About the job

Job summary

The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA) is an independent committee. Its nine members advise government and former ministers on the application of the government’s Business Appointment Rules (the Rules), which apply to Crown servants and ministers when taking up a new appointment when they leave public service. Working in the team supporting the Committee will offer you the opportunity to work across government and the Civil Service to manage the risks associated with potential conflicts of interest between an individual’s time in office and their new external appointment.

ACOBA seeks individuals to work on casework and policy advice. These roles are focused on making high profile decisions to enhance the integrity of government, communicating effectively both internally and externally to a wide and varied audience. The successful candidates have the potential to make a significant impact by supporting senior stakeholders, including the ACOBA Chair and Committee Members, Permanent Secretaries and Ministers. The roles suit individuals who: are intellectually curious, able to work with discretion, possess sound judgement, and can critically assess information and build strong relationships with stakeholders.

Job description

You will be:

• managing a caseload of applications from departments, senior officials and former ministers;
• building relationships with a range of stakeholders across government and externally to gather information;
• analysing information from departments, applicants and other sources, using guidance, precedent and collaboration to develop appropriate recommendations on the application of the Rules, and supporting the Committee’s decision-making process;
• drafting advice and correspondence for senior stakeholders in collaboration with, and using feedback from, the wider team;
• drafting and editing publications on the ACOBA website;
• handling requests under the Freedom of Information Act, correspondence from Members of Parliament, and media inquiries - liaising with the Press Officer where required;  
• supporting the Head of ACOBA and members of the Committee in wider policy discussions.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

We are looking for individuals who have the ability to:

• think critically and use strong analytical skills to make judgements based on evidence and within a framework of codes and guidance; 
• interact confidently and professionally with a range of stakeholders;
• draft to a high standard and be flexible in style and tone when writing to different stakeholders including independent office holders, ministers, officials, the gov.uk website and the media - recognising that material is regularly quoted and scrutinised externally;
• understand how factors in the external environment may impact on the work of ACOBA;
• act with professionalism and discretion;
• be equally confident working independently and collaboratively on casework and policy advice, using appropriate escalation as required;
• maintain, interrogate and report on data, with an eye for detail and accuracy; 
• multitask and prioritise, with exceptional record-keeping and organisational skills; and 
• contribute to a positive team culture.

Additional information:

A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £38,250, Cabinet Office contributes £10,327 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 and Strengths.

Application process

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete three 250 word behaviour statements. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the lead Behaviour, 'making effective decisions'.  Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview. 

Selection process

During the blended interview you will be assessed against the behaviours that are contained in this advert and strength based questions, the strength questions are ones in which we wish to gain your initial response. 

You may be asked to prepare a short presentation for interview (no more than 5 minutes and no slides; further details will be provided if successful at sift stage).

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date – w/c 20th May 
Expected interview date/s – w/c 3 June
Interview location - 1 Horse Guards Road, London SW1A 2HQ

Further information

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

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

Any move to Cabinet Office 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

Please note that this role requires CTC clearance, which would normally need 3 years UK residency in the past 3 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

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

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

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. 

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.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Reasonable adjustments

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 cabinetofficerecruitment.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 you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'contact point for applicants' section.

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.