About the job

Job summary

The responsibilities for the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology for 2023 are as follows: 

• Positioning the UK at the forefront of global scientific and technological advancement.
• Driving innovations that change lives and sustain economic growth.
• Delivering talent programmes, physical and digital infrastructure and regulation to support our economy, security and public services.
• R&D funding.

Our priorities are:

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 our 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 key 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.

Pass the remaining stages of the reformed Online Safety Bill to keep British people, especially children, safe online.

Our Inclusive Environment

We are building an inclusive culture to make the Department a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice 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 will help us be more innovative and make better decisions.

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

We actively welcome applications from anyone who shares our commitment to inclusion. We will 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 Careers Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/dsitcareers/ 

Please note that DSIT are currently reviewing our terms and conditions and pay arrangements following Machinery of Government changes and as part of the outstanding August 2023 pay award.  Please be aware that there may be changes to the terms and conditions and pay ranges listed in this advert ahead of you starting in post. Any changes would be implemented in early 2024.

Job description

The Matrix Programme is a transformation initiative involving 9 Departments (listed at end). It is a unique cross-government collaboration that will unlock simpler, better, and more joined up working by bringing together the systems, processes, and ways of working for key government functions such as HR, Finance or Procurement, commonly known as Shared Services.

The Programme is part of the Shared Services Team, a fantastic team passionate about improving the existing shared services experience for DSIT and its partners whilst working to deliver the strategic objectives of the new Government Shared Services Strategy!

We will deliver the Government's three overarching objectives for shared services:

1. Better experience for all users - intuitive systems that are easy to use and mobile-enabled.

2. Efficiency and value for money - better systems and services which support productivity and seek to reduce costs.

3. Standardised processes and data - support interoperability, making it easier to understand and compare corporate data. 

Departments forming the Matrix Programme: Cabinet Office (CO), Department for Science Innovation and Technology (DSIT), Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS), Department for Business Trade (DBT), Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), Department for Education (DfE), Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC), Attorney’s General Office (AGO) and His Majesty's Treasury (HMT).

The Chief of Staff role is a pivotal role providing business support to the Matrix Programme including the Executive leadership team and has overall responsibility for the people and engagement elements of the team’s activities.

The post holder will be required to work across boundaries, engaging all teams across the programme and the departments we work with to drive change and continuous improvement. They will create the conditions for programme success and work closely with the team leads across the programme to understand any escalations up to the executive team that need addressing and follow up to resolution.

The role will provide visible and inspirational leadership, setting the direction for team culture, engagement and ways of working, as well as promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in order to create the conditions for success. Alongside this, the post holder will have responsibility for managing and actioning all commissions and requests that come into the Directorate.

Person specification

Key Responsibilities include but not limited to:

Chief of Staff Office – coordinating and overseeing a Chief of Staff office for the Matrix Directorate

To ensure that the Senior Responsible Office & Programme Director (PD) work together effectively to take key decisions; establish and maintain effective working relationships with the PD & DGs within the cluster.

Commissions, submissions and briefings - To act as the central point of coordination for the programme and directorate for requests, reports, commissions, and engagement with the wider Department and Corporate Services.

Develop and use an in-depth knowledge of the Matrix Programme to filter and interpret information, ensuring relevant information is shared as appropriate.
To create an inclusive and positive culture, that champions wellbeing and supports individual needs.

Affecting Behaviour and Culture – Work across the programme to define desired culture and behaviours for change, ensuring we are aligned to the overall DSIT ways of working.

Work with the resourcing team to develop effective onboarding for new starters, ensuring they have access to the information and people they need to quickly and effectively integrate into the team.

To manage the programme learning and development, ensuring that development needs and aspirations are understood and managed for the directorate.

Providing oversight, leading and supporting a team in delivering a high standard of customer service in a dynamic and often unpredictable environment, balancing external demands with those of the Programme.

Leading and coordinating vital information and decisions within the Programme - ensuring that all opportunities, issues and risks are fully understood.

Lead secretariat for Senior Leadership team & Matrix Executive team – engaging across stakeholders on key discussion points.

Act as a key point of contact for the programme internally and externally

Oversee the diary management and executive support of the Executive Senior Leadership team

Overseeing a business management environment, ensuring day to day operations are undertaken efficiently and effectively.

Coordinate security clearance requests and conflict of interest forms for new starters; report on the outcomes of these checks with the central dsit recruitment team.

Develop and own the BCP strategy and ensure that the programme is following the correct protocols for the safety of their teams

Lead the administration of the In-year reward process and promote the use of it across the programme

Lead and coordinate the Matrix response to the People Survey outcomes for improve scores the following year

Line Management of 1 SEO, 2 HEO's, 1 EO

Skills and Experience 

Required:

Experience in forming strong relationships with a range of colleagues and the ability to deliver clear messages.

Experience in engaging with and providing briefings for ministers, permanent secretaries and DGs across departments

Experience implementing new and improved ways of working.

Leadership- Excellent leadership skills, including the ability to build diverse and inclusive teams. Balance conflicting pressures and understand impacts on the programme of decisions. 

Stakeholder Relationship Management- Experience of working with and persuading and influencing senior officials and stakeholders in a complex environment.

Communication & Insight- The ability to communicate complex issues clearly, verbally and in writing, to a wide variety of audiences. The ability to see beyond the written word and data to the ‘so what’ – and use insight, experience and sound judgement to draw business conclusions.

Delivering at Pace- Ensure the team understand their own roles & responsibilities and priorities. Ensure objectives are met

Organisational & Problem Solving- Excellent organisation and prioritisation skills, with the ability to work effectively across a range of tasks and under pressure.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £50,305, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology contributes £13,582 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.

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 show us how you meet the skills required for this role.

Candidates will be sifted on 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-based questions

Sift and interview dates

Expected Timeline subject to change

Sift dates: w/c 29/01/2024

Interview dates: w/c 05/02/2024

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 /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. 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.