About the job

Job summary

About 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

About the Group:

The Corporate Centre Group delivers a wide range of corporate services to enable people at HM Treasury and many of the other organisations who form part of the Treasury Group (including the Government Internal Audit Agency and the Debt Management Office) to operate effectively and efficiently. We are a diverse group, both in terms of our professions and in our ways of working. Our colleagues are based across 3 sites in London, Darlington and Norwich. 

The Corporate Centre Group consists of a range of teams and is led by two directors (one of Finance and one of Operations); 

• Correspondence and Information Rights 

• Finance & Commercial 
• People & Capability 
• Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging 
• Treasury Business Solutions 
• Multisite Darlington Economic Campus team 

• Exchequer Funds & Accounts team 

About the Team:

The Correspondence and Information Rights Team (CIRT) consists of:

• The Information Rights Unit (IRU) who deal with requests for recorded information.
• The Correspondence and Enquiries Unit (CEU), who handle correspondence from the public and Members of Parliament (MPs).
• The CIRT Technology Team who lead on our change and improvement plans, run our case management system and provide day to day MI reporting in relation to FOI’s and correspondence received within the Treasury.
• The Data Protection team who advise on data protection across HMT

This role sits in the CIRT Technology Team.

We’re a friendly team based across London, Norwich and Darlington, and we encourage people from different ages, experiences, and backgrounds.

About the Job:

The CIRT Technology team is a new team sitting at the heart of the Correspondence and Information Rights team. The CIRT Technology team is responsible for supporting on the technological transformation of CIRT and providing local MI and reporting to identify bottlenecks and handle performance.

Correspondence sent to the government is a crucial channel of communication for both MPs and the public. It is ministerial and departmental priority that the Treasury provides timely and high-quality responses to enquiries and concerns that are raised; CEU leads and develops the department’s correspondence processes and is responsible for ensuring correspondence is handled appropriately and efficiently. The Technology team manages our case management system that allows the flow of Correspondence for the CEU team as well as FOI requests for the Freedom of Information Team.

We are looking for someone who is self-motivated, with a strong operational background and the ability to identify and improve processes. You will be responsible for ensuring that correspondence is effectively handled onto and off the case management system out of shared mailboxes. This will require handling complex transfers in and out, responding to MP enquiries, overseeing our public enquiries line and line management responsibilities for up to 4 people. You’ll ensure your team has the right skills, knowledge, and experience to provide a high-quality service to those contacting HMT.

The ideal candidate will need to be someone who is comfortable working with senior colleagues and MPs. This role will require excellent working relationships with internal and external stakeholders. You’ll need to work at pace to deliver the variety of responsibilities associated with this role.

Key accountabilities for this role will include:

1. Implementing the processes from when a correspondence case arrives to when it is sent out. Ensuring your team are able to work through these processes quickly and accurately.
2. Line management a of Range B/C (EO/AO) staff, recognising, respecting and rewarding the contribution and achievements as well as dealing with dips in performance quickly, fairly, and appropriately.
3. Leading on management information (MI) and collaborating closely with CIRT and the wider department to understand business technology and data needs, using Excel and other analytical software to understand performance in your team and identify any developing bottlenecks of work.
4. Drive continuous improvement in the correspondence process, promoting the role of automation and technology and supporting your team to embrace and deliver changes positively.
5. Drive improvement work to the case management system, ensuring it is utilised in the most effective way, spotting opportunities for improvement and helping to drive change forwards.
6. Responding to complex queries and ad-hoc tasks on behalf of the Technology team.
7. Oversight of the public enquiry line and case management system, ensuring guidance is kept up to date and followed.
8. Being in the office 60% of the time.

Candidate Drop-In Session 
 
We will be running a candidate drop-in session for this role to give you greater insight about the role as well as the chance to learn more about HM Treasury and the recruitment process. If you would like to join us, then use the appropriate link below to join the call at the right time. 

09:30-10:30am on 4th March 2024 Click here to join the meeting

10:00 -11:00am on 7th March 2024 Click here to join the meeting

Join on your computer, mobile app or room device

If you would like to speak to the hiring manager informally prior to the closing date for applications to find out more about the job, please contact Lara Pullen, lara.pullen@hmtreasury.gov.uk.

Person specification

Behaviours:

We are looking for the below skills, experience and behaviours and we will ask you to demonstrate these in your application form, you will be asked to write a 250-word statement per criteria about the selected skills, experience, and behaviours. Please review the Candidate FAQ document that is attached to the advert for guidance on how to complete your application form.   

1. Improving a process through releasing efficiencies with technology (Changing and Improving)
2. Influencing conflicting stakeholders (Communicating and Influencing)
3. Leading on a piece of work outside of usual responsibilities (Seeing the Big Picture)

The lead criterion is: Changing and Improving

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:

• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Leadership

Candidate Guidance Support Session 
 
We will be running an overview of Success Profiles and the STAR approach; top tips for the application and interview process and an opportunity to ask general questions around our recruitment practices. If you would like to join us, then use the link below to join the call at the right time. 

Thursday 7th March at 12:00hrs Click here to join the meeting

Interview:

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

•    Behaviours:
-    Changing and Improving 
-    Communicating and Influencing
-    Seeing The Big Picture
-    Leadership 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £31,710, HM Treasury contributes £8,561 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: 11th March 2024

Shortlisting: From 12th March 2024

Interviews:  W/C 18th / 25th March 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.  

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 Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) 

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 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.