About the job

Job summary

HM Treasury

If you’re interested in making a difference to people’s lives, the Treasury can offer you an exciting opportunity to influence decision making that affects the whole of the UK. Working at the heart of government, we collaborate across government to promote responsible public spending and drive strong and sustainable economic growth.  

Our work ranges from protecting customers through the regulation of the financial sector, helping to reduce carbon emissions and creating a greener economy, to promoting British trade around the world and supporting people across the country on jobs, growth and more.  

HM Treasury is proud of a diverse and inclusive work environment, committed to fairness and the promotion of equality of opportunity for all. We know that having a range of experiences, ways of working and thinking makes us stronger and better at developing policy that reflects the needs of every community. We embrace different views and experiences and value the new perspective that people from a variety of circumstances bring to the work we do. We welcome applications from candidates who have not previously worked for the Civil Service, mid- and late-career changers with transferrable skills, people from all backgrounds and circumstances regardless of disability, gender, age ethnicity, LGBT+ identity and socio-economic status.  

We are part of the Darlington Economic Campus, a pioneering new cross-government hub which brings people together to play an active role in the most important issues of the day whilst working closer to the communities we serve. The campus provides the opportunity for people from all over the UK to help shape the future of the country, and our flexible working practices ensure you can collaborate effectively with our partners. It’s central government, made more accessible to you! 

Job description

Public Services Group

The Public Services Group is at the heart of Treasury’s work to secure sustainable public finances and drive economic growth. We manage public spending of more than £250bn. across key public services and departments, including health, education, the criminal justice system, local government, housing, defence and the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

We do this by working with other government departments, ministers, and other Treasury teams to ensure that spending plans support high quality public services, help the economy to grow and provide value for money for the taxpayer. 

Our roles offer a range of opportunities to work with senior leaders in other government departments and on the frontline of public services and ensure the effective delivery of public services.

The Group is committed to being an excellent place to work, with a relentless focus on good management, learning and development and continuous improvement in everything we do. 

About the team

We are responsible for Treasury’s oversight of over £190 billion of government spending in health and adult social care – accounting for over a quarter of all day-to-day public spending! We work collaboratively with the Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC) and its Arm’s Length Bodies, No10 and the Cabinet Office, and external partners including NHS leaders and Local Authorities. Not only do we set budgets and monitor performance, we also look to deliver real value to the public and drive forward a long-term vision to make health and care services productive and sustainable into the future.

About the job

This is a stretching and high-profile role at the heart of Government decision-making on the NHS and wider health and care policy. As the lead for HM Treasury on the Department of Health and Social Care’s £180bn annual resource budget, you will play a key role in the upcoming Spending Review, as well as in day-to-day decision-making on the Government’s health priorities and their funding. You will need strong policy, analytical, and communication skills to manage effectively across a broad and fast-moving portfolio.

Your role will include:

1. Leading on overall strategy and negotiations for DHSC’s resource budgets at the upcoming Spending Review. You will work across the team and HMT, as well as with DHSC and NHS England, to build a robust evidence base for decision-making on the size and shape of future health and care budgets, and use excellent judgment to provide advice to Ministers and senior officials on the prioritisation of funding across the full spectrum of DHSC policy, including the NHS.
2. Leading day-to-day monitoring and oversight of DHSC’s £180bn resource budget. You will develop an in-depth understanding of public spending rules and frameworks, and of the detail of DHSC’s budgets, and use this to provide effective ongoing support and challenge to the Department on its in-year financial position. You will be responsible for advising Ministers on any claims for additional resource funding requested by the Department, and for overseeing the agreement of DHSC budgets through the biannual Estimates process, through which Departmental spending is approved by Parliament.
3. Scrutinising policy and spending proposals from DHSC, and providing advice to Ministers on them. You will assess business cases and other policy or spending proposals from DHSC in line with the principles set out in the Green Book, Managing Public Money, and other Government guidance and best practice, engaging effectively and sensitively to develop clear advice to Ministers based on clear evidence and strong judgment.
4. Coordinating policy and analysis across the wider team, particularly in the lead up to biannual Fiscal Events. You will work flexibly and collaboratively with others to ensure consistency and cohesion across the team’s work and advice on spending issues, providing a central point of contact for the team across the wider Treasury, and developing the capability of the wider team on public spending topics.
5. Line management of one SEO, and occasional matrix management of other SEOs and HEOs across the team subject to business need. You will work flexibly and empathetically to support your managee(s) in their roles and their professional development, including providing regular and constructive feedback, coaching and mentoring. As part of the management team, you will work to promote a culture of inclusion and openness across the branch and the wider team.
6. Engaging with senior leaders across Government, the NHS, and wider health and care stakeholders. You will develop strong working relationships with key counterparts in DHSC, NHSE, and No.10, working collaboratively to ensure that your advice and judgments are based on a clear understanding of a range of views. You will represent HMT in cross-government fora and in bilateral discussions with other Departments and stakeholders, communicating and defending HMT’s position on a range of issues effectively and sensitively.

