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

The Housing, Planning and Cities team is a friendly team of about 20 people. We are responsible for over £10 billion of public spending each year, covering a huge range of government priorities including homelessness, housing, planning reform, local economic growth and the ‘levelling up’ of communities across the UK.

Our work is at the centre of government, and is an exciting place to learn, develop and build an understanding of how government policy making works. We work closely with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) to ensure public services are as effective as possible, and provide good value to the taxpayer.

We value different experience, and encourage people from a wide range of backgrounds and with different ideas to join the team. We are dedicated to diversity, belonging, personal development and work-life balance, and also support flexible working patterns.

About the job

Government policies – the plans we make and actions we take – shape lives.

Whether it’s how we fund education, or actions to ensure the health system can deliver during difficult times, the policy we create and implement sets the course of action for all public services. 

Great policy making is about understanding what needs to change, what problems need to be solved and supporting ministers to arrive at the best solution to deliver the change. Policy also means working out how we are going to make the changes or solve the problems, and then delivering on those plans. To do all this, we need to build relationships with ministers, civil service colleagues, groups with expertise and the public. To work as a policy adviser, you will need to demonstrate a range of skills, including strong problem-solving skills, the ability to clearly explain your thinking both in writing and in person, and the drive to overcome challenges and see your ideas through into action and delivery. 

You don’t need to be a policy professional or have any specific qualifications to apply for the role. We are looking for people who have the right set of skills, who demonstrate the values of our organisation, and who are motivated to come and work with us on a range of issues that are at the heart of how we spend money and deliver public services.

Responsibilities may vary in line with government priorities and can be tailored according to development needs, but could include:

1.    Leading policy thinking on homelessness across HM Treasury. 
You will work with DLUHC to build a comprehensive understanding of the drivers of homelessness and the best evidence on the impact of current interventions and approaches. Staying informed on the latest developments and approaches will allow you to shape advice and recommendations to ministers on the most effective policy interventions, and inform them of potential impacts across government. You will also build and maintain strong relationships with homelessness leads at DLUHC, and work collaboratively with them to deliver the best outcomes possible on government interventions on homeless and rough sleeping.

2.    Shaping the government’s long-term strategy on homelessness spending. 
This is a broad and cross-cutting portfolio, with multiple impacts across a wide range of government departments and spending programmes. You will develop relationships across HMT, DLUHC and other government departments and proactively make cross-government connections across disparate policy areas.  You will lead HMT thinking on the long-term homelessness and rough sleeping spending strategy, including leading work across Whitehall to identify and understand the full landscape of homelessness interventions across government. This will include leading work to prepare for the Spending Review and providing ministers with clear advice on long-term outcomes, impacts and cross-government interactions. 

3.    Managing spending control for DLUHC’s multi-programme homelessness and rough sleeping strategy. 
This involves maintaining close oversight over programme budgets, scrutinising ongoing policy and assessing new project proposals, working with DLUHC to ensure a clear and cohesive strategy on programme-level evaluation, and using the best evidence to give ministers clear and concise spending advice. You will also support the spending side of the team to develop spending strategy ahead of fiscal events and take a key role in Spending Reviews and Budget delivery.

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. 

Tuesday 14 May at 12.30pm Click here to join the meeting 

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 Kathryn Butterworth (kathryn.butterworth@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. Evaluate a range of complex and sometimes incomplete or contradictory information and apply considered judgement to make a clear evidence-based recommendations (Making effective decisions).
2. Build strong relationships with a wide network of partners in government, and use these relationships to deliver your objectives (Working together).
3. Strong strategic skills to adapt your work to emerging issues or trends, with the ability to spot opportunities, establish a vision, and bring others on board (Seeing the big picture).

The lead criterion is: Making effective decisions. 

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

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. 

Wednesday 15 May 2024 at 12.45pm Click here to join the meeting now

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

• Strengths
• Behaviours:
  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Working Together
  • 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 £39,500, HM Treasury contributes £10,665 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: 23 May 2024

Shortlisting: from 24 May 2024

Interviews: week commencing 10 June 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 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.