About the job

Job summary

The Office of the Small Business Commissioner (OSBC) is an Arm’s- length Body set up by the Government under the Enterprise Act 2016. The purpose of the office is to tackle late payment and unfavourable payment practices in the private sector. We offer a dispute resolution service to small suppliers in dispute with their bigger customer over payments. We also provide general information and support to small businesses, and signpost them to other appropriate existing services. We aim to encourage a culture change in payment practices and how businesses deal with each other, and we are looking for talented people to help us achieve it. 

We are looking for 2 highly motivated individuals with good organisational, communication and interpersonal skills. You will need the ability to manage multiple and competing priorities, gather, maintain and update data and produce accurate reports. 

The roles offer an excellent opportunity to gain valuable exposure to the crucial small and micro business sectors, and some of the issues will garner significant media and political interest as its scope expands. Additionally, the role offers great development and training opportunities and support from expert colleagues. You will find flexible working, an inclusive culture, and a place where your opinion is valued.  

Occasional UK travel and overnight stays may be required to attend essential training, conduct meetings, and attend business events. Flexible hybrid working is available, however regular travel to our Birmingham office will be required for training, development, and collaborative working.

Job description

Policy and Casework Support x 1 

The post holder will: 

• Provide high quality administrative support to the Policy and Implementation Lead, to ensure that they are well prepared when carrying out their allocated responsibilities.  
• Supporting the Policy and Implementation Lead to deliver the implementation plan resulting from the review of the Prompt Payment Code and the delivery of the broader action plan following the review of Late Payment and Cashflow. 
• You will investigate the details of relevant complaints engaging with the complainant and the respondent to determine the facts in the case.  
• Undertake casework relating to the administration of the Prompt Payment Code and support the development of new casework handling processes following its review.  
• Work with the Casework team to support with handling casework more generally, applying relevant criteria, and make rational and sound decisions based on a consideration of facts and alternatives. 

Team Administration Support x 1 

• Provide secretariat support for internal boards, including taking minutes of various team and governance meetings, and taking a lead on ensuring actions are completed. 
• Support Communications and Engagement team to help plan social media posting schedules and press and media notices. 
• Set up, manage and document regular meetings between OSBC and DBT.  
• Provide general administration supporting including organising meetings, ensuring staff lists, induction packs and guidance documents are up to date. 
• Respond to ad hoc requests to support operations and business management. 
• Work with the Business Manager to understand communications team budget provision and catalogue any expenditure. 
• Manage the communications section of SharePoint and ensure the Engagement Lead’s retention protocols are followed.  
• Understand the basics of social media reporting metrics and work with the Communications Lead to monitor and report any significant trends or changes and gather all useful data. 
• Help design, populate and manage a media contacts database.

Person specification

Essential criteria 

• Ability to gather appropriate information and keep accurate, up to date records. 
• Experience of working collaboratively with others, while building and maintaining good working relationships. 
• Excellent organisation skills and ability to prioritise own workload with minimal supervision. 
• Experience of working to deadlines or meeting targets. 
• Excellent customer service skills. 
• Attention to detail and a proven ability to grasp what is needed and deliver at pace. 
• Excellent written and oral communication skills. 
• Strong capability in using Microsoft Office applications. 
• Good stakeholder management skills with the ability to build effective relationships with a variety of people. 
• Strong management skills with an ability to deliver consistently in a fast-paced environment. 
• Ability to work flexibility under pressure with the ability to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances and balance competing demands whilst remaining focused on delivering high quality outputs.    
• Excellent planning skills, able to multi-task and prioritise competently with the ability to deliver at pace.   

Desirable criteria  

• Have previous policy, operations or administrative experience in an arm’s length body environment. 

Personal attributes & skills 

We are looking for a motivated, well organised, pro-active people with excellent attention to detail and the ability to act with discretion, sensitivity and tact when dealing with sensitive and confidential matters.  

You will need excellent prioritisation skills and attention to detail. You will showcase excellent verbal and written communication skills and be proficient in the use of Microsoft products such as Outlook and MS teams. 

You will have a high level of organisational skills, the ability to work independently, manage demanding workloads whilst maintaining a collaborative, flexible approach to working with colleagues. You will need to show you can build trust and relationships with others and maintain confidentiality. 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £27,329, Department for Business and Trade contributes £7,378 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Interviews for this vacancy will be conducted virtually. We will, however, consider in-person interviews by exception.

Please ensure that you check your emails regularly as all updates from us will be sent to you this way.

To apply for this post, you will be asked to complete the following as part of the online application:  

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Provide employment history that relates to the Essential criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 2 x A4 pages.
• A Personal Statement of up to 500 words, explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the Essential criteria.

It is likely that the sift will take place 1-2 weeks after the closing date and interviews 3-5 weeks after the closing date though this is subject to change.

In the event of a large number of applicants, an initial short sift will be conducted on the Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview. 

Reasonable Adjustments

We are committed to supporting candidates so they can perform at their best throughout the recruitment process. This includes making reasonable adjustments to our process. In order to request an adjustment:

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section on the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process.

Alternatively contact the Government Recruitment Service at DBTrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. 

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Candidate Support

You may want to join a virtual Candidate Support Session. These sessions include helpful tips and advice on the recruitment process, from application to interview. 

Please see attached Candidate Pack for further information on: Diversity and Inclusion; Benefits; Learning and Development; Working Patterns and what we deliver as a department.

Further Information:

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

• A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made. Reserve Lists will be for each location and appointments made in merit order based on location preferences.
• Any move to the Department for Business and Trade from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments.
• The Department will not consider sponsoring a visa or issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship. We are unable to offer advice on any Visa and Immigration cases. 
• New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band. 
• Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty. Any applicant who has details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
• A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government. 
• Terms and Conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you. 
• Please note – the successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 18 months before being released for another role.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service /Disclosure Scotland/Access NI on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

For further information on the Access NI confidential checking service telephone: the Access NI Helpline on 0300 200 7888 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email accessni@ani.x.gsi.gov.uk

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

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)
• 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)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.