About the job

Job summary

The Equality Hub sits within Cabinet Office and focuses on disability policy, ethnic disparities, gender equality, LGBT rights and the overall framework of equality legislation for the UK. 

This role is part of the Equality Framework Team (EFT) which is responsible for policy and legislation relating to the Equality Act 2010. The sub-team in which this role sits covers a range of policy relating to the Equality Act including sex discrimination, sexual harassment as well as marriage and civil partnerships. 

Are you someone with considerable policy and parliamentary knowledge and understanding of equality policy issues?

Job description

For the role of Senior Policy Adviser in the EFT, you will be comfortable prioritising your own workload, be able to flexibly manage competing deadlines and lead effectively and empathically when under pressure. 

You will represent EFT when developing effective strategic relationships with internal and external stakeholders and partners.

EFT is a supportive environment which fosters independence and initiative.

We operate at a fast pace and you will need to utilise practiced project management, communication and influencing skills.

You will be relied upon to work confidently and sensitively with Ministers and other senior stakeholders, including Communications Team, Private Office, Legal Advisors and others to effectively deliver Ministerial priorities.

You will have the opportunity to work on primary and secondary legislation and work closely with other teams to ensure a consistent and cross-cutting approach to equality policy.

Person specification

Key responsibilities

• Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) Policy 
• Positive Action Policy
• Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS), contract and data management
• Conversion of Marriage and Civil Partnerships Policy, OGD and legal liaison

Essential criteria:

• Policy skills - you must be a demonstrably experienced policy professional, confident working on complex and technical policy within a legislative setting. You must have the ability to own your policy area, work independently and take the initiative;
• Parliamentary experience - you must be comfortable in a parliamentary setting, providing concise and informed written and verbal briefings to senior political figures, deploying a clear understanding of parliamentary process;
• Legislative experience - you must have demonstrable experience of the legislative process and be able to effectively anticipate and meet stakeholder requirements throughout the process;
• Interpersonal and Communication skills - you should have excellent verbal and written communication skills,build effective working relationships with partners and stakeholders across Whitehall, and able to simplify and articulate complex information to write high quality, succinct advice for ministers and senior officials;

Desirable Criteria

• Organisational skills - you must be able to plan and prioritise your work effectively and identify, manage and adapt to competing priorities. You should be able to work effectively at pace when required;
• Strategic thinking - you should have a keen understanding of the wider political context and how the team’s work sits within it with an eye on the horizon and emerging political themes related to the Equality Act. 
• Problem solving - You should be able to think creatively about problems and use data, evidence and reasoning in decision making;

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 £40,850, Cabinet Office contributes £11,029 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 Experience.

Application process

Applicants are asked to provide the following:

Behaviour example: Communicating and Influencing.

Statement of Suitability: Max 1000 words

Please read and understand the Essential Criteria in the Person Specification thoroughly as this is what your written evidence will be assessed against. Your layout is entirely your preference; you may choose narrative, bullets, etc. 

You may choose to address each criteria separately, however, one narrative example may cover and evidence several key criteria. You may not be able to meet all the key criteria, but please ensure you evidence: the key personal requirements and what have you done that relates to the requirements. 

You don’t have to explain the whole process, just what you have done and the skills and experience you have used. 

Share with us what makes you suited to this role and why, what you can do and the skills you have that are transferable to the key requirements, and the life experience or passion you have that are linked to this role.

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

For interview 

The format of the interview will be on behaviours and potentially experience and there may be a presentation as part of the interview process.

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date – w/c 22/01/24
Expected interview date/s – from 29/01/24
Interview location - the interview will take place via google meet video conferencing

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 an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Further information

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

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

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  

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

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 /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

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

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 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.