Deputy Principal Private Secretary (Ref: 81947)

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Office of the Secretary of State for Wales
Job Description for Deputy Principal Private Secretary

Job Title Deputy Principal Private Secretary

Pay Grade Grade 7

Salary £58,847 – £66,670 – London (plus £8,271 pa Private Secretary allowance)

Location Gwydyr House, Whitehall, London

Reports to Principal Private Secretary

Contract Permanent

Clearance SC (See Additional Information)

Point of Contact

Sarah.Jennings@ukgovwales.gov.uk 

Introduction

This is a challenging, high-profile and rewarding role as Deputy Principal Private Secretary (DPPS) at the Wales Office, working directly with the Secretary of State, Ministers and Special Advisers (SpAds). The postholder will take on a significant leadership role in the Department deputising for the Principal Private Secretary from time to time, leading the Private Office, Strategy and Business Support teams.

The Office of the Secretary of State for Wales is the face of the UK Government in Wales and the voice of Wales in Westminster. We support the Secretary of State for Wales and the Ministerial team in representing Wales at the heart of Government. With offices in London and Cardiff, we work in partnership with other Government Departments and stakeholders to deliver a stronger Wales within a strong and prosperous United Kingdom.

About the Job

As Deputy Principal Private Secretary (DPPS) you are a key link between Ministers and the Department. In this role you will need to get to grips with complex issues across a range of policy and communications areas, using your judgement to provide effective briefings to Ministers to support their decision making. It is a fast-paced, dynamic, and challenging environment so strong planning and organisational skills with a willingness to work flexibly are all essential.

Given the nature of the role, it is London based and full time. You will also need to be prepared to work some evenings and weekends as part of a Private Office rota, and as such this role attracts a Private Secretary allowance currently set at £8,271.

Key responsibilities

• Deputise for the Principal Private Secretary as needed.
• Line manage a high-performing team based in London and/or Cardiff.
• Ensure the smooth and efficient running of the Private Office, building and sustaining a high-performing, inclusive and resilient team of Private Secretaries, diary managers and business support staff.

• Lead on a portfolio of policies and priorities, ensuring the department provides cohesive advice to Ministers and that their direction is translated into clear and concrete actions for officials to take forward.
• Work with colleagues to build comprehensive Ministerial engagement programmes – including visits, roundtables, and events – across Wales and internationally, ensuring Ministers have solid support from private office, comms, and policy to make the most of the opportunities.

• Build strong internal relationships with Ministers, SpAds and departmental teams, and externally across UK and Welsh Governments, and with key stakeholders to gain credibility for the Secretary of State and Department.
• Assume a wider corporate leadership role within the Department, including oversight of the secretariat for one of the Departmental Boards and as a member of the Leadership Engagement Team.
• Regularly review processes to ensure they are efficient, fit for purpose and maintain a high quality of service.
• Acting as a leader within the Private Office, help to develop the right culture and behaviours and support individuals to do well in their roles.
• Be a visible team player by pitching in and helping out with whatever might need doing around the office.

The job description is not intended to be exhaustive, and it is likely that duties may be altered from time to time in the light of changing circumstances and after consultation with the postholder.

Person Specification

Please evidence how closely you match the essential criteria in your Statement of Suitability.

Essential Criteria:

• Exceptional interpersonal and management skills, with the ability to understand different perspectives.
• Proven experience of working effectively with Ministers and senior officials, with a strong ability to influence and work collaboratively at all levels to resolve difficult issues.
• Experience of problem solving and acute political awareness.
• Proven experience of translating ministerial priorities into sound engagement opportunities in collaboration with policy and communications professionals.
• Strategic and creative thinker, recognising where improvements can be made and implementing them.
• Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills, with the ability to work effectively across a range of tasks and under pressure.
• Strong management experience, including ability to organise yourself and your team’s workload, showing initiative and proactivity.
• Proven experience of identifying and implementing continuous improvement.

Desirable Criteria:

• Previous experience working directly with Ministers.
• A background in communications and/or policy.
• An understanding of constitutional affairs and devolution in Wales, including the political system and work of the Welsh Government.
• Spoken and written competency in the Welsh language.

Recruitment Process

This campaign will be undertaken using the Civil Service Success Profile framework. You will need to provide evidence in your application to cover the following behaviours:

• Leadership (Lead Behaviour) (Application & Interview)
• Seeing the Big Picture (Interview Only)
• Communicating and Influencing (Interview Only)
• Delivering at Pace (Interview Only)

Additional Information

The Office of the Secretary of State for Wales is not an employer in its own right. Staff recruited to work at the OSSW will be employees of the Ministry of Justice who provide employment services on our behalf.

This role requires SC level clearance. Applicants for National Security Clearance (SC) must be resident in the UK for 5 years immediately prior to their application for Security Clearance. If you have spent significant time abroad (a total of 6 months in the past 3 years), you would be required to give a reasonable account of the reasons why.

If you do not meet the above requirement, you may still be considered for the role if, for example:

• You have been serving overseas with HM Armed Forces or in some other official capacity as a representative of HM Government.
• You were studying abroad.
• You were living overseas with parents.

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

• Access to learning and development
• A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance
• A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
• Annual Leave
• Public Holidays
• Season Ticket Advance

For more information about the recruitment process, benefits and allowances and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page.

Link: https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

Job contact :

• Name : SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team
• Email : Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com
• Telephone : 0845 241 5359

Recruitment team

• Email : Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com