About the job

Job summary

The Government Commercial and Grants Services (GCG Services) team works across two key Government Functions, the Commercial Function and the Grants Management Function.  We deliver best in class digital, data and analytical solutions to drive meaningful services with cutting edge technology and data driven insights, enabling greater efficiencies and more integrated ways of working across c.£172bn of government grant funding and c.£50bn of procurement spend.

GCG Services is a fast paced and exciting place to work. The team is leading the way through use of digital tools to increase efficiency and effectiveness of grants and contract administration, while simultaneously improving data completeness and accuracy.

Through our collective efforts we have delivered true value to the public and we are excited to be taking the next steps in our journey.  This is an exciting opportunity to shape and implement services that will make a huge difference to communities across the UK. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Job description

This is an exciting time to join the team as the portfolio’s of the 3 Deputy Directors that the role supports grow in scope and impact. The Business Manager will have a range of responsibilities and be key to support prioritisation, process improvements and strategic engagements. 

The role offers a unique oversight of the business that covers a wide range of operational and reform responsibilities.

The role is responsible for ensuring that the Director’s have the information they need, alerting them to the key actions which they are required to take and progressing actions on their behalf.

The environment is demanding, and the post holder will need strong influencing and relationship management skills and develop a strong level of knowledge of high priority issues across the range of business. The post holder will be able to speak authoritatively about the work being undertaken and make decisions that reflect the needs and priorities of the Deputy Director’s. 

The role will look to support the Deputy Directors to provide leadership and management across their portfolio, dealing with a diverse range of issues, which includes liaison with the offices of Ministers, Permanent Secretary, Senior Stakeholders across Cabinet Office, other Government Departments and their agencies, and wider public sector organisations.  

The post holder will also be a key liaison between the business and  strategic suppliers. They will need to be able to adapt and learn new things at pace and speak confidently on a range of technical and non-technical areas of digital and data work, ensuring that they are able to articulate the priorities of the business and win the confidence of stakeholders and customers.

They will ensure that meetings provide the greatest strategic outcomes across the Digital, Data and Risk landscape. The role will have a range of operation and business management functions that include quality assurance on briefings into the Directorate and outwards.

Responsibilities

The post holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

• Ensuring the Directors are sufficiently briefed for meetings, Parliamentary appearances, events etc.
• Being the key point of contact for the Deputy  Directors, supporting and enabling them in their leadership of the organisation and understanding and promoting their priorities, including organisational performance and risk.
• Working closely with Senior Stakeholders across the organisation on urgent, high profile and high priority work, ensuring it is in line with their Director's requirements.
• Working closely with Ministerial Private Offices, Permanent Secretary's Office and press office, holding meetings as required.
• There will be occasions the role will need to represent the directorate in a strategic context.
• Ensure that action is taken by the business to ensure deadlines are met through commissioning work on behalf of the Directorate
• Identify, surface and mitigate risks to the directorate as appropriate 
• Oversight of key external stakeholder and customer relationships.
• Be an active member of the SLT, contributing advice and knowledge from pan directorate position.
• Support the annual business planning process ensuring accurate reporting of spend.
• Ensure compliance from within the directorate to wider corporate objectives such as office attendance and professional development.

Person specification

We’re looking for someone with the ability to work at pace and manage multiple and diverse work streams .

Essential criteria

• Proven experience in managing a high volume of enquiries such as correspondence requests in a way that increases productivity of senior stakeholders.
  
• Proven experience balancing multiple priorities and dealing with ambiguity, are able to advise on continuously changing work streams, including influencing busy colleagues and senior stakeholders.
• Leadership skills with the ability to manage upwards and challenge stakeholders professionally and constructively.
• Have previous experience or a good understanding of business management processes and best practice
• Be able to review and comment on briefings to ensure quality and alignment to Deputy Director priorities.
• You will hold strong organisational skills, with excellent judgement and a ‘can do’ approach to situations, tasks and problems; a self-starter who can work independently.
  

Desirable Skills and Experience

• Professionalised qualification in Administration
• Previous experience supporting multiple senior stakeholders.
• Experience of business process management within digital and data.
• Experience handling sensitive information and risk management

Additional information

A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £40,850, Cabinet Office contributes £11,029 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, Strengths and Experience.

Application process

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and 250 word personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form. 

For your statement of suitability, please demonstrate how you meet the essential and desirable criteria as listed in the 'Person specification' section of the job advert.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the CV. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Selection process

During the blended interview you will be assessed against your experience, behaviours that are contained in this advert and strength based questions, the strength questions are ones in which we wish to gain your initial response. 

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date – w/c 13th May
Expected interview date/s – w/c 20th May
Interview location - Foss House, Kings Pool, Peasholme Green, York YO1 7PX

Further information

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

A reserve list may be held for a period of 9 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Cabinet Office 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

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service 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. 

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 had their employment continued. Any applicant’s 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.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Reasonable adjustments

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. 

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: 

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. 
• Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

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

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.