3343 - Delivery, Policy, Learning and Network - Roles setting up a new Centre for Leadership

What will I be doing?

We are looking for ‘do-ers’ who are will help us set up this organisation. It is evolving as it forms, which means that the roles may be changeable and there is a certain amount of working with uncertainty, but it also presents an opportunity to shape the role according to areas you wish to develop and to nurture something new and exciting right from the start.

Our research has shown that public services CEOs would like to access a network that can provide them with everything from personal support and mentoring to opportunities to share practices and research new technologies. Depending on your experience and skills, jobs in this area might be events management, communications, managing mentoring programmes and outreach.

The other half of the work will be in delivering a programme that is designed to enhance collaborative leadership skills, knowledge and behaviours. In conjunction with learning specialists and a faculty of experts, we are looking for people to design and plan the residential programmes, liaise with experts, support the application process, and manage the relationship with attendees, amongst other skills.

We are recruiting at the Civil Service’s SEO (Senior Executive Officer) and HEO (Higher Executive Officer) grades which is the equivalent of a leader of a small team or a specialist lead.

What skills do I need to demonstrate?

• Ability to take ownership of a project, investigating options and presenting solutions
• Delivering outcomes by working collaboratively
• Strong people skills and soft skills, including relationship building, listening, communication and influencing with an ability to build effective relationships with senior management and operate successfully in changeable environment.
• Demonstrable awareness of the context of public sector leadership
• Ability to balance changing priorities, deal with ambiguity, using astute judgement to make decisions in the absence of full facts.
• Strong engagement, communication and writing skills.

What is it like working here?

• We work flexibly and many of us work from home one or two days a week
• Particularly while we are growing the Centre, we have an entrepreneurial atmosphere and behave a bit like a start up
• We are based in London in both 1 Horseguards Road and Windsor House, Victoria Street.
• We are building the unique identity and branding of the Centre which currently sits within Cabinet Office

We would like to create a really diverse team so that we can design a service that works for people from all backgrounds. We would particularly welcome applications from ethnic minority candidates, as they are under-represented within Government at these levels.

If you apply for one role and we think you might be well suited to another, we might offer you a different post in our growing team.

Please note that this role requires CTC clearance, which would normally require 3 years’ UK residency in the past 3 years. This is not an absolute requirement but supplementary checks may be required where individuals have not lived in the UK for the required period. This may mean that your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

We are creating a first - a national centre to support senior leaders across the entire public sector. It’s an exciting time to join us - we’ve just got our funding in the recent the Chancellor’s budget announcements and are setting up the organisation and developing the centre’s offer.

The Centre’s goal is to drive forward the productivity of the UK by improving the effectiveness of its senior leaders and there are three core parts to Centre’s work:

1. Programme: running a programme for small cohorts of people new to CEO level which will develop their skills.
2. Network: building a larger nationwide network, which will include launching an online presence and developing networking events
3. Research and evaluation: assessing our work and building data on the links between productivity and effective leadership

Closing Date: 14th January 2019 at 23:55 hours

To discuss the centre or the role, please contact Jenny Vass by email jenny.vass@cabinetoffice.gov.uk or text 07765066165 

Due to the high volume of applications received for Cabinet Office vacancies, we regret that feedback is only available - at the discretion of the vacancy manager - following the interview stage. Vacancy managers may also sift on one lead competency at the application stage.

Terms, Conditions and Benefits

This is a Permanent or Loan/Secondment appointment for a period of up to 2 years. There is the possibility of a contract extension subject to future business need.

This role is based within the Cabinet Office at Band B2 - £31,339 - £38,580. Annual salary increases will depend upon individual performance and contribution to the organisation’s success. In addition there will be the opportunity to earn performance related bonuses.

Being mindful of the scrutiny on public sector pay, external candidates should expect their salary on appointment to be £31,339 per annum.

Existing civil servants can take up the post on loan from their parent department for the duration advertised. Those joining on level transfer will retain their current salary. Existing Civil Servants applying on promotion will usually be appointed to the salary minimum or within 10% of existing salary.

Staff joining on promotion will adopt the modernised terms and conditions of employment which came into force in 2013.

There is a choice of excellent pension schemes. More information about pension provisions can be found at www.civilservice.gov.uk/pensions  

Flexible Working

Flexible working including job-share arrangements may be considered for this role.

