About the job

Job summary

The Arts, Heritage and Tourism Directorate is a dynamic place to work, made up of seven teams covering: Arts & Libraries; Heritage; Festival & City of Culture; the Government Art Collection; Tourism & Cultural Diplomacy; Covid-19 Legacy Programmes; and Museums & Cultural Property.

The Heritage Policy Adviser roles sits in the Heritage side of the team which oversees the protection, promotion and conservation of the historic environment of England for the benefit of current and future generations. This involves promoting the understanding of, and access to, England’s rich built heritage. 

This is done through internal policy development work, influencing within government and the wider heritage sector and through our statutory functions, such as the designation of Listed Buildings, Scheduled Monuments, and Protected Wreck Sites; and powers for upkeep and repair of historic buildings (through use of Planning Act e.g. Compulsory Purchase Orders). 

The team has a strong outward facing and influencing role, developing and driving its own policy priorities, as well as influencing to ensure heritage considerations, such as Net Zero, are embedded in policy development. The team also works closely with heritage public bodies to deliver the policies that protect and enhance the nation’s historic environment. 

The UK City of Culture Project Coordination role sits in the UK City of Culture side of the team. UK City of Culture is a competition run every four years by DCMS. It is a UK-wide programme, developed in collaboration with the devolved administrations.The competition is run by DCMS, inviting places across the UK to set out their vision for culture-led regeneration every four years. The competition is a transformational opportunity for places and communities to put culture and creativity at the heart of their plans. 

Bradford is the current winner and the arm’s length delivery team will deliver the programme in 2025, supported by DCMS. The next competition due to be delivered by DCMS is the 2029 competition.

Winning the the title can drive positive economic and social outcomes, develop lasting local, national and international partnerships, and bring people together. It can strengthen the community, inspire local pride, celebrating local arts and culture, and attract new investment and tourism. 

Job description

Heritage Policy Adviser

This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and flexible Grade C to join the friendly and dynamic Heritage and City of Culture Team. Working collaboratively with the wider team and a number of DCMS’ Arms Length Bodies (ALBs) and other government departments, you will assist with the formation and delivery of government policy on the historic environment. 

The workload can be reactive and very fast paced. You will be able to prioritise effectively and work flexibly to deliver against often quite challenging deadlines.

You will be able to cut through complexity to provide clear advice inside and outside the Department.

You will have good interpersonal skills and be able to communicate effectively with colleagues and stakeholders.

Responsibilities will include:

• Leading and driving the heritage visits programme, working closely with stakeholders to provide visit options that link to priority areas and briefings for ministers and senior officials.
• Overseeing ministerial and official correspondence on matters relating to heritage, ensuring that the team provides timely responses to enquiries and maintaining a core brief of lines to be used across the team.
• Supporting other aspects of external engagement relating to heritage including briefings for ministers, supporting the Heritage Council, drafting responses to parliamentary questions, and other parliamentary activity.
• As a member of the heritage team, you will have the opportunity to work with a number of internal and external stakeholders and will gain a unique range of career development skills and learning opportunities.

UK City of Culture Project Coordination

This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and flexible Grade C to join the friendly and dynamic Heritage and City of Culture Team. This role provides the opportunity to work on a programme that puts culture at the heart of social and economic regeneration. Working collaboratively across DCMS, other government departments and the Bradford 2025 delivery team, you will support Bradford’s year and the development of the 2029 competition. There may also be the opportunity to support previous winners.

The workload can be reactive and very fast paced. You will be able to prioritise effectively and work flexibly to deliver against often quite challenging deadlines.

You will be able to cut through complexity to provide clear advice inside and outside the Department.

You will have good interpersonal skills and be able to communicate effectively with colleagues and stakeholders.

Responsibilities will include:

• Secretariat support for DCMS’s UK City of Culture Programme Board, helping to ensure that priority issues are discussed with key functions e.g. Finance, Commercial and Legal, and that issues are escalated appropriately
• 2029 competition planning support, including leading on administrative tasks for recruiting the independent expert advisory panel, and supporting other key 2029 activity e.g. panel sessions to select the longlist and shortlist for the competition
• Drafting ministerial and official correspondence on matters relating to UK City of Culture and maintaining a core brief of lines
• Supporting other core activity such as ministerial briefing, ministerial visits and drafting responses to parliamentary questions
• You will have the opportunity to work with a number of internal and external stakeholders and will gain a unique range of career development skills and learning opportunities.

