About the job

Job summary

GDS exists to help government make brilliant public services that empower people in the UK. We work at the very centre of government to drive digital transformation, focused on users. We build and maintain common platforms, products and tools for others to use and create great public services that are accessible, inclusive and easy to use. We also work with departments to identify patterns, share learning and create change to make government more efficient.

Our teams are organised around delivering on our priorities. These are:

• making it easier for people to find what they are looking for on GOV.UK
• building common service platforms to make it simpler and cheaper to build quality digital services
• promoting agile, user-centred design practices both in the UK and across the world

The CEO Private Office Team sits right at the heart of GDS to support CEO Tom Read to deliver on his priorities. Expect a friendly team and supportive learning environment where you will be exposed to varied and fast-paced work, and have the chance to watch, learn, contribute to and support our ambitious vision for digital government

Job description

We are recruiting for an Assistant Private Secretary to support the Chief Executive Officer of the Government Digital Service as part of a high-performing private office unit. Working to the Chief of Staff, you will support the CEO to deliver his priorities in support of GDS’s overarching mission.

The role of an Assistant Private Secretary demands excellent organisation and communication skills, and the ability to build relationships across the department and more widely, and work confidently with officials at all levels.

Key to success will be your ability to remain calm when busy, think quickly on your feet, prioritise and be flexible with your workload, work independently and exercise strong judgement. You will be able to deal with internal and external stakeholders and be able to build strong working relationships quickly, confidently engaging with teams to ensure delivery of the CEO’s priorities and requests, in a collaborative and creative way.

The successful candidate will be comfortable working in complex and ambiguous situations, have strong attention to detail and be able to provide excellent advice to the CEO to progress his priorities.

As a Assistant Private Secretary you’ll:

• drive forward the CEO’s priorities, ensuring these are communicated effectively to teams with timely and high quality advice, and using your influence where needed to provide steers on preferences 
• provide an effective channel of communication between the CEO private office and teams across GDS and the wider Cabinet Office
• remain highly organised, simultaneously managing a large number of commissions of varied deadlines, while proactively engaging teams to ensure that potential delays and problems are identified early and dealt with quickly and effectively 
• use your relationships, judgement and understanding of the wider context to support the CEO and Chief of Staff in their work and to add value to the process and substance of decision making
• identify the main issues in complex problems, clarify understanding or stakeholder expectations, to provide the best advice to the CEO
• work closely with GDS policy, communications, assurance and parliamentary teams and other Private Offices
• contributing to a team culture which is supportive, flexible, calm, and hard-working

Person specification

We’re interested in people who have:

• the ability to work in a fast-paced and pressured environment and balance a large number of competing priorities; 
• excellent attention to detail and strong critical thinking skills; 
• the ability to review, analyse and critically summarise written briefings quickly;
• excellent written and oral communication skills; 
• experience of working closely and confidently with senior leaders or Ministers; 
• an interest in digital, data and technology and how it can be used to drive improved outcomes for users and citizens

Benefits

The benefits of working at GDS

There are many benefits of working at GDS, including:

• flexible hybrid working with flexi-time and the option to work part-time or condensed hours
• a Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
• 25 days of annual leave, increasing by a day each year up to a maximum of 30 days
• an extra day off for The King’s birthday
• an in-year bonus scheme to recognise high performance
• career progression and coaching, including a training budget for personal development
• paid volunteering leave
• a focus on wellbeing with access to an employee assistance programme
• job satisfaction from making government services easier to use and more inclusive for people across the UK
• advances on pay, including for travel season tickets
• death in service benefits
• cycle to work scheme and facilities
• access to children's holiday play schemes across different locations in central London
• access to an employee discounts scheme
• 10 learning days per year
• volunteering opportunities (5 special leave days per year)
• access to a suite of learning activities through Civil Service learning

GDS offers hybrid working for all employees. This means that everyone does some working from home and also spends some time in their local office. You’ll agree to your hybrid working arrangement with your line manager in line with your preferences and business needs.

Any move to Government Digital Service from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Things you need to know

Selection process details

The standard selection process for roles at GDS consists of:

• a simple application screening process - We only ask for a CV and cover letter of up to 750 words. Important tip - please ensure that your cover letter includes how you meet the skills and experience listed in the “person specification” section above
• a 60 minute video interview

Depending on how many applications we get, there might also be an extra stage before the video interview, for example a phone interview or a technical exercise.

In the Civil Service, we use Success Profiles to evaluate your skills and ability. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, increases performance and improves diversity and inclusivity. We’ll be assessing your technical abilities, skills, experience and behaviours that are relevant to this role.

For this role we’ll be assessing you against the following Civil Service Behaviours:

• working together
• making effective decisions
• communicating and influencing
• delivering at pace

Candidates that do not pass the interview but have demonstrated an acceptable standard may be considered for similar roles at a lower grade.

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). 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.