About the job

Job summary

https://youtu.be/rVaPVTGV3oA

We encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates  

At DfE, we are proud of the commitment we make to diversity and inclusion and of the progress we have made. We have active & vibrant staff networks, special leave policies and workplace adjustments put in place for those who need them. We are continuing to build a diverse DfE, in an inclusive environment which nurtures and realises potential in all, at all levels.

Equality and Diversity - Department for Education

We are advertising for a role in DfE’s Private Office. Working in Private Office is a unique opportunity to work at the heart of Government on the development and delivery of the flagship education policies. These are challenging, fast-paced roles, vital to delivering the Department’s priorities.

Private Office posts involve providing direct support to Ministers or Advisers, managing their time and working closely with senior officials and the Secretary of State’s office.

The experience these roles provide is exceptional, as you will witness and help to shape how Ministers and senior officials make key decisions, as well as gaining an understanding of how the Department and wider Government operates.

Job description

The Dairy Manager to a Minister or an Adviser is uniquely challenging, and you will get first-hand experience of working with Ministers and senior officials. It offers a fantastic opportunity to work at the heart of a large Government department.

The Diary Manager post is a rewarding, challenging and integral role in Private Office. The successful candidate will form part of a small team, working closely with Ministers, Private Secretaries, and senior civil servants on a daily basis.

You will manage the Minister or Adviser’s time, so they are able to attend key meetings,  ensure they have the time available to engage with policy and strategic issues and make business critical decisions. You will have overall control of the diary, organising and prioritising meetings with internal and external stakeholders, commissioning briefings for meetings and events, and developing strong relationships with all stakeholders, including other Ministerial offices.

In addition, some roles will include taking on tasks to support the smooth running of the office and team. This could include, for example, taking responsibility for key business support and Department of State functions, and working with senior team members to plan and support meetings and events. As you develop in the role, there will also be the opportunity to take on parts of the Minister's policy brief, including leading on Parliamentary work or supporting on Ministerial trips.

You will be undertaking interesting and worthwhile work and will achieve a higher level  apprenticeship which will add significant value to your long-term career prospects. In return, you will be expected to be committed to the apprenticeship, consistently produce high quality work at pace, and use your judgement and organisational skills to  ensure your principal, and team, are supported effectively.

As a Diary Manager you will work with a range of internal stakeholders. This includes members of your own team and the wider department. You will also interact with important external stakeholders such as subject matter experts or specialists, as well  as members of the public, service providers, the media, think tanks or research institutes, local and central government, regulators and international bodies. You will also be involved in the review and implementation of divisional and Departmental policies.

This role includes a Level 4 Policy Apprenticeship. Please check the eligibility requirements below using the apprenticeship standard: Policy officer / Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education

• You must have lived in the UK and/or EU for 3 years prior to the apprenticeship start date and not be undertaking another apprenticeship at the same time.
• You must not already have a substantial amount of the skills and knowledge that is  covered in the contents of the apprenticeship standard.
• You must not have already worked in a similar role, or your previous learning, and/or work experience which covers the contents (Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours) of the apprenticeship standard.

Please note: This is a Level 4 qualification, please do not apply if:

• You already have all the skills and knowledge that is covered in the contents of the apprenticeship standard.
• You have already worked in a similar role, or your previous learning, and/or work experience covers the contents (Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours) of the apprenticeship standard.
• You have a degree (or equivalent) in Policy (or similar).

Part of this apprenticeship is to complete a level 2 English and maths functional skills qualification. If you have already achieved GCSEs in English and maths at Level 4 (grade C) or equivalent or a higher grade, you will not need to complete the functional skills qualification.

At the enrolment state, the individual's eligibility will be checked by the training provider.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

The role holder should have:

• Excellent organisational skills and be able to prioritise effectively to manage a high workload while working at pace.
• Ability to establish and maintain relationships with a diverse range of people, to find consensus and deliver shared goals.
• Excellent and effective written and oral communication skills and be confident articulating and delivering complex and sometimes difficult messages.
• Work effectively in a team, being flexible and adaptable to support the wider team goals.

Benefits

Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Department’s transfer / promotion policies.

As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK with an average employer contribution of 27%.

You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years’ service. In addition, all staff receive the King’s Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days’ bank and public holidays.

We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours. 

Most DfE employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending at least 60% of their time in an office or work setting. Changes to these working arrangements are available in exceptional circumstances but must be agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role.

Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DfE, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.

As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Application

To apply for this role you will be required to provide a CV and a 250 word statement on each of the following behaviours:

• Delivering at pace (lead behaviour)
• Making effective decisions
• Working together

 If we receive a high volume of applications then we will sift on the CV and the lead behaviour “Delivering at pace” only. 

Interview

If you are invited to interview, you will be further tested on the Behaviours listed in the advert and Strengths from the Civil Service Success Profiles. You will also be asked to complete a short written assessment.

Candidates will receive an assessment task to complete if they are successful in the  sift to complete as part of the interview process.

Interviews are expected to take place from the week commencing 8th January 2024.

Other Information

We reserve the right to raise the minimum pass mark in the event of a high volume or strong field of candidates.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK from the location options provided and not from overseas.

The government is committed to supporting apprenticeships, enabling people to learn and progress in a role whilst earning. We want to monitor the number of people who have completed apprenticeships who are now applying to progress further in their career and are asking this question to all candidates, on all vacancies. You will be asked a question as part of the application process about any previous apprenticeships you have completed. Your response to this question will not affect your application and it is not a requirement of the role to have completed a previous apprenticeship.   

DfE cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. DfE holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Department of Education of your intention by emailing Pre-Employment.Checks.DFE@education.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Department for Education do not cover the cost of travel to your interview/assessment unless otherwise stated.

A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.

Candidates will be posted in merit order based upon location preference. Where more than one location is advertised you will be asked to state your preferred location.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

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.

Terms and conditions of candidates transferring from ALBs and NDPBs

Bodies that are not accredited by the Civil Service Commission and are not able to advertise at Across Government on Civil Service jobs will be treated as external new starters and will come into DfE on modernised terms and conditions with a salary at the band minimum.

Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission but do not have civil service status will be offered modernised terms and will not have continuous service recognised for leave or sickness benefits. Salaries should be offered at band minimum, but there is some flexibility where this would cause a detriment to the individual.

Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission and do have Civil Service status will be treated as OGD transfers. Staff appointed on lateral transfer will move on to pre-modernised DfE terms (unless they were on modernised terms in their previous organisation). Staff appointed on promotion will move on to modernised DfE terms. Staff will transfer over on their existing salary (on lateral transfer) and any pay above the DfE pay band maximum will be paid as a mark time allowance. Staff moving on promotion will have their salaries calculated using the principles set out in the attached OGD transfer supplementary information.

Reasonable adjustment

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 Department of Education via centralrecruitment.operations@education.gov.uk 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.

Any move to Department for Education (DfE) will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming 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/

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. 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.