Person specification

The ideal candidate would have the following key skills and experience:

Essential Requirements:

• Delivering at Pace - Calmness under pressure, with the ability to juggle competing priorities and deadlines to deliver results in a timely manner
• Communicating and Influencing - Great written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distil complex information down to provide clear and concise advice.
• Working Together - effective stakeholder management skills, with the ability to collaborate with and build influential relationships with internal and external partners
• Managing a Quality Service - ability to work with others to understand their needs and expectations. Create clear plans and set priorities which meet the needs of the team.

Desirable Skills:

• Experience of working on correspondence, parliamentary activity or visits
• Experience of or interest in the heritage or cultural sectors
• For the UK City of Culture role, previous experience in a secretariat role.

We are offering applicants to join a virtual information session on 20th December 3:00 - 3:30 PM hosted by the vacancy holders - Christabel Austen & Louise Wanczycki.

The session will be an opportunity to hear more about the role, the team and wider directorate and the department. It will also be an opportunity for you to ask any questions.

Please register your interest here and you will be sent an invitation.

Benefits

DCMS values its staff and offers a wide range of benefits to everyone who works here. We’re committed to developing talent, and supporting colleagues to have great careers in our department. To support with that, some of the benefits we offer include:

• Flexible working arrangements and hybrid working - DCMS staff work on a flexible basis with time spent in offices, and time spent working from home

• 26.5 days annual leave on entry, increasing to 31.5 days after 5 years’ service

• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

• Access to the Edenred employee benefits system which offers discounts to popular retailers and access to various useful resources such as financial and savings advice

• 3 days of paid volunteering leave

• Up to 9 months maternity leave on full pay + generous paternity and adoption leave

• Staff reward and recognition bonuses that operate throughout the year

• Occupational sick pay

• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme which offers staff 24/7 confidential support and resources such as counselling, debt guidance and management advice

• Active and engaged staff networks to join including the LGBT+, Ethnic Diversity, Mental Health and Wellbeing and Gender Equality Networks

• Exceptional learning and development opportunities that you can explore alongside your day to day work

• Season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme and much more!

Terms and conditions at SCS grades will vary. Those applying for SCS roles should refer to the candidate information pack for more information on terms and conditions.

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.

To apply for this post, please send us the following documents no later than 23:55 PM 2nd January 2024 via the CS Jobs portal:

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you provide employment history that relates to the essential and desirable criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 3 x A4 pages and you should insert your CV into the "Job History" section on Civil Service Jobs on the Civil Service Jobs application form.
• A Statement of Suitability (max 500 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the essential requirements highlighted. You may also choose to reference the desirable skills listed.

For the shortlist, we will assess your experience and select applicants demonstrating the best fit for the role by considering the evidence provided in your application.

In the event of a large number of applicants, an initial sift will be conducted on the statement of suitability. Those who are successful in the initial sift will then be scored on all elements of the application.

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

For indicative sift and interview dates please refer to the attached Candidate Information Pack.

DCMS has a London and a National pay scale. For more information on this, including the circumstances in which each pay scale will apply, please see the ‘Information for Applicants’ document.

Interviews

In most cases interviews will take place remotely via Google Meet video call. However please refer to the Candidate Information Pack to confirm the interview approach.

Reasonable Adjustment

We are committed to supporting candidates so they can perform at their best throughout the recruitment process. This includes making reasonable adjustments to our process.

In order to request an adjustment, please:

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section on 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 a verbal test rather than a written one. 

Alternatively, contact the Government Recruitment Service via dcmsrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Accessibility

If you are experiencing accessibility difficulties with any of the attachments, please contact us. Contact details can be found in the 'contact point for applicants' section of the job advert.

If the vacancy is offered as FTA/Loan, existing Civil Servants must join on a Loan basis only., Prior agreement to be released on loan must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

Further Information

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

Any move to DCMS 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

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 Government Recruitment Service via dcmsrecruitment.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 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 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. 

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. 

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.

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

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.