your personal data will be shared with the Ministry of Justice
SCS Recruitment Team, campaign Panel Members and anyone else necessary as part of
the recruitment process.
The legal basis for processing your personal data is:
Processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest.
Personal data are processed in the public interest because understanding civil servant
experiences and feelings about working in the Civil Service can inform decision taken to
improve these experiences, and ultimately organisation performance.
Sensitive personal data is personal data revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions,
religious or philosophical beliefs, or trade union membership, and the processing of
genetic data, biometric data for the purpose of uniquely identifying a natural person, data
concerning health or data concerning a natural person's sex life or sexual orientation.
The legal basis for processing your sensitive personal data is:
1. Processing is necessary for reasons of substantial public interest for the exercise of a
function of the Crown, a Minister of the Crown, or a government department: it is
important to know if groups of staff with specific demographic characteristics have a
better or worse experience of working for the Civil Service, so that appropriate action
can be taken to level this experience;
2. Processing is of a specific category of personal data and it is necessary for the
purposes of identifying or keeping under review the existence or absence of equality of
opportunity or treatment between groups of people with a view to enabling such
equality to be promoted or maintained.
3. Please note if you are successful in your application your sensitive personal data will
be used as part of the on-boarding process to build your employee record.
For further information please see the GDPR Privacy Notice
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Diversity & Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent where it is found. To
learn more, please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service D&I Strategy
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Secretary to the Independent Statutory Inquiry into the Omagh Bombing
Contact us
Should candidates like to discuss the role in more detail before submitting an application,
please contact SCS Recruitment on scsrecruitment@justice.gov.uk.
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