About the job

Job summary

Background to the Cabinet Office

The Cabinet Office is part of the centre of Government, co-ordinating policy and strategy.  Comprising a number of different business units, the department has three core functions supporting its overarching purpose of making Government more effective:

• Supporting the Prime Minister – to define and deliver the Government’s objectives;
• Supporting the Cabinet – to drive the coherence, quality and delivery of policy and operations across departments;
• Strengthening the Civil Service – to ensure the civil service is organised effectively and has the capability in terms of skills, values and leadership to deliver the Government’s objectives.

The Cabinet Office is a vibrant and diverse place to work.  Operating at the heart of government, we offer careers that provide a far-reaching, interesting and varied workload.  Cabinet Office staff have a wide and exciting range of employment opportunities and, like all civil servants, enjoy a range of benefits and a flexible working environment.

Information about the Cabinet Office can be found by visiting www.gov.uk/cabinetoffice

Job description

The Economic and Domestic Secretariat (“EDS”) is a friendly, fast-paced Director General-led area that works closely with colleagues across the wider Cabinet Secretariat and No10 (including with No10 Policy and Delivery Unit counterparts) to provide excellent support to the Prime Minister and Cabinet. EDS is responsible for policy advice, cross-government coordination, collective agreement, decision-making and legislation across economic and domestic policy.

This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious individual to join a newly designed tight-knit private office structure, providing diary and corporate support to our Directors. Successful candidates will have the opportunity to complete a stretching apprenticeship alongside this portfolio to further develop their skills and they will have a tailored training and development offer to broaden their experience, grow within the role and learn about other areas of the Civil Service. Specific apprenticeship options will be discussed between successful candidates and line managers. These are fascinating posts which offer excellent opportunities to work in a fast-moving environment at the heart of government, with great prospects for career progression, whilst working towards a well-respected qualification if you choose. You will directly support a Director who leads on some of the government’s biggest priorities across a multitude of policy areas which may cover economic, domestic, trade, resilience, strategy and legislation or data and analysis portfolios.

These posts involve providing diary and corporate management to a Director, working closely with Business Managers, in addition to the wider Directorate to ensure the Private Office runs smoothly. This will involve building strong relationships with senior staff and will require excellent judgement on the management of time, meticulous organisation and attention to detail. You will work alongside the wider EDS Private Office and others across Whitehall as part of the role. Whilst diary management experience is desirable, it is not essential and we welcome diversity of experience. If we have multiple high-scoring candidates, there may be opportunities to be considered for similar vacancies in these teams via our reserve list which will remain open for 12 months from the closing date.

The exact scope of the role will depend on which part of EDS you are assigned to and what that team’s exact requirements are, but as a Diary and Corporate Manager, the core elements of the role will involve:

• Opportunities to co-lead on the development of novel corporate policy and business design work which may affect the future shape of EDS;
• Regularly liaising with private offices in the Cabinet Office and across Whitehall, being confident in representing the Director and helping take forward their priorities;
• Working with the Business Manager to provide effective support to the Director and wider Directorate.

The role holder will be expected to carry out any other related duties that are within the employee's skills and abilities whenever reasonably instructed.

There is an expectation that successful candidates will remain in post for 2 years’.

Apprenticeship Information

These roles include the offer of an apprenticeship. The exact choice of apprenticeship will be agreed between successful candidates and line managers. This will reflect personal preferences, availability, how the role develops and the eligibility requirements. 

What we can offer you:

• Unparalleled access across the full range of domestic and economic priorities for the Prime Minister and Cabinet Secretary;
• A stretching apprenticeship, alongside a tailored training and development offer benefitting from access to a wide pool of resources and training programmes, internally and externally through our network of colleagues and alumni;
• An assigned mentor to support professional development;
• Extensive internal training to deliver Cabinet Committee Meetings;
• Opportunities to cover colleagues across Private Office and wider Cabinet Office to broaden your depth and understanding of the department’s work; and
• The skills, experience and opportunities required to further your career in the Civil Service;
• A great place to work with an experienced, supportive and friendly network of colleagues.

These posts will report into a Business Manager.

EDS encourages a diverse workforce and aims to provide a working environment where all staff at all levels are valued and respected, and where discrimination, bullying, promotion of negative stereotyping and harassment are not tolerated. 

We offer a culture of flexibility and would welcome applications from those who work flexibly, including those who work part-time.

Person specification

Criteria and Experience

Essential:

• The ability to be flexible and adaptable to changing priorities
• Excellent organisational skills, including time management, and attention to detail
• Strong written and verbal communication
• Ability to work as part of a team

 Desirable:

• Experience of managing diaries

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 £27,750, Cabinet Office contributes £7,492 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 and a 750 word personal statement. 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 personal statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/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 – w/c 22nd April
Expected interview date/s – w/c 29th April
Interview location - In Person or 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.

Who can start an apprenticeship

To start an apprenticeship, you’ll need to be:

• 16 or over
• living in England
• not in full-time education

You can apply for an apprenticeship while you’re still at school but you’ll need to be 16 or over by the end of the summer holidays to start the apprenticeship. Please note if successful you must be 16 or over to undergo the relevant security checks.

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.