Leave allowances

25 days' paid leave per annum rising to 30 days after five years service. In addition, full-time staff receive eight public holidays and the Queen’s Birthday privilege day as well as competitive maternity, paternity, parental and adoption leave.

Probation

Staff new to the Civil Service will be required to serve a six month probationary period.

Location

The post will be based in Cabinet Office, 1 Horseguards Road, London.

Relocation Costs

No relocation costs will be available.

Equality and Diversity

The Cabinet Office is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all staff. We will not discriminate on grounds of gender, gender identity, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, those with caring responsibilities, part time workers or any other factor irrelevant to a person’s work.

We encourage a diverse workforce and aim to provide a working environment where all staff at all levels are valued and respected, and where discrimination, bullying, promotion of negative stereotyping and harassment are not tolerated.

Assessment for recruitment, selection, appraisal, training and career progression purposes is based both on the individual’s ability and suitability for the work. We are committed to providing all staff with opportunities to maximise their skills and achieve their potential, offering flexible working arrangements wherever possible.

As public authorities departments have statutory duties placed on them that require them to promote equality of opportunity and eliminate unlawful discrimination. We expect all staff to assist the department in meeting these obligations. All staff should have due regard for the need to promote good relations between individuals from different groups and work towards achieving equality of opportunity for all.

Civil Service Code

All civil servants are subject to the provisions of the Civil Service Code (see Annex A) which details Civil Service values, standards of behaviour, rights and responsibilities. Go to http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk for more information.

Childcare

We recognise that many staff balance working lives with the demands of a family life. We offer support with childcare and holiday playschemes costs by providing childcare vouchers for staff who meet the eligibility criteria. Current civil servants applying for Cabinet Office vacancies on or after 06 April 2018 may experience implications in continuing to claim childcare vouchers.

Recruitment and Selection Process

Nationality

You must be a British Citizen, citizen of the British Commonwealth* an EC national or a national of specified Member States of the European Free Trade Area, together with certain members of their families. Certain Turkish nationals are also eligible to apply. In the first instance it is advisable to refer to the Civil Service Nationality Rules which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules  

If you have any further questions about nationality requirements, please contact the Recruitment Team at: corecruitment@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. (*Commonwealth citizens not yet in the UK, who have no right of abode in the UK and who do not have leave to enter the UK are ineligible to apply.)

Guaranteed Interview Scheme

The Cabinet Office is committed to the employment and career development of disabled people and will guarantee to interview anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

Pre-appointment Checks

The successful candidate’s appointment will be subject to a series of checks including security, nationality, health and references before a formal offer of appointment is made. Subject to satisfactory completion of the pre-appointment checks, you will be invited to take up the post as soon as possible. The National Insurance numbers of successful applicants will be shared with the Ministry of Defence to aid the tracking of Armed Forces Reservist levels across government.

The Selection Process

Assessment at sift and interviews will be based on meeting any defined skill/qualification requirements along with a competency based assessment. The competencies to be assessed will be outlined within the job advert. The Civil Service Competency Framework is publically available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-competency-framework.

We would generally expect answers to follow the STAR or CAR structure and encourage candidates to use this throughout their application.

Application/Interview Scoring System

The Cabinet Office adopts a scoring system of 0-3.

3 - The evidence provided demonstrates that they exceed the level of competence required.

2 - The evidence provided demonstrates that they fully meet the level of competence required.

1 - The evidence provided demonstrates that they generally meet the level of competence required, but with a few minor gaps that could be developed.

0 - The evidence provided fails to demonstrate that they meet the level of competence required for the post.

Recruitment into the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission which has two key functions.

• To maintain the principle of selection for appointment to the Civil Service on merit on the basis of fair and open competition.
• To promote an understanding of the Civil Service Code which sets out the constitutional framework in which all civil servants work and the values they are expected to uphold, and to hear and determine appeals made under it. More detailed information can be found at on the Civil Service Commission website: http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk

Complaints

The Department’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the requirement of selection for appointment based on merit, open and fair competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles, details of which can be found at http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk    

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact the Cabinet Office Recruitment Team, Human Resources, 4th Floor, 1 Horse Guards Road, London SW1A 2HQ or email corecruitment@cabinetoffice.gov.uk, in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can further contact the Civil Service Commission at:

Email: civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk or in writing to:

Civil Service Commission
Room G/8
1 Horse Guards Road
London SW1A 2HQ