About the job

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity to lead the Civil Service Commission as Chief Executive and Accounting Officer at a time of significant change. The successful candidate will lead the Commission through a period of change, as well responding to external challenges arising from wider reforms in the Civil Service. The role offers an excellent development opportunity for candidates seeking future progression in the Senior Civil Service.

The Civil Service Commission
The Commission is an independent Executive Non-Departmental Public Body of the Cabinet Office, whose secretariat staff of circa 28 members supports two other ‘Independent Offices’: the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments and the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The Chief Executive is the senior official overseeing the secretariat functions of the Commission which also provides a support function to the other independent offices. The Commission exists to provide assurance that civil servants are selected on merit on the basis of fair and open competition and to help safeguard an impartial Civil Service. These functions are set out in the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010. More information on this can be found on the Commission’s website.

Job description

This is a critical leadership role at the heart of the Commission where you will enjoy close working relationships with the First Civil Service Commissioner as well as other Commissioners, Senior Civil Servants and Ministers. You will be responsible for setting the strategic direction of the Commission; agreeing and delivering business plans; providing strong leadership to the secretariat and wider ‘Independent Offices’; ensuring the appropriate governance arrangements are in place and operating effectively; and acting as the principal policy adviser on all Commission-related issues as well as the Commission’s Accounting Officer.

You will need to be able to advise the First Civil Service Commissioner and other Commissioners in the discharge of their regulatory and statutory functions. Given this, the role requires demonstrable experience of working within regulatory frameworks, either as a regulator or regulated body within the private or public sectors. An understanding of the role of a regulator in terms of enabling and facilitation is also essential.

It is not commonplace for Senior Civil Service pay band 1 roles to include being a designated Accounting Officer, which usually occurs at more senior grades, and this role therefore offers an excellent development opportunity for future career progression in the Senior Civil Service.

Key responsibilities of the post holder will be:

• Guiding the Commission through a period of change and transition in terms of its corporate governance and organisational structures.
• Setting the strategic direction of the organisations, and helping to shape and embed the new governance arrangements.
• Discharging the responsibilities as Accounting Officer for the Commission. 
• Providing leadership and policy advice to ensure day-to-day delivery of the Commission’s and Commissioners’ functions.
• Providing leadership and management to a team of circa 28 staff, including six direct reports
• Developing the policy, strategy and communications plan to ensure the Commission is an influential and independent voice in the discussions about Civil Service recruitment and Civil Service reform.
• Acting as the main interface with the sponsor department (Cabinet Office) and Director of Propriety & Ethics as Senior Sponsor.
• Enhancing further the Commission’s use of data and information systems to support and justify policy decisions made, including those relating to the compliance regime of the 72 regulated bodies.
• Making effective and timely decisions on business cases from regulated bodies requesting approval to use an Exception to the Recruitment Principles.
• Making effective and timely decisions as required on complaints and appeals in respect of adherence to the Recruitment Principles and/or concerns being raised under the Civil Service Code, where appropriate.
• Personally developing and maintaining effective relationships with key senior stakeholders in a number of the mid-size regulated bodies (Commissioners hold the relationship management responsibility for the 20 main government departments directly).
• Overseeing the relationship management activity of the ‘secretariat’ with the remaining smaller bodies.
• Supporting the board of Commissioners, improving resilience and capability across the Commissioners, improving induction, and looking for opportunities to share best practice.
• Managing a budget of circa £2m and ensuring financial controls and regulations are adhered to.
• Providing leadership and management to deliver considered policy advice to ensure day-to-day delivery of the functions of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments and the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
• You will be required to produce an audited Annual Report and Accounts each year, which must be presented to Parliament.
• Through your leadership behaviours, bring out the best in your team to deliver their objectives, encourage and support their development, and maintain a constructive working environment, even in fast-paced and challenging times.

Person specification

It is important, through your CV and supporting statement, that you provide evidence of the following Essential Criteria:

• You are an experienced leader able to operate effectively independently and make decisions, including setting priorities, in a role that has significant autonomy.
• You are able to operate in a context of significant uncertainty and change, providing clear leadership to those in the organisation, and maintaining the confidence of Commissioners, the First Civil Service Commissioner, Cabinet Office Senior Civil Servants, Ministers and the Independent Office Holders in the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments and the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
• You demonstrate adaptability and flexibility, as well as a high level of emotional intelligence, in order to be able to navigate the different and changing requirements of the relationship with the three different organisations you are responsible for.
• You are able to utilise power and insights from data to support your organisation in developing evidence based policy.
• You have a good understanding of what being a regulator means, and demonstrable experience of operating within a regulatory environment.
• You can develop, build and maintain effective relationships and networks with a range of very senior stakeholders while making finely balanced judgements on priorities and resource allocation.
• You have excellent all round communication and stakeholder management skills.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £75,000, Cabinet Office contributes £20,250 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.

To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process, outlined below. This should be completed no later than 23.55, Sunday 16th June 2024.

A CV (max 2 pages) setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.

A Statement of Suitability (no longer than 1250 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria in the person specification.

Failure to submit both portions of the online application form (CV and Statement of Suitability) will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification.

Should you encounter any issues with your online application please get in touch with us via: scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend a panel interview. At interview, candidates may be asked to give a presentation in addition to answering a selection of competency based questions. As well as assessing Behaviours, candidates will also be assessed on a selection of Civil Service Strengths at interview. Click here for Further information. Full details of the assessment process will be made available to shortlisted candidates.

If we receive applications from more suitable candidates than we have vacancies for at this time, we may hold suitable applicants on a reserve list for 12 months, and future vacancies in the Civil Service requiring the same skills and experience could be offered to candidates on the reserve list without the need for a new competition.

Expected timeline (subject to change)
Expected sift date – w/c 24th June 2024

Expected interview date/s – w/c 8th July 2024

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 at: scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
• Complete the ‘assistance required’ section in the ‘personal information’ page of your application form to provide information we should be aware of that will enable us to support you further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Further information

Please note that this role requires Security Vetting at Security Check (SC) clearance level for this vacancy. You will normally need to meet the minimum UK residency period as determined by the level of vetting being undertaken, which for SC is 5 years UK residency prior to your vetting application.

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 here.

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. 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.