We are looking to fill an HEO Strategy and Briefings Executive role in the newly-formed Civil Service Modernisation and Reform Unit. 

This is a crucial role in the reform and modernisation programme where there are many different workstreams and activities happening at once. The Strategy and Briefings Executive will support the Strategy Manager to both create and maintain a core library of briefing templates on the work of the Reform Team as well as produce briefings and submissions to senior civil servants and Ministers on a regular basis.

To do this, the Strategy and Briefings Executive will work with colleagues in the Programme and Strategy team as well as the Insights and Delivery Team, agreeing language and positions describing the Reform Team view on various reform topics and activities. This will include delivering strategic updates to Ministers on the work of the team and the reform portfolio of activities. 

The Strategy and Briefings Executive will need to develop relationships with several private offices and understand the different interests and preferences of various senior stakeholders.  

We are committed to role modelling new and innovative approaches in the Reform and Modernisation team. While the postholder will need to need to ensure strategy and drafting standards are met, there is an opportunity to try new approaches and utilise new tools and techniques to effectively direct and communicate the work to senior stakeholders.

The roles will report to one of the G7s and we welcome applications from anywhere in the UK.

What we are looking for

We are looking for candidates who can write and think effectively, are comfortable with change and ambiguity, and are excited about building relationships to deliver reform that creates a creative and efficient Civil Service. 

We are looking for the following skills and experience:

• Experience of writing for senior audiences and an ability to digest and communicate complex issues or challenges in a concise manner

• Strong organisational skills with experience of bringing together several products and streams of work

• Highly effective and confident communicator with strong interpersonal skills who is able to develop honest and effective working relationships

• Experience of working closely and confidently with senior leaders

• Excellent problem solving skills, a high-degree of strategic awareness and a willingness to challenge the status quo.

Desirable criteria 

One or both of:

• Producing and managing briefings and submissions for senior stakeholders

• Working in partnerships with others to deliver

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.

Civil Service Modernisation and Reform aims to shape the Civil Service to better deliver for citizens today and meet future opportunities and challenges to deliver outstanding services in the future.

We are a multi-disciplinary team committed to developing and championing Civil Service reform and inspiring others across the Civil Service and Broader Public Service to champion reform too.

Our team is currently around 25 people with a mix of people from diverse backgrounds and with a range of skills and experience.

We are part of the Cabinet Office and currently report directly to the Permanent Secretary of the Cabinet Office, Alex Chisholm.

We are looking to hire a number of passionate and skilled team members who will help us to modernise the Civil Service.

The Programme is working to improve the Civil Service to make the best possible difference for citizens across the country. The programme is looking at the whole system, at every level, including people and skills, diversity and inclusion, the tools and data the Civil Service has and the culture it uses them in, who it is working with, where it is and its connection to local communities. The programme aims to put the citizen at the centre of everything the Civil Service does. 

For more information about the programme, please see our Prospectus.

Why work in the Civil Service Modernisation and Reform team?

The Civil Service Modernisation and Reform team is a new team with an exciting agenda. We work on some of the most interesting challenges facing the Civil Service. Our work is engaging and exciting and means working in partnership with key teams from across the Civil Service to lead and role model reform.

Inclusion and diversity are a priority for our team. We are committed to listening to and learning from each other’s experiences. Diversity and inclusion provides experience from diverse backgrounds and different lived experiences in the Civil Service that are invaluable to the programme and the Civil Service. We aim to build a culture where all colleagues are supported and find their work on reform rewarding.

Please contact: Virginia.Mandachi@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Level of security clearance: CTC or higher

Terms, Conditions and Benefits

This is a Permanent appointment

This role is based within the Cabinet Office at Grade 7 and National £49,700 - £56,524; London £54,700 - £60,635. 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. There is an expectation that successful applicants new to the Civil Service will join on the pay band minimum.

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. Staff joining on promotion terms will receive up to a 10% increase of their current basic salary or the pay band minimum whichever is the greater. 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 nationally.

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 offer support with childcare and holiday play schemes 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.

HMRC now offer a tax free childcare scheme for new entrants into the Cabinet Office. We also offer a holiday play scheme and the Cabinet Office contribute to the costs for staff who meet the eligibility criteria. Current civil servants applying for Cabinet Office vacancies on or September 2018 who are currently in receipt of childcare vouchers and not transferring on a TUPE or COSOP move will be unable to continue to claim childcare vouchers but may be eligible for the HMRC tax free childcare scheme.

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.

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

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 Success Profile element assessment, as detailed in the job advert. The Success Profile elements to be assessed will be outlined within the job advert. The Civil Service Success Profile Framework is publically available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles

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 1-7 for Behaviours, Ability, Technical and Experience.

7- The evidence provided wholly exceeds expectation at this level

6 - Substantial positive evidence; includes some evidence of exceeding expectations at this level

5 - Substantial positive evidence of the competency or behaviour

4 - Adequate positive evidence and any negative evidence would not cause concern

3 - Moderate positive evidence but some negative evidence demonstrated

2 - Limited positive evidence and/or mainly negative evidence demonstrated

1 - No positive evidence and/or substantial negative evidence demonstrated

Strengths will be assessed at interview on a 1-4 scale.

Civil Service Commission

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