About the job

Job summary

This high profile and exciting job is suitable for an enthusiastic and talented strategic thinker looking to work at the very heart of Government. It is not dissimilar to the role of working as a company secretary within a very large and complex multiple entity business. With excellent relationship management skills, you will play a leading role in shaping decision making at the highest levels of the Civil Service and across Government.

Job description

This is an exciting and challenging role for a motivated and enthusiastic strategic thinker with strong communication and interpersonal skills, as well as the proven ability to deliver through others. You will need to be able to work effectively at speed in a demanding but rewarding environment.

We need a (Grade 7) Governance Advisor to be responsible for the operational portfolio of the Civil Service Governance system, to shape decision making, address the complex challenges facing the Civil Service and support the Civil Service Operations Board to ensure its work increases the efficiency, effectiveness and transparency of the Civil Service. 

You will have a unique opportunity to work closely with and advise the most senior leaders in the Civil Service, including the Chief Operating Officer of the Civil Service, Permanent Secretaries and Directors General from across central government. You will gain an enviable insight into leadership at the highest level; build a wide reaching network; help shape the future direction of the Civil Service; and, develop the skills that will help you progress to the next level in your career.

This is a fast paced, high profile and challenging role. As a Governance Advisor you will need to have the ability to proactively prioritise a demanding workload, initiating and taking work forward, often to tight deadlines and covering a wide range of issues. You will need to be able to perform and work calmly under pressure within a fast-paced and complex environment.

The role holder will report directly to the Head of Civil Service Governance and the role can be based at either 1 Horse Guards Road, London or 1 Atlantic Square, 21 York Street, Glasgow.

The role holder will:

• Be the portfolio lead for Operations which will include:
• Work collaboratively, confidently and independently with the most senior stakeholders across the Civil Service, Whitehall and beyond to take forward corporate governance matters and objectives, ensure strategic alignment, and broker resolutions where perspectives differ.
• Provide leadership on discrete parts of the Civil Service governance framework. 
• Support the drafting of speaking materials and correspondence on Civil Service governance matters.
• Support the wider governance team to continuously improve the service provided to the Civil Service Chief Operating Officer. 
• Line Management Responsibilities: 1 x  Apprentice.

Person specification

Skills / Experience

• Experience of delivering a cycle of meetings at departmental board,  executive or senior levels
• Experience of working with Ministers, Senior Civil Servants and Non-Executive Board Members (or private sector equivalents)
• Experience of providing briefing at pace on all matters relating to executive and non-executive governance.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced and pressured environment, balance a large number of competing priorities and push strategic priorities
• Experience of managing a team or individuals, delegating responsibility and supporting personal development
• Excellent communications and drafting skills, including minute writing
• A proactive approach, with excellent administrative and organisational skills and keen attention to detail 
• An ability to work calmly and efficiently under pressure
• Sound judgement and the ability to think laterally in order to make connections between different areas of work within the department that others may have missed 
• A track record in maintaining effective relationships with a wide variety of people, including senior officials
• Experience of working closely in corporate governance or performance and risk management teams in a public or private sector organisation
• Strong organisational skills
• Understanding of good practice in corporate governance
• Knowledge and awareness of key policy and change initiatives across the Cabinet Office

Desirable:

• Part or Full Chartered Qualified Status (support may be available for individuals to complete their training); and/or
• An advanced certificate in Corporate Governance

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 £53,400, Cabinet Office contributes £14,418 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.

Application process

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, 500 word personal statement as well as five 250 word behaviour statements. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form. 

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the lead Behaviour, Seeing the Big Picture. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to interview.

Selection process

During the blended interview you will be assessed against your experience and the behaviours that are contained within this advert.

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date –6/7/8 March
Expected interview date/s – w/c 18 March
Interview location - Virtual

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 12 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

Please note that this role requires CTC clearance, which would normally need 3 years UK residency in the past 3 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

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 or 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.

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. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist 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.