About the job

Job summary

Our priorities

Optimise public R&D investment to support areas of relative UK strength and increase the level of private R&D to make our economy the most innovative in the world.

Promote a diverse research and innovation system that connects discovery to new companies, growth and jobs – including by delivering world-class physical and digital infrastructure (such as gigabit broadband), making the UK the best place to start and grow a technology business and developing and attracting top talent.

Put public services – including the NHS and schools – at the forefront of innovation, championing new ways of working and the development of in-house STEM capability to improve outcomes for people.

Strengthen international collaboration on science and technology in line with the Integrated Review, and ensure our researchers are able to continue to work with leading scientists in Europe and around the world.

Deliver legislative and regulatory reforms to drive competition and promote innovation, including the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill, the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill and our pro-innovation approach to regulating AI.

Our Inclusive Environment

We have an inclusive culture which makes the Department a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, not only because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because it helps us be more innovative.

We offer flexible working benefits, employee well-being support and a great pension. We are fortunate to have a range of staff networks and are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We support talented people from all backgrounds to build a career and thrive.

We welcome applications from anyone who shares our commitment to inclusion and fully support candidates with a disability or long-term condition who require adjustments in our recruitment process.

We regularly run events where you can find out more about the department and tips for the application process. You can sign up for upcoming events here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/departmentforsciencetechnologyandinnovation?

You can also follow our LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/dsitcareers/  

Please note that DSIT are currently reviewing our terms and conditions and pay arrangements following Machinery of Government changes and as part of the outstanding August 2023 pay award.  Please be aware that there may be changes to the terms and conditions and pay ranges listed in this advert ahead of you starting in post. Any changes would be implemented in early 2024.

Job description

The Romans built roads, the Victorians canals and Railways. Putting in place the right digital infrastructure across the country is an equally big challenge for our time, and a top priority for the Prime Minister. The Digital Infrastructure directorate leads on making this happen - setting policies to promote investment and protect national security, whilst running innovative pilot programmes for the next generation of technology. We play a leading role across government, delivering new commercial deals, policy and legislation, and work closely with No.10, Cabinet Office, HM Treasury and key Whitehall delivery departments as well as industry, Ofcom and international partners to achieve our goals.

Person specification

This is a unique opportunity to perform a role at the heart of the Digital Infrastructure (DI) directorate where you will have sight of the entire spectrum of the DI agenda. As a Private Secretary, you will provide a high-quality private office service to the Director, working closely with the Head of Office and the Diary Manager to drive forward the Director’s priorities. You will also work closely with the DI Senior Leadership Team (SLT) to support various corporate initiatives and have daily contact with seniors' and ministers' offices in DSIT.

You will empower the Director to focus on the leadership responsibilities of their role and get more done by processing information flow to surface priorities, ensuring the Director is briefed for meetings, taking meetings on the Director's behalf as appropriate, and ensuring proper follow-up on decisions. Among other things this will include: - Managing the Director’s inbox and filtering the incoming information to prioritise, delegate, or dismiss as appropriate.

- Working with the Diary Manager to ensure the Director's diary is well organised and correctly prioritised.

- Commissioning briefings from the directorate and ensuring that the Director is appropriately briefed for all meetings, clear next steps are agreed during meetings, and effective follow-up is done after meetings.

- Leading / contributing input at meetings on the Director’s behalf as required.

You will support the smooth running of the directorate. You will coordinate input into various business processes and work with the Head of Office, Business Manager, and DI SLT on special projects to make the directorate a great place to work. Among other things this will include:

- Building strong relationships with the DI SLT and other senior teams and private offices across the department, working closely to progress joint priorities.

- Acting as the first point of contact for internal and external stakeholders and following up on various requests & commissions.

- Following up on decisions made by the SLT and coordinating actions across the directorate.

- Communicating priorities to the directorate and feeding back insight from the directorate to the SLT.

- Leading / supporting directorate corporate initiatives.

- Looking for opportunities for continuous improvement and bringing them to fruition.

You will contribute to running a happy and high performing Director's Office team. You will act as a line manager to one or more Diary Managers / Executive Assistants and empower them to succeed in their roles. Among other things this will include:

- Modelling good performance by upholding high quality standards in everything you do, pursuing continuous improvement and smart ways of working, and promoting well-being.

- Setting clear objectives for your direct reports and effectively managing performance against them through effective feedback.

- Coaching direct reports to find solutions to problems and supporting their professional development.

- Supporting the Head of Office in leading the team

Skills and experience

We would love to hear from you if you are:

- Naturally proactive and thoughtful in your approach to task at hand.

- Able to work effectively at pace, make decisions in the face of competing priorities, and remain calm and resilient under pressure.

- Keen to look for better ways of doing things in every aspect of your role and take initiative to make it happen.

- Able to form effective working relationships with colleagues and stakeholders at all levels of the organisation.

- Able to communicate effectively with different audiences.

- Organised and naturally prone to paying attention to detail; able to process a large flow of information and synthesise key insights

We may invite the candidates who have been shortlisted for an interview to have an informal chat with the Director ahead of the interview. This is to provide an opportunity to discuss the role in more detail and it will not be assessed.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,470, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology contributes £10,116 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.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and a number of behavioural statements.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Please note - the CV incorporated into the application form is for information purposes only and will not be scored.

Applications will be sifted on behavioural statements.

In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the lead behavioural statement - Delivering at Pace.

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

The interview will consist of behaviour and strength based questions.

Sift and interview dates

Expected Timeline subject to change

Sift dates: w/c 05/02/2024

Interview dates: w/c 12/02/2024

Interview Location: MS Teams.

Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.

Further Information

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis 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.

Reasonable Adjustment

We are proud to be a disability confident leader and we welcome applications from disabled candidates and candidates with long-term conditions.

We fully support adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we encourage candidates to discuss their adjustment needs by emailing the job contact which can be found under the contact point for applicants section.

We do not have an exhaustive list of adjustments that we support but just some examples include additional time to complete your application form, behaviour questions up to 72 hours prior to interview and having extra time at interview.

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

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

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

A location-based reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Should another role become available within that period you may be offered this position.

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

Any move to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology 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 https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

DSIT does not normally offer full home working (i.e. working at home); but we do offer a variety of flexible working options (including occasionally working from home). 

DSIT cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign.

DSIT holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service /Disclosure Scotland 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. 

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk 

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.

Feedback

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. 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.