About the job

Job summary

In December 2021 Baroness Heather Hallett, a retired Appeal Court judge, was appointed by the Prime Minister as Chair of the independent public inquiry into the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The UK Covid-19 Inquiry was formally established with full powers under the Inquiries Act 2005 in June 2022. The Inquiry sits independently of the Government with the Cabinet Office acting as the sponsoring department. 

Following an initial set up phase the Inquiry began hearing evidence in May 2023. We are now looking for an energetic and collaborative senior leader to join the excellent team that is delivering the Inquiry.

This is an exciting role, offering the opportunity to lead an innovative team, in fast moving circumstances, to ensure lessons are learned from the UK response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Further information about the Inquiry can be found on the UK Covid-19 Inquiry website.

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 conflicts of interest 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 Team

This is an exciting opportunity to join an inclusive, innovative team where you will be supported to challenge yourself in often ambiguous circumstances. The team encourages working in a flexible, collaborative manner to learn and support each other as we undertake one of the broadest, most publicly anticipated inquiries in UK history. You will be responsible for leading a small, friendly team of 5, acting together to ensure senior leaders are supported and the right information is prioritised and actioned efficiently.

Reporting to the Head of Governance, Assurance and Reporting, this is a stretching, high paced position that gives the successful candidate the chance to be at the heart of the Inquiry. The role would involve working closely with the Inquiry Chair, Secretary and Senior Leadership Team to deliver on Inquiry priorities. Building and maintaining trusted relationships through collaborating with others will be key to your success. Day to day work would likely be fast moving, varied and enjoyable; presenting a valuable opportunity to get an insight into the inner workings of the organisation.

The role would suit a self-starter who can manage conflicting priorities, remain calm under pressure and understands the support needed for senior decision makers. The successful candidate will have the experience, skills and judgement required to navigate complex but very rewarding work.

Person specification

The Head of Private Office will lead a team to deliver a high-quality private office service for the Inquiry.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Coordinating the Private Office team to ensure it operates efficiently, by overseeing and improving processes to prioritise the day to day work of the team, including flow of papers, day packs, management of diaries, travel bookings, meetings and wider business activities.
• Reviewing papers, briefings, submissions and correspondence, ensuring that these meet content and quality standards ahead of being shared with senior leaders, joining up others across the organisation as needed.
• Managing the team in ensuring the provision of end to end support for the Inquiry Chair, Secretary and Senior Leadership Team, including attending meetings, visits and events and commissioning supporting information in advance. 
• Maintaining oversight of plans, actions, decisions and deliverables: monitoring issues, escalating risks and proactively negotiating solutions to problems as the work of the Inquiry progresses, working closely with the Inquiry’s programme management office to do so.
• Developing and maintaining strong relationships within the organisation, handling sensitive information with discretion and coordinating with the Inquiry Counsel, Solicitor and their teams on behalf of Private Office. 
• Taking initiative and contributing to Inquiry processes to ensure best practice, continual improvement and consistency, while fostering a positive working atmosphere across the team.

The ideal candidate for this role would have the following key skills and experience:

Essential Requirements:

• Experience in leading teams with confidence, with the ability to set the right expectations, deliver a high-quality service, and to develop effective strategies for managing peaks of work.
• An ability to anticipate, identify and handle potential issues and risks, knowing when to tackle issues directly and when to delegate and/or escalate, and demonstrating sound judgement in your advice to senior leaders on a range of issues.
• Strong written and oral communication, with excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to work autonomously and at pace, exercising judgement when faced with competing priorities.
• Work in an organised manner to deliver on time and to standard and make improvements to processes and policies as needed.
• Experienced and skilled in distilling complex and detailed information into the key points that others need to know.

Desirable Skills:

• Previous experience of leading a Private Office team, or working in a Private Office role .
• Previous experience of working on an independent inquiry, investigation or review

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 £53,400, Cabinet Office contributes £14,418 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, Ability and Experience.

Application Process

You will be asked to complete a Situational Judgement Test.

After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Judgement Test. If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application. 

Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 23:55 on 14/07/2024. If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.

If successful please upload your CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you provide employment history that relates to the essential and desirable criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 2 x A4 pages.

You will also need to provide a Statement of Suitability (max 750 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the essential requirements highlighted. You may also choose to reference the desirable skills listed.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using your statement of suitability. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Selection process

If you are successful in securing an interview you will be asked questions on the behaviours listed within the advert and on strengths.

You may also be asked to deliver a short presentation. Full details of this, including the topic, and whether or not you will need to use visual aids, will be sent to you prior to your interview.  

Expected timeline (subject to change)
Expected sift date – w/c 15 July 2024
Expected interview date/s – W/C 29 July 2024
Interview location - Video - Remote - Google

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 a wheelchair access at interview, or if you are 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 that this role requires CTC clearance, which would normally need 3 years UK residency in prior to commencing. 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.

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/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 

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

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

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.

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

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.