About the job

Job summary

The UK Covid-19 Inquiry is the independent public inquiry set up to examine the UK’s response to and impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and learn lessons for the future. The Inquiry is
Chaired by Baroness Heather Hallett, a former Court of Appeal judge.

After an initial set up phase, the Inquiry was formally established in June 2022, when the Prime Minister published its Terms of Reference. The Inquiry has been established with full powers under the Inquiries Act (2005). It has opened its first investigations (or modules) and held its first preliminary hearings. The Inquiry sits independently of the Government with the Cabinet office acting as the sponsoring department.

The Inquiry is seeking one Evidence Manager. 

This is an exciting opportunity to join an inclusive, innovative team where you will be supported to challenge yourself. The team encourages working in a flexible, collaborative manner to learn and support each other as we look to undertake one of the broadest, most publicly anticipated inquiries in UK history.  

Conflicts of Interest

Please note that candidates invited to interview will be invited to declare any actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interests which could affect the independence of the Inquiry, in confidence, to the senior recruiting manager. This may include current or prior work undertaken on the Covid-19 pandemic response. Decisions on any potential conflict of interest will be made before an appointment to the role is confirmed.

Job description

The Evidence Manager will be part of the team responsible for ensuring that all the relevant material reviewed over the course of the Inquiry is made available to core participants in line with the Inquiry Act and Rules, that the Inquiry complies with GDPR, the Data Protection Act and ECHR Article 8 in handling significant volumes of sensitive material, and that the Inquiry’s official report and records are archived in line with the Act and Rules.  

Responsibilities will include supporting the Inquiry in complying with public sector data-management best practice, and also with the ability to handle the specific challenges of this Inquiry. 

Reporting to a Senior Evidence Manager, this role sits within the Inquiry’s Evidence Management team, which is part of the Programme and Information Management Directorate. 

This role may involve occasional travel to sites other than the candidate’s base location.

Key responsibilities:

• Evidence management
• Service delivery

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Good technical knowledge of document/evidence management technology.
• Problem-solving attitude, including experience of providing innovative, technical solutions, handling large datasets, 
• Effective communicator, able to engage with different audiences and colleagues at all levels, including at the most senior, and ability to build relationships across functions.

Desirable

• Experience in a public Inquiry or organisation requiring similar levels of data review and preservation.
• Experience of providing support and advice to an organisation on records matters OR experience of working in a legal environment (6 months minimum).

Additional information:

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 £35,400, Cabinet Office contributes £9,558 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

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and statement of suitability.

You will need to submit:

• A name blind CV, of no more than 2 pages
• A statement of suitability of no more than 750 words, which should address the responsibilities, and essential and desirable criteria for the role listed in the Responsibilities section above. You should also outline why you are interested in the post.
• A behaviour statement of no more than 250 words addressing the lead behaviour, ‘Managing a Quality Service’.

Selection process

During the sifting process we’ll use the information in your CV and statement of suitability to assess your experience and skills against the criteria for this role.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the lead behaviour, ‘Managing a Quality Service’. 

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

Candidates successful at the application stage will be invited to a formal interview focused on the behaviours:

• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture

Expected timeline (subject to change)
Expected sift date – w/c 12 February 2024
Expected interview date/s – w/c 26 March 2024 
Interview location - Remote - Video

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.

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 Services 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 are deaf, a language service professional.

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/Access NI 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 

For further information on the Access NI confidential checking service telephone: the Access NI Helpline on 0300 200 7888 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email accessni@ani.x.gsi.gov.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.

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 that this role requires SC clearance, which would normally need 5 years UK residency prior to submitting an application. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

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

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 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.