About the job

Job summary

Strategic Advisers  

London or Bristol depending on the role

£63,386 - £69,444 + London Weighting £3,566 (where applicable) and 

generous Civil Service defined benefit pension 

 

A senior role with extensive exposure at the core of operations, managing a diverse and dynamic portfolio  

 

The challenge  

 

Make a real difference to the lives of students by bringing your strategic and operational skills to the Office for Students (OfS). As the independent regulator of higher education in England, we want every student, whatever their background, to have a fulfilling experience of higher education that enriches their lives and careers. We regulate higher education providers to make sure they are delivering high quality courses and positive outcomes for students and taxpayers. Where they are not, we take action.  

 

Job description

The role  

 

You’ll be the right-hand person of the director – proactively supporting their work at a strategic level, operating as a sounding board and above all maximising their effectiveness.  

The role is broad: one day you might be writing a speech or conducting external engagement on your director’s behalf, the next you could be leading strategic projects or working with the directorate to deliver on their priorities. From writing briefings to chasing down actions, you’ll need to be across the breadth of the director’s work.  

 

We are hiring for two posts, working to different directors:  

• The Director for Freedom of Speech and Academic Freedom, who oversees our free speech functions under the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023, working flexibly as part of a shared resource of three Strategic Advisers within our Regulation directorate. For this role, you can be based in either Bristol or London.
• The Director of Strategy and Delivery who is responsible for strategy, evaluation, stakeholder engagement, communications, and ensuring the organisation delivers on its strategic aims. This is a role based in Bristol

 

The recruitment process is the same for both posts; candidates are welcome to express a preference for either role, or be considered for both.   

  

Person specification

About you  

 

Above all we are looking for people who can get stuff done. These roles are broad, fast paced and often involve the unexpected. We’re looking for people deeply committed to having a positive impact on students and society, and particularly want to hear from people who:  

 

• Take ownership – you personally make sure the work gets done properly, proactively taking responsibility rather than leaving it to someone else to fix.  
• Excel at communication – you can articulate complex ideas with clarity and conviction, whether it's with students, board members, colleagues, or the sector. Your ability to influence stakeholders at all levels, both internally and externally, means our work is not only understood but embraced by all who play a role in its execution. 
• Take the long view – you think strategically, keep your mind on the ultimate aim and look to the future, even and especially when focused on the operational delivery. 
• Have a strong interest in development – you constantly strive to improve yourself, the work you do, and that of your colleagues around you. You foster a culture of learning where development and self-improvement are celebrated, feedback is welcomed, and colleagues can grow and develop. 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £63,386, Office for Students contributes £17,684 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

Working for us  

 

The OfS regulates the higher education sector on behalf of all students. We value diversity and the wealth of perspectives, experience and ideas that it brings to our work and we strive to embed equality of opportunity in everything we do.  

 

We recruit based on fair and open competition and welcome applications from candidates regardless of age, disability, race and ethnicity, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation and socio-economic background.  

 

At the OfS, we recognise that flexibility can enable people to work more effectively. A set of organisation-wide principles shape our approach to flexible and hybrid working, which our teams then use as guidance on how they deliver their business goals. In practice, this typically means an average of at least two to three days in the office each week.  

 

In addition, our Total Reward Framework offers a range of benefits to suit your way of life. These include comprehensive learning and development, annual leave starting at 25 days per year (plus public holidays), access to the highly regarded Civil Service pension scheme and a variety of health benefits.  

  

Closing date for applications: 21 December 2023 

Interviews will be held in January 2024 

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.