About the job

Job summary

Cabinet Office sits at the heart of the UK government and works to ensure that the whole of government works together to deliver for the people of the United Kingdom.

The Strategy Unit sits within the wider Strategy, Finance and Performance Business Unit of the Cabinet Office. Its work facilitates the strategic planning process in the Cabinet Office to ensure  the Cabinet Office’s work is aligned to governmental priorities and that ministers and other senior leaders have the insights they need for the Cabinet Office  to deliver its key priorities within and across government.

This role is located in the Cabinet Office rapidly expanding second HQ in Glasgow with some colleagues located in London.

Our work sharpens senior leaders' strategic vision, supports oversight, and informs decision-making. We highlight the achievements and challenges that the Cabinet Office faces. This work helps ministers scrutinise the Cabinet Office’s performance to ensure that programmes are delivering as planned. 

The Strategy Officer role will work across the Strategy Unit incorporating Strategic Planning, Strategic Performance and Policy. The role will playa central role in our communications and building effective relationships with stakeholders to ensure our key products are delivered effectively to senior decision makers.

Job description

The Strategy Officer supports the Strategic Planning, Strategic Performance and Policy functions within the Strategy Unit. They will also work on key priorities for senior leaders and Ministers as they arise. 

The role is in a small team which leads on delivering the Cabinet Office Purpose and works to manage the full life cycle of Strategic Planning and Strategic Performance from the identification of priorities to the delivery of their outcomes.  The post involves work in policy and strategy, working with a wide range of key internal and external stakeholders and ultimately to the Permanent Secretary and Ministers.

Responsibilities

• Ensure the Cabinet Office Purpose is embedded, communicated effectively and evaluated across the organisation using creative approaches
• Support the Strategic Planning process and delivery of the Cabinet Office Annual Strategic Plan known as the Outcome Delivery Plan
• Support Strategic Performance to collect and analyse performance data on key projects and performance indicators to produce key reports for committees, senior civil servants and Ministers.
• Use data and other information to draft reports and briefings to senior leaders and Ministers on a variety of policy and strategy areas.
• Work across the organisation to develop best practice in strategic planning and performance, working towards an outcome focussed culture - from the identification of priorities to the achievement of desired outcomes
• Support Cabinet Office business planning process, working closely with Strategic Finance and other corporate service functions.
• Supporting the Strategy Unit and wider Strategy Finance and Performance with ad hoc request to support senior stakeholders and Ministers.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

• Data and Analytical skills - an attention to detail, including the ability to derive insight from many data sources, using data to support debate, solve problems and evidence decisions. Experience of using Google Suites, Excel, or other specialist software to analyse and present business data in a compelling manner.
• Stakeholder Relationships - comfortable engaging stakeholders at all levels to build positive relationships with a continuous improvement focus.
• Communication - the ability to communicate effectively both written and orally and confident in presenting to stakeholders across the organisation. Experience of being creative and demonstrating innovation in communicating key messages to a wide audience.
• Strategic Planning and Performance - Experience and involvement in Strategic Planning and Performance within an organisation from identification of priorities to the delivery of outcomes and the framework around which this exists.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £34,500, Cabinet Office contributes £9,315 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, Experience and Technical skills.

Application

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and a 500 word personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Please use your statement of suitability to (in no more than 500 words) to explain how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria in the person specification section of the job advert.

You will also be assessed against the following Behaviours;

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Changing and Improving

And the Technical skill;

• Data Analysis and Visualisation

Interview

At interview you will be assessed against the following Behaviours;

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

And the Technical skill;

• Data Analysis and Visualisation

The sift results are expected to be released w/c: 8 January 2023.

The interviews are expected to be held w/c: 28 January 2023.

Further Information

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

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 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.

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 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

Reasonable Adjustment

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. 

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.