About the job

Job summary

GDS exists to help government make brilliant public services that empower people in the UK. We work at the very centre of government to drive digital transformation, focused on users. We build and maintain common platforms, products and tools for others to use and create great public services that are accessible, inclusive and easy to use. We also work with departments to identify patterns, share learning and create change to make government more efficient.

Our teams are organised around delivering on our priorities. These are:

• making it easier for people to find what they are looking for on GOV.UK
• building common service platforms to make it simpler and cheaper to build quality digital services
• promoting agile, user-centred design practices both in the UK and across the world

Job description

We’re looking for a talented Higher Executive Assistant to join GDS to support members of our senior leadership team: 1 SCS2 Director and x2 Deputy Directors 

The successful candidates will be required to communicate confidently and effectively at all levels whilst demonstrating initiative, attention to detail, and resourcefulness both on their own and within a team. 

As a Higher Executive Assistant, you’ll:

• manage the diary of the senior civil servant(s), responding to last-minute changes and accommodating unexpected, urgent requests; 
• prioritise the daily schedule and tasks for each senior civil servant(s);
• proactively plan one-off and ongoing meetings with stakeholders, and manage diaries in line with business priorities, ensuring agendas, relevant information and documents are prepared. You may be asked to attend events and other engagements;
• manage business travel arrangements/hotel bookings as required; 
• be required to manage the inbox for the senior civil servant(s), flagging urgent emails and deadlines, managing sensitive information;
• steer ad hoc requests for support from the senior civil servant(s) 

Person specification

We’re interested in people who have:

• strong administration skills or experience providing executive support, with strong attention to detail and the ability to adapt these skills in a complex and fast-paced working environment.
• experience of managing a busy diary and the ability to work with a sense of urgency and respond to multiple requests promptly
• excellent written and verbal communication, with the ability to communicate concisely and coherently to a variety of audiences
• experience in handling sensitive information, displaying tact and diplomacy whilst maintaining confidentiality 

Benefits

The benefits of working at GDS

There are many benefits of working at GDS, including:

• flexible hybrid working with flexi-time and the option to work part-time or condensed hours
• a Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
• 25 days of annual leave, increasing by a day each year up to a maximum of 30 days
• an extra day off for The King’s birthday
• an in-year bonus scheme to recognise high performance
• career progression and coaching, including a training budget for personal development
• paid volunteering leave
• a focus on wellbeing with access to an employee assistance programme
• job satisfaction from making government services easier to use and more inclusive for people across the UK
• advances on pay, including for travel season tickets
• death in service benefits
• cycle to work scheme and facilities
• access to children's holiday play schemes across different locations in central London
• access to an employee discounts scheme
• 10 learning days per year
• volunteering opportunities (5 special leave days per year)
• access to a suite of learning activities through Civil Service learning

GDS offers hybrid working for all employees. This means that everyone does some working from home and also spends some time in their local office. You’ll agree to your hybrid working arrangement with your line manager in line with your preferences and business needs.

Any move to Government Digital Service 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

Things you need to know

Selection process details

The standard selection process for roles at GDS consists of:

• a simple application screening process - We only ask for a CV and to answer 3 questions when submitting your application. Please note: For your application to be considered for this role, you must answer all the three questions 
• a 60-minute video interview

Whilst we value the use of AI technology to enhance our daily work, we also value the personal touch and urge applicants to write cover letters without the use of AI to emphasise their own unique experiences.

In the event we receive a high number of applications, we will conduct an initial sift on the lead criteria which is: 

• strong administration skills or experience providing executive support, with strong attention to detail and the ability to adapt these skills in a complex and fast-paced working environment.

Sift

You will receive an outcome of your application by 22nd March

Interview

If successful at the sift stage, you will be invited to attend an interview which will begin from the week commencing 2nd April. Interviews will be held virtually and comprehensive details will be shared at a later stage.

Depending on how many applications we get, there might also be an extra stage before the video interview, for example a phone interview or a technical exercise.

In the Civil Service, we use Success Profiles to evaluate your skills and ability. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, increases performance and improves diversity and inclusivity. We’ll be assessing your technical abilities, skills, experience and behaviours that are relevant to this role.

For this role we’ll be assessing you against the following Civil Service Behaviours: 

• working together
• making effective decisions
• communicating and influencing
• delivering at pace

Candidates that do not pass the interview but have demonstrated an acceptable standard may be considered for similar roles at a lower grade.

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.

We are an equal-opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status.

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.