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Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
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Communications / Marketing
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About the job
Job summary
The Modernisation and Reform Unit supports Ministers and Permanent Secretaries to reform the operation of government and build A Modern Civil Service. The team is one of a cluster of strategy teams in the Cabinet Office and works across the breadth of the Civil Service and beyond to deliver on the ambitions set out in the Declaration on Government Reform (published in 2021).
This role involves leading the transformation sub-team in the unit with responsibility for:
- Supporting senior leaders to deliver reform with a clear, shared purpose;
- Supporting departments, working closely with Chief Operating Officers, Transformation Directors and their teams, through sharing best practices and unblocking issues
- Building the UKs reputation as a reform leader, working closely with UK and international organisations
Job description
Research shows that 70% of transformations fail. This is for a range of reasons but the most critical barriers include a lack of employee buy in and committed and consistent leadership. You would be responsible for ensuring this doesn’t happen for Modernisation and Reform with the programme collectively owned and delivered by the whole of government.
This role would suit an individual with a strategic skill set who enjoys networking, being creative and delivering at pace across multiple priority areas. The role also requires an individual who is comfortable operating in an evolving environment which may require them to pivot to seize opportunities or respond to emerging challenges.
As a member of the Modernisation and Reform Unit Senior Management Team the successful candidate will also have collective leadership responsibility for ensuring the team is set up for success and will be expected to support the delivery of wider team priorities.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead delivery of the engagement strategy for the modernisation and reform programme to achieve cross-government ownership of reform at senior levels and support the realisation of programme objectives
- Build strong networks with those individuals responsible for change and reform in departments to ensure they are informed and supported to deliver
- Gather insights from across departments and key agencies to support ongoing policy and programme development and ensure they are surfaced as needed with the senior leadership of the Civil Service
- Identify and exploit opportunities to drive change further, or unblock issues as they arise
- Develop and implement an approach to build the UKs external reform reputation
- Lead the transformation sub-team, with responsibility for ensuring that direct reports are supported and given the opportunities to make the most of their talents
- Support the delivery of wider team priorities across engagement, implementation, programme and business management
- Role model the change we want to see across the Civil Service, building an inclusive team culture that supports individuals to prioritise up-skill themselves, rewards innovation and encourages breaking down barriers to collaboration
Person specification
- Has outstanding stakeholder engagement skills with the confidence and ability to build relationships across and beyond the Civil Service, including with senior leaders and ministers
- Has experience of developing engagement strategies to support the delivery of policy and/or programme objectives
- Is an outstanding leader who is able to work at pace and flexibly, balancing a large number of competing priorities whilst building a diverse and inclusive team culture
- Has excellent problem solving skills and a high degree of strategic awareness
- Has excellent written and oral communication skills and attention to detail
- Has strong planning and organisational skills with the ability to manage a large number of priorities at the same time – ensuring conflicting pressures from various stakeholders are expertly managed
- Challenges the way things have always been done and seeks to identify innovative and experimental new ways of working that will improve the impact of the Modernisation and Reform Unit
- Is a team player who works collaboratively and is willing to step up to offer support and assistance when others are under pressure
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Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Benefits
£17,469 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
- Learning and development tailored to your role.
- An environment with flexible working options.
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
- A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and average employer contributions of 27%.
- A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application process
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV detailing your job history, qualifications and skills and experience gained.
You should also submit a 750-word Personal Statement demonstrating how you would meet the person specification in the job advert.
Applications will be sifted on CV and Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Selection process
The interview will consist of Behaviour and Strength-based questions. You will also be asked to complete a presentation to showcase your experience. Successful candidates will be informed of the question for the presentation in advance.
Expected timeline (subject to change)
Expected sift date w/c 27 November 2023
Expected interview date/s 7/8/11/12 December 2023
Interview location – Virtual
Further information
A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.
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. 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 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
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
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘contact point for applicants’ section.
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 or Disclosure Scotland 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
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 applicants 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.
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 Service 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 wheelchair access at interview, or if youre deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
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).
Apply and further information
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Francesca Conlon
- Email : francesca.conlon@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and wish to make a complaint, then in the first instance you should contact Government Recruitment Service at: cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: info@csc.gov.uk.
For further information on the Recruitment Principles, and bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk.
