About the job

Job summary

We are looking for a Deputy Yeoman Usher in Black Rods Office at the House of Lords. Internally we call this position a Deputy Yeoman Usher. This is an exciting position where you will join a small team-working on your own projects as well as supporting the wider work of Black Rod and the Yeoman Usher with the Department’s ceremonial events, business resilience responsibilities as well as contributing the work relating to the  day to day running of the House of Lords.

This is an opportunity to work onsite at Parliament working Monday to Friday, variable working patterns are required. From time to time, the House of Lords will sit late and on such occasions the Deputy Yeomen Usher will be required to be part of a rota to remain on duty until the House rises.

You will work at the centre of what the House does, working on assigned areas of responsibility for State Occasions and other events; business resilience planning; overseeing when required. This is an opportunity for someone who wants to work in a unique, fast-paced environment and who enjoys project management with an outward people/team looking focus. 

Job description

You’ll be accountable for –

• Lead responsibility for the day-to-day administration of the Chapel of St Mary’s Undercroft (a Royal Peculiar on the parliamentary estate), for weddings, wedding blessing, baptisms, and support for one off events where required.
• Working Closely with the bicameral Parliamentary Business Resilience team on day-to-day issues, business continuity planning in the House of Lords and on a bicameral basis; Providing secretariat to the Bicameral Business Resilience Board
• Support and where applicable, be responsible for the planning and delivery of annual small and one-off events in the House of Lords and other areas of the Palace of Westminster.
• Oversee and support the administration around the introduction of new Peers and have active input in delivery when demand requires.
• Work alongside colleagues on a day-to-day basis dealing with enquiries and procedures concerning access around the Estate.

If this sounds like something you would like to hear more about, please apply below.

Person specification

What we’re looking for

• Proven / evidenced experience of project planning, business resilience or event management and delivery in a complex, physical and sensitive political environment.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to manage a wide variety of stakeholders across varying projects, events and day to day work.
• Proven excellent communication skills at a senior level, both oral and written with the ability to accurately draft reports and papers.
• Ability to problem-solve and independently guide and influence decisions, analysing available options with sound reasoning.
• Evidenced ability showing forward thinking regarding projects and plans and the ability to identify potential issues and clashes and then work solutions to overcome.
• Proven leadership skills in the management of small teams, delivery of projects and events as well as the ability to work collaboratively.
• Strong attention to detail, particularly when planning and coordinating complex multi-agency events, ensuring budgetary oversight and operations, and including, if possible, ceremonial or high-profile occasions.

 

The job description provides full details about the role and what we are looking for.

Benefits

What you’ll get in return

• 30 days annual leave (increasing to 35 after one years’ service)
• Generous pension scheme
• Discounts from well-known brands and retailers
• Parliamentary health and wellbeing programme
• The opportunity to witness history in the making

The work we do is vital to House of Lords, and you will be a pivotal member in the team strengthening the work of the House. The House of Lords is the second chamber of the UK parliament. It is independent from and complements the work of the House of Commons to:

• Make laws
• Check and challenge the actions of the government through questions and debates
• Investigate public policy and provide a forum of independent expertise

Things you need to know

Selection process details

Please complete your online application by 23.55pm on the 16th January 2024.  

If you require any reasonable adjustments during the application process, please contact hlrecruitment@parliament.uk

Job offers are standardly offered at the minimum of the salary range

The House of Lords Administration is committed to increasing diversity and maintaining an inclusive workplace culture. We welcome applications from all candidates regardless of their age, caring responsibilities, disability, gender/sex, gender reassignment/trans status, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation and socio-economic status. The Administration will also consider flexible working arrangements and reasonable adjustments.

We welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds. For this role we particularly welcome applications from groups which are currently underrepresented within the team, including applications from Black, Asian and ethnic minority candidates and candidates with disabilities.

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.