Exact roles and responsibilities will be dependent on the experience of the successful candidate and wider team priorities.

If you would like to find out more informally prior to the closing date for applications, please contact the recruiting line manager Kalvir Cheema (kalvir.cheema@hmtreasury.gov.uk)

Person specification

We are looking for the below skills, experience and behaviours and we will ask you to demonstrate these in your application form. Please review the Candidate FAQ document that is attached to the advert for guidance on how to complete your application form.   

1. Ability to lead in a complex area of government policy, with strong analytical, numerical and policy skills alongside excellent judgement. (Making Effective Decisions)
2. Ability to lead and motivate a team, allocating responsibilities effectively and giving colleagues the opportunities and support they need to flourish. (Leadership)
3. Strong influencing skills, in particular building relationships with a variety of partners including seniors to deliver successful outcomes. (Communicating and Influencing)
4. The lead criteria is: Making effective decisions

If we receive large volumes of applications, we will conduct an initial sift on the lead criterion only.

At interview stage, you will be assessed on the below criteria: 

• Strengths
• Behaviours:
  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Leadership
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Seeing the Big Picture

Interview Task/Presentation

Prior to your interview, we will contact you about a task/presentation that the interview panel would like you to complete as part of the assessment. The exact details will be communicated to you nearer the time. 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £52,960, HM Treasury contributes £14,299 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, Strengths and Experience.

Recruitment Timeline 

Closing date: 12th May 2024

Shortlisting: w/c 13th May 2024

Interviews:  w/c 20th / 27th May 2024

This timeline is indicative and may be subject to change. We will inform you if there is a substantial change to the recruitment timeline. 

If your contact details change at any time during the selection process, please ensure you update your Civil Service Jobs Profile. 

Please note that only applications submitted through Civil Service Jobs will be accepted.

Location-Based Reserve Lists 

You will be placed on a reserve list if your application is successful, but we cannot offer you a post immediately. Where more than one location has been advertised, candidates will be approached for roles in merit order according to the first preferred location stated on your application form. 

Please note that a place on the reserve list does not guarantee an offer. We would still encourage you to apply for other HM Treasury opportunities that you are interested in. If you are offered a role in your first preferred location and you decline the offer or you are unable to take up the post within a reasonable timeframe, you will be removed from the reserve list, other than in exceptional circumstances. 

Eligibility Statement  

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role in the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government. Checks will be performed as part of pre-employment checks in line with this. Please refer to the Candidate FAQ document attached to the advert for more information. 

Individuals appointed to the Treasury Group will be subject to National Security Vetting. To allow for meaningful checks to be carried out applicants will normally need to have lived in the UK for at least 3 out of the past 5 years. A lack of UK residency in itself is not always a bar to security clearance but the Department will need to consider eligibility on a case by case basis using all information that can be obtained following a successful application. 

Everyone working with government assets must complete Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks.  

For many roles, security clearance is also required. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements of the role before they can be appointed. The level of security clearance required for this role is Security Check (SC) 

Please read the Vetting Charter for information on what to expect during the vetting process and what will be expected from you.  

Many areas of your life may be explored during your vetting journey, and it is important that every individual, regardless of their background and experiences, should feel comfortable going through this personal process, whilst having confidence that it is fair, proportionate, and inclusive.  

These short videos address common concerns and preconceptions which applicants may have about national security vetting.  

If you have questions relating to security clearances, please contact HMTSecurityVetting@hmtreasury.gov.uk

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

Security

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.