About the job

Job summary

Our priorities

Optimise public R&D investment to support areas of relative UK strength and increase the level of private R&D to make our economy the most innovative in the world.

Promote a diverse research and innovation system that connects discovery to new companies, growth and jobs – including by delivering world-class physical and digital infrastructure (such as gigabit broadband), making the UK the best place to start and grow a technology business and developing and attracting top talent.

Put public services – including the NHS and schools – at the forefront of innovation, championing new ways of working and the development of in-house STEM capability to improve outcomes for people.

Strengthen international collaboration on science and technology in line with the Integrated Review, and ensure our researchers are able to continue to work with leading scientists in Europe and around the world.

Deliver legislative and regulatory reforms to drive competition and promote innovation, including the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill, the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill and our pro-innovation approach to regulating AI.

Our Inclusive Environment

We have an inclusive culture which makes the Department a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, not only because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because it helps us be more innovative.

We offer flexible working benefits, employee well-being support and a great pension. We are fortunate to have a range of staff networks and are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We support talented people from all backgrounds to build a career and thrive.

We welcome applications from anyone who shares our commitment to inclusion and fully support candidates with a disability or long-term condition who require adjustments in our recruitment process.

We regularly run events where you can find out more about the department and tips for the application process. You can sign up for upcoming events here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/departmentforsciencetechnologyandinnovation?

You can also follow our LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/dsitcareers/

Job description

Are you seeking an exciting opportunity in Project Delivery? The Project and Risk Service seeks a full-time Business Manager to support the efficient operation of the project delivery function, contributing to the establishment of an exemplary project delivery profession. This permanent role will primarily provide business support for the project and risk service while offering executive assistance to the Deputy Director.

Responsibilities include supporting day-to-day delivery, executive support for the Deputy Director and senior leadership team, event planning, recruitment support, on-boarding, and maintaining our Intranet presence.

If you are passionate about enhancing daily operations for a diverse and dynamic team, we encourage you to apply and become a key player in shaping our project success and professional growth.   

Responsibilities include:

• Provide day to day executive support including diary management to the Deputy Director and senior leadership team.
• Coordinate and manage the Deputy Director's schedule, including arranging appointments, meetings, and events.
• Arrange domestic and international travel accommodations for the Deputy Director, including flights, hotels, and transportation.
• Act as the primary point of contact for all communications directed to the Deputy Director, screening and prioritizing emails, phone calls, and other correspondence.
• Manage the processing of In Year Awards, ensuring timely actioning and adherence to relevant procedures and guidelines.
• Regularly update the organizational chart on a monthly basis to reflect changes in staffing and reporting structures accurately.
• Maintain and update the induction pack for new employees, ensuring that it remains current and comprehensive with relevant information.
• Coordinate the annual People survey, including liaising with stakeholders, distributing surveys, collecting and analysing data, and reporting findings.
• Undertake various ad hoc duties and projects as requested, demonstrating flexibility and adaptability to meet the evolving needs of the organization.
• Reporting – coordinate the internal reporting process for the team, looking for ways to improve the processes and increase engagement which ensure business benefits and outcomes are achieved.
• Tools – lead on the maintenance and continuous improvement of the Function's intranet site, ensuring content is up to date.
• Build strong networks both internally and externally to ensure the vision of the function is achieved and supporting the coordination and organisation of sessions, as needed.
• Recruitment – support the team in coordinating recruitment campaigns and tasks within the on-boarding process.
• Team building – coordination of corporate sessions for the team and support with Away Days which help to establish team culture.

Person specification

Essential skills and experience

• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communications skills with experience of engaging with and influencing senior leaders in an organisation.
• Strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to develop effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, collaborating across boundaries.
• Ability to work at pace and adapt to shifting priorities.
• Ability to multi-task and prioritise to manage and balance a varied workload with deadlines.
• Ability to work well independently, with multiple tasks, in a fast-changing and ambiguous environment, with a keen attention to detail. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence, challenge effectively and collaborate across boundaries including at a senior level.   
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, and PowerPoint), with the ability to quickly learn new tools and software. 
• A warm and friendly approach, fostering a positive and inclusive work environment.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £31,745, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology contributes £8,571 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.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, personal statement and a number of behavioural statements.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Please use your personal statement (in no more than 500 words) to detail how your skills and experience make you suitable for the role.

Candidates will be sifted on the behavioural statements, CV and personal statement.

In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the personal statement.

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

The interview will consist of behaviour and strength based questions.

Sift and Interview dates

Expected timeline - Subject to change -- 

Sift dates: w/c 25/03/2024

Interview dates: w/c 15/04/2024

Interview Location: MS Teams.

Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.

Further Information

Reasonable Adjustment

We are proud to be a disability confident leader and we welcome applications from disabled candidates and candidates with long-term conditions.

We fully support adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we encourage candidates to discuss their adjustment needs by emailing the job contact which can be found under the contact point for applicants section.

We do not have an exhaustive list of adjustments that we support but just some examples include additional time to complete your application form, behaviour questions up to 72 hours prior to interview and having extra time at interview.

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

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

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

A location-based reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Should another role become available within that period you may be offered this position.

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

Any move to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology 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 https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

DSIT does not normally offer full home working (i.e. working at home); but we do offer a variety of flexible working options (including occasionally working from home). 

DSIT cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign.

DSIT holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.

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

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.

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.