Department for Education
Private Secretary to Directors of Strategy
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Job Summary
IMPORTANT - This vacancy is using the Civil Service Numerical and Verbal tests. The deadline for completing the tests is the same as the vacancy closing date. Please ensure you complete the tests with sufficient time to complete the written application.
We are looking for a proactive, organised, and effective person to join the Strategy and Delivery Directorate to fill the role of Private Secretary to the Directors of Strategy (Job-share).
As a trusted member of the Central Delivery and Strategy Office, the Private Secretary to the Directors of Strategy plays a central role in supporting the Directorate's leadership, helping to manage priorities, coordinate key corporate activity and ensure the smooth running of the Directors' office. The role offers excellent exposure to senior leaders and a unique opportunity to build strong relationships across the Department.
We are looking for a self-starter who can build great relationships, influence seniors, and thrive in a fast-paced environment. You will proactively seek out areas where we can improve, spread best practice, and drive the Strategy Directorate to continually improve. You will work closely with colleagues across the Strategy and Delivery Directorates, Strategy and Operations Group and wider DfE, gaining insight into some of the Department's most important priorities. As part of a group that brings together a range of corporate and strategic functions, you will have the opportunity to contribute to high-profile work while developing a broad understanding of how the Department operates.
Strategy and Delivery Directorates are welcoming and supportive directorates, and we want to help you thrive in this role.
Job Description
Private Secretary
The Private Secretary to the Directors of Strategy plays a central role in supporting the Directorate’s leadership, helping manage priorities, coordinate key corporate activity and ensure the smooth running of the Directors' offices.
Your Key Responsibilities Will Be:
- Enabling the Directors of Strategy to lead and manage the Directorate's business effectively, including delivering on key corporate activities.
- Supporting the Directors to deliver on the department’s priorities, by providing proactive diary and meeting support, including designing agendas, commissioning and preparing papers, maintaining forward plans, attending meetings, recording decisions and actions, and ensuring timely follow-up.
- Helping to shape the directorate’s culture through drafting and coordinating high-quality communications, correspondence, briefings and presentations on behalf of the Directors.
- Planning, developing and delivering a range of projects and priority work across the Directorate on behalf of the Directors.
- Building and maintaining effective relationships with stakeholders across and beyond the Department, acting as a key point of contact for the Directors.
- Anticipating issues, identifying solutions and supporting the effective management of competing priorities.
- Being an active, positive and collaborative member of the Director’s support team, providing flexible support and contributing to wider team objectives with a can-do attitude.
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Person specification
Essential Criteria:
- Organisation and prioritisation: You have experience of handling lots of different tasks at once and are excellent at keeping yourself and your wider team organised. You work on your own to decide which jobs are the most urgent and you support others to prioritise effectively and meet deadlines.
- Communication and influence: You build and maintain strong professional relationships with those in a range of roles and seniority. You are a clear and confident communicator and will be an excellent representative of Private Office to seniors and wider teams.
- Initiative and problem-solving: You are curious and proactive in seeking out where we can make improvements and upskill yourself and others. You work with autonomy, take ownership of tasks, and use initiative to seek and implement solutions.
- Team collaboration: You contribute to a positive team culture, sharing knowledge and helping others to ensure collective success.
- Detail and discretion: You handle sensitive information with care and ensure accuracy in everything you do.
Desirable Criteria (if Required):
- Experience in business management or operational leadership.
- Familiarity with recruitment, correspondence, or finance processes.
Desirable criteria will only be assessed at interview, in the event of a tie break situation, to make an informed decision.
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Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Managing a Quality Service
- Changing and Improving
- Delivering at Pace
Salary and Benefits
- Salary: £41,537
- Pension: Department for Education contributes £12,033 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
- Leave: 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years’ service. In addition, all staff receive the King’s Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days’ bank and public holidays.
- Flexible working arrangements: Such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
- Professional development: Excellent opportunities for staff.
Selection Process
Stage 1: Civil Service Numerical Test (CSNT)
You must achieve the minimum pass mark to progress to the next stage.
Stage 2: Civil Service Verbal Test (CSVT)
You must achieve the minimum pass mark to progress to the next stage.
Stage 3: Written Application
Your CV and Statement of Suitability will be assessed against the essential criteria.
Stage 4: Interview
The interview will last approximately 60 minutes. You will be asked questions on the Behaviours. We will also ask you Strengths based questions.
Important Information
- Application Process: To apply for this role, please select 'Apply Now' at the top or bottom of this advert. CV details need to be included in the template within the application form; attached or emailed CVs will not be considered.
- Tests: Please ensure you complete the tests with sufficient time to complete your full application before the advertised deadline.
- Reasonable Adjustments: If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should contact Department of Education as soon as possible before the closing date.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact :
Name: Laura Latham
Email: Laura.latham@education.gov.uk
Recruitment team
Email: Centralrecruitment.operations@education.gov.uk
Further information on the Department for Education’s recruitment processes can be found on their website.
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