About the job

Job summary

Economic and Domestic Affairs Secretariat (EDS)

The Economic and Domestic Secretariat is made up of 5 teams - covering the full range of the Government’s economic and domestic policies as well as resilience and the data and analysis that supports teams at the centre of government - working closely with colleagues across the wider Cabinet Secretariat and No.10 to provide excellent support to the Prime Minister and Cabinet. EDS operates at the very heart of government, supporting the Prime Minister and the Cabinet in taking forward the government’s highest priority economic and domestic policy commitments. EDS reports directly to the Cabinet Secretary, and works closely with No.10. We work with all government departments to ensure the  coordination of policy and legislation across Whitehall, and we oversee and facilitate the collective ministerial decision-making process through Cabinet and the Cabinet committee system.

EDS has a diverse workforce. We champion and are committed to providing a working environment where all staff at all levels are valued and respected. We would welcome applications from as wide a field of candidates as possible, including those who work flexibly or as part of a job-share.

Job description

As one of two Deputy Directors for the Domestic Affairs team, you will support the Prime Minister and Cabinet in delivering the Government’s domestic agenda. You will lead on Public Services, leading high priority public services projects for the PM, developing a strong understanding of and relationships in the Departments for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, for Health and Social Care, for Education and the Cabinet Office. Key areas of work across the public services brief include priorities on health, social care, education, housing, levelling up, equalities and resettlement.

You will be the key interlocutor in the Cabinet Office for the departments listed above, advising on policy development and collective agreement. You will therefore build strong relationships with senior civil servants in those departments, as well as in HM Treasury and No.10, as well as colleagues across the Cabinet Office.

Alongside No.10 Policy Unit, you will provide expert advice to the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, No.10, and the Cabinet Secretary on strategic, long-term and cross-cutting policy issues while responding to immediate priorities.

You will safeguard the principle of collective agreement - advising on the effective operation of Cabinet government.  Your team will also support meetings of the Domestic and Economic Affairs Cabinet Committee on issues in your portfolio.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide high quality and timely advice with supporting analysis on priority, often complex, short- and long-term policy issues for the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and the Cabinet Secretary;
• Support your departments (DfE, DLUHC, DHSC, CO) in getting collective agreement on their policies; brokering disagreements between departments and with the centre;
• Work with No.10 to drive forward progress on PM priorities, for example by chairing meetings of relevant senior officials to ensure the PM’s and DPM’s priorities are advanced and following up with departments on agreed commitments, using Cabinet and Cabinet Committee discussions to support this process, where required;
• Act as secretariat to the Domestic and Economic Affairs Committee on issues within your portfolio 
• Work closely with other deputy directors and senior colleagues in EDS to lead the EDS team of staff, to ensure it is a happy, inclusive and collaborative environment, and that the whole directorate works effectively with No.10 and other parts of government to support the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.

Person specification

It is important through your CV and Statement of Suitability that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the selection criteria detailed. Please also take this opportunity to explain your motivations for applying.

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the following Essential Criteria:

• Highly developed leadership skills including the ability to build, inspire and develop high performing teams, creating an environment of challenge, continuous improvement and openness to new approaches and behaviours;
• Outstanding policy development and leadership capability with experience of setting direction, interpreting complicated policy arguments and analysing supporting data, and of working with others to bring clarity and agree ways forward;
• Personal credibility and a track record of providing trusted advice and challenge to the most senior stakeholders in organisations to enact their agendas and priorities effectively;
• An understanding of how the centre of government works coupled with the ability to build strong network across government;
• Strong communication skills with an ability to influence with ease, build consensus through effective relationships and challenge where necessary.

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

Application process

To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process, outlined below. This should be completed no later than 23:55pm, 29th April 2024

1. A CV (no longer than 1250 words) setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have  provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
2. 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 complete both sections 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.

As part of the online application process, you will be asked a number of diversity-related questions. If you do  not wish to provide a declaration on any of the particular characteristics, you will have the option to select  'prefer not to say’. See the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy for more information.

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

Selection process

Your application will be acknowledged when it is received.

A panel, including the hiring manager, will assess your application to select those demonstrating the best fit with the role by considering the evidence you have provided against the criteria set out in the ‘Person Specification’ section. Failure to address any or all of these may affect your application.

The timeline later in this pack indicates the date by which decision is expected to be made, and all longlisted and shortlisted candidates will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible thereafter.

Expected timeline (subject to change)
Expected sift date – W/C 06/05/24
Expected interview date/s – W/C 13/05/24

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:

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.