Ministry of Justice UK
22791 - Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Scotland (Scotland Office)
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Job Description
The Role
The Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland supports the Secretary of State in promoting the best interests of Scotland within a stronger United Kingdom. It ensures Scottish interests are fully and effectively represented at the heart of the UK Government, and the UK Government’s responsibilities are fully and effectively represented in Scotland.
We are seeking a motivated and ambitious individual to join the Private Office Directorate as Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Scotland who will work closely with the Secretary of State, Principal Private Secretary, Special Advisors and officials within the Scotland Office.
This role will have ownership of the legislation, constitution and local growth brief within the Private Office, working closely with officials, Cabinet Office and No10 on an exciting, fast paced and evolving brief.
We are looking for someone with impeccable organisational skills, strong written and verbal briefing skills, confidence in their own judgement and strong political awareness. They will possess the ability to work independently at pace, driving progress on issues across Whitehall on behalf of the Secretary of State. The Scotland Office is a small department and delivery often requires drawing upon wider cross-Whitehall networks and ability to deliver through others.
This role provides exposure to strategic decision-making, as well as offering significant responsibility and autonomy. You will need to be flexible and responsive to ministerial direction, take pride in high quality and timely work and have a proven track record for delivering in a pressurised environment. In return, we will offer you a collaborative and trusting working environment, with a strong team culture and clear sense of purpose and objective.
Private Office roles require you to work some unsocial hours – including weekends – when required. For this, a Private Office Allowance is payable to the successful applicant while in post.
Key Responsibilities
- Delivering a sleek, professional and high standard of service to the Secretary of State in a high-pressure environment.
- Building close working relationships with officials across the Scotland Office and developing an extensive cross-whitehall network within your brief.
- Identifying potential issues at an early stage, being mindful of political sensitivities and keeping Ministers and senior colleagues across the department appraised.
- Taking responsibility and ownership for the quality of advice that goes to the Secretary of State. Working with officials during the policy process to communicate preferences and actively shape advice, using your network to support policy making where necessary.
- Commissioning briefing and submissions, providing background and handling advice and producing thoughtful and high quality box notes to guide decision making and provide essential context.
- Working closely with officials and Special Advisors to translate the Secretary of State’s asks into tangible and deliverable action.
- Working creatively and kindly, remaining cogniscent of the resourcing pressures unique to a small Office.
Skills
Essential
- Experience working in a pressurised, fast paced environment which requires high levels of personal organisation and resilience.
- Excellent written and verbal communication, and confident working closely with senior leaders/ministers.
- Ability to work confidently and credibly with a range of colleagues, external partners and ministers, and to influence and prioritise direction of work.
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Desirable
- Experience working in a private office, either directly or through working as a locum.
Following the interview, there may be a further stage of the selection process whereby candidates will meet the Principal.
Working Arrangements & Further Information
The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.
Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.
For nationally advertised roles: All successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale. This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) – See Map. All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity).
For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its location’s respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).
Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.
MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.
All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.
Flexible working hours
The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.
Benefits
The MoJ offers a range of benefits:
Annual Leave
Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.
There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.
Pension
The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.
Training
The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.
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Networks
The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.
Eligibility
Staff on fixed term appointments must have been recruited through fair and open competition.
Vacancies advertised “cross-government” are only open to all Civil Service employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) who were appointed on merit following a fair and open competition; or were appointed to a permanent post through an exception in the Civil Service Commissioners' rules.
Support
- A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
- Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
- For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on www.www.GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
- Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
- Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code 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. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order
- To Transformative Business Services (0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk);
- To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team (resourcing-management-office@justice.gov.uk);
- To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)
As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.
You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.
For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.
Diversity & Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.
Redeployment Interview Scheme
Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed,
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