About the job

Job summary

If you’re interested in making a difference to people’s lives, the Treasury can offer you an exciting opportunity to influence decision making that affects the whole of the UK. Working at the heart of government, we collaborate across government to promote responsible public spending and drive strong and sustainable economic growth.  

Our work ranges from protecting customers through the regulation of the financial sector, helping to reduce carbon emissions and creating a greener economy, to promoting British trade around the world and supporting people across the country on jobs, growth and more.  

We are part of the Darlington Economic Campus, a pioneering new cross-government hub which brings people together to play an active role in the most important issues of the day whilst working closer to the communities we serve. The campus provides the opportunity for people from all over the UK to help shape the future of the country, and our flexible working practices ensure you can collaborate effectively with our partners. It’s central government, made more accessible to you! 

Job description

About the Group

Strategy Planning and Budget

Strategy, Planning and Budget operates at the heart of the Treasury to develop the Department’s overall strategy and business plan, assess performance and risk, and help deliver its objectives through a large, flexible project team who work on ministerial priorities across the whole range of the department’s policy responsibilities. We co-ordinate the Chancellor’s annual Budget, the Finance Bill and the Treasury’s tax strategy, as well as the Treasury’s response to the COVID-19 Public Inquiry. SPB also promotes excellent policymaking across the department and houses the Darlington Leadership Team, which works to ensure the successful delivery of the Darlington Economic Campus (DEC). 

About the Team

The Strategy, Planning & Projects Team (SPP) is a hard-working and energetic team, comprising around 50 roles focused on two major areas:

•  ‘Strategy, Planning & Change’ (SPC – where this role sits), is the central strategy team for the department, responsible for advising the Treasury’s Executive Management Board (EMB), and Ministers, on departmental strategy, performance, and risk. We are responsible for the ‘One Treasury’ vision and strategy, providing strategic analysis and reporting on the department’s risk profile and delivery performance, delivering time-limited projects for EMB, and crafting how the department prioritises its resources to deliver for Ministers and the country.
• ‘Strategic Projects’, a flexible resource of approximately 40 staff that provides rapid support to the highest priority areas of Treasury work. Recent projects we've supported include: leading the economic and financial response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine; supporting delivery of fiscal events; developing major growth / investment policy packages for the Chancellor; and supporting medium-term work to reform the Financial Services sector.

We are passionate about creating an environment where our people thrive, and on building an inclusive, friendly and successful team. We champion diversity and many team members work flexible working patterns. The team has staff based in each of our Darlington and London offices, and we work together to provide an encouraging and inclusive home in each location.

About the Job

We are recruiting for a high-profile role suitable for an ambitious SEO to work on a dynamic portfolio of work. You’ll have the opportunity to work closely with, and influence, senior stakeholders, to have visibility and impact over the breadth of the department’s work, and to be at the centre of decision-making on the Treasury’s future.

You’ll be joining a creative, welcoming team, which leads on or supports many of the department’s biggest priorities.

The team works on a range of strategic and corporate issues around departmental strategy, performance, and risk. You might be working on:

• Coordinating the process to agree the department’s top-level objectives and priorities for the year with EMB and Ministers;
• providing advice and analysis to senior officials on strategic risks facing the department, engaging with policy leads across the department and/or working with senior officials to help shape mitigation strategies and the overall departmental response;
• improving the department’s performance and delivery framework so that EMB and Ministers have access to better and more timely information to support their leadership of the organisation; and
• helping to coordinate the response to major events / crises, previous examples include EU Exit, Covid-19 and Russia / Ukraine, including through implementing a new approach to Surge Resourcing to ensure that these are resourced quickly and effectively.

We encourage applications from candidates who can think strategically and systematically, challenge insightfully, and respond agilely. This role will work flexibly on varied team responsibilities, with the specific portfolio tailored to departmental need, team resources and individual preferences and capability.

The role covers exciting and varied responsibilities. Key parts of the portfolio are standing responsibilities where the postholder leads work throughout the year. The postholder will also support the team in delivering other priorities on a shorter term ‘project basis’. Key accountabilities include:

1. Lead responsibility for key pieces of departmental risk management, including the design and delivery of HM Treasury’s Quarterly Performance and Risk Report (QPRR), to enable senior strategic decision-making and discussion at senior boards. This includes:

• Ownership of, and accountability for, project management of the overall QPRR process.
• Leading on analysis of risk and performance data. Distilling insights to offer reasoned judgements of the departmental picture, including identifying links between various delivery and risk issues and using an appreciation for the strategic context and operating environment to communicate persuasively in verbal and written form.
• Leading working level engagement with the department on risk and performance, including targeted engagement with working level leads on specific risks, and wider system leadership of HM Treasury's Risk Lead community – ensuring they have the skills, knowledge and motivation to fulfil their role within the department’s Risk Management Framework.

2. To scope, plan and deliver a cross-cutting project to problem solve how sophisticated processes can be simplified and digitalised to integrate the team’s resourcing, risk and delivery functions and processes effectively. Leading implementation and ongoing operations of the new system. This includes:

• Working with the Data Science Unit and colleagues across the wider department to explore innovative options for automation, including assessing the potential advantages and savings.
• Developing end-to-end proposals, including evidence, rationale and cost-benefit analysis for the proposed approach, including quantifying the potential impact of simplifying processes.
• Forging relationships with colleagues and leading the creation of persuasive and robust proposals for change that will require senior (Director/OpCo) discussion and approval.
• Being accountable for delivery and evaluation of the project.

3. Coordinating implementation of the Treasury’s new Surge Resourcing capacity, to ensure the Treasury is able to move resources rapidly when necessary. Working closely with the Range E and team’s senior leadership, this will include:

• Developing and delivering tailored training materials.
• Innovative engagement with colleagues, including building and supporting a community for volunteers.
• Developing and maintaining the operational infrastructure for Surge Resourcing so that the model works effectively if needed.

4. Scoping, planning and delivering projects on a wide variety of issues affecting the department. Approximately 40% of the role is dedicated to high priority time-limited projects across the team. Examples could include:

• Coordinating the development of priority outcomes and objectives for the department, including liaison with HM Treasury leadership and Ministers – this will be particularly important in a General Election year.
• Leading on key components of HM Treasury’s annual Business Planning round, ensuring resources are allocated to delivering departmental priorities;
• Refreshing the department’s organisational strategy;
• Developing our approach to long-term risks and horizon scanning, including prioritising creatively and delivering using futures and foresight tools.
• Supporting departmental leadership to update Parliament accurately on the department’s work and priorities, including preparing the Permanent Secretary for their annual appearance at the Treasury Select Committee.

Each project will involve building the relationships and contextual awareness vital to achieve results. As part of this role you will:

• Rapidly develop knowledge of new issues to support robust and evidence-based solutions and advice, and implement processes.
• Take ownership for scoping, planning, driving and evaluating discrete projects, often with very senior stakeholders.
• Establish links and work collaboratively with a wide and diverse range of Treasury teams and government stakeholders.

5. Supporting the monthly Directors’ Forum, which brings together Directors from every part of the department to provide strategic input and feedback on priority issues and projects. It is chaired by Second Permanent Secretaries, with whom the role has direct contact in agreeing the agenda each month. To deliver this effectively requires high-quality planning and effective judgement to make the most valuable use of senior time, proposing agendas on items for discussion.

6. Playing an active role in making the team, Group and department a great place to work and delivering its corporate objectives. We’re a flexible team and respond to the needs of Ministers and senior officials, so portfolios can and will change over time.

Candidate Drop-In Session 
 
We will be running a candidate drop-in session for this role to give you greater insight about the role as well as the chance to learn more about HM Treasury and the recruitment process. If you would like to join us, then use the appropriate link below to join the call at the right time. 

Friday 14th June, 13:30 – 14:20

Join the meeting now

Tuesday 18th June, 17:30 – 18:20

Join the meeting now

Person specification

We are looking for the below skills, experience and behaviours and we will ask you to demonstrate these in your application form. Please review the Candidate FAQ document that is attached to the advert for guidance on how to complete your application form.  

1. Ability to structure, plan and prioritise a full workload across a diverse and dynamic portfolio, and deliver consistently high-quality work to a deadline. (Delivering at Pace) – lead criteria

2. Ability to proactively build, maintain and influence networks and work collaboratively and effectively with senior stakeholders to deliver results. (Communicating and Influencing)

3. Experience of creatively shaping and implementing robust solutions to complex problems. (Making Effective Decisions)

4. Ability to understand the broader strategic context and keep on top of a wide range of issues (Seeing the Big Picture).

The lead criterion is: Delivering at Pace

If we receive large volumes of applications, we will conduct an initial sift on the lead criterion only.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £39,500, HM Treasury contributes £11,060 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.

At interview stage, you will be assessed on the below criteria:

Strengths

Behaviours:

• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Big Picture

Interview Task/Presentation

Prior to your interview, we will contact you about a presentation that the interview panel would like you to present at interview. The exact details will be communicated to you nearer the time. 

Recruitment Timeline 

Closing date: 23 June 2024

Shortlisting: w/c 1 July

Interviews: w/c 22 July, w/c 29 July

This timeline is indicative and may be subject to change. We will inform you if there is a substantial change to the recruitment timeline. 

If your contact details change at any time during the selection process, please ensure you update your Civil Service Jobs Profile. 

Please note that only applications submitted through Civil Service Jobs will be accepted.

Location-Based Reserve Lists 

You will be placed on a reserve list if your application is successful, but we cannot offer you a post immediately. Where more than one location has been advertised, candidates will be approached for roles in merit order according to the first preferred location stated on your application form. 

Please note that a place on the reserve list does not guarantee an offer. We would still encourage you to apply for other HM Treasury opportunities that you are interested in. If you are offered a role in your first preferred location and you decline the offer or you are unable to take up the post within a reasonable timeframe, you will be removed from the reserve list, other than in exceptional circumstances. 

Eligibility Statement  

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role in the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government. Checks will be performed as part of pre-employment checks in line with this. Please refer to the Candidate FAQ document attached to the advert for more information. 

Everyone working with government assets must complete Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks. Additionally, individuals appointed to the Treasury group will be subject to National Security Vetting. The level of security vetting required for this role is  Security Check (SC)  

To allow for meaningful checks to be carried out, applicants will need to have lived in the UK for at least 3 out of the past 5 years. In exceptional circumstances, a lack of residency would not be a bar to security clearance however the Department will need to consider eligibility on a case by case basis once the advert closing date has passed. 

Please read the Vetting Charter for information on what to expect during the vetting process and what will be expected from you.  Many areas of your life may be explored during your vetting journey, and it is important that every individual, regardless of their background and experiences, should feel comfortable going through this personal process, whilst having confidence that it is fair, proportionate, and inclusive.  

These short videos address common concerns and preconceptions which applicants may have about national security vetting.  If you have questions relating to security clearances, please contact HMTSecurityVetting@hmtreasury.gov.uk

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security 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.