Head of Public Appointments and Governance

If you’re interested in making a difference to people’s lives, the Treasury can offer you an exciting opportunity to influence decision making that affects the whole of the UK. Working at the heart of government, we collaborate across government to promote responsible public spending and drive strong and sustainable economic growth.  

Our work ranges from protecting customers through the regulation of the financial sector, helping to reduce carbon emissions and creating a greener economy, to promoting British trade around the world and supporting people across the country on jobs, growth and more.  

HM Treasury is proud of a diverse and inclusive work environment, committed to fairness and the promotion of equality of opportunity for all. We know that having a range of experiences, ways of working and thinking makes us stronger and better at developing policy that reflects the needs of every community. We embrace different views and experiences and value the new perspective that people from a variety of circumstances bring to the work we do. We welcome applications from candidates who have not previously worked for the Civil Service, mid- and late-career changers with transferrable skills, people from all backgrounds and circumstances regardless of disability, gender, age ethnicity, LGBT+ identity and socio-economic status.  

We are part of the Darlington Economic Campus, a pioneering new cross-government hub which brings people together to play an active role in the most important issues of the day whilst working closer to the communities we serve. The campus provides the opportunity for people from all over the UK to help shape the future of the country, and our flexible working practices ensure you can collaborate effectively with our partners. It’s central government, made more accessible to you! 

About the Group

The Ministerial and Communications Group sits at the heart of the Treasury. If you are interested in the inner workings of government, meeting ministers, senior officials and liaising with the press then this could be the place for you! We are a friendly and inclusive Group working on some of the most exciting issues of the day, bringing together work from across the rest of the department and engaging closely with partners across Whitehall and beyond.

We provide support to ministers, through ministerial offices. We act as Treasury’s external face, through the Press Office and Communications team. We are responsible for managing the department, through our support for the Permanent Secretary, the Second Permanent Secretaries, the Treasury Board, and the Executive Management Board (EMB), and our ownership of Treasury governance structures. The Group is led by the Permanent Secretary.

About the Team 

The Public Appointments & Corporate Governance Team is a new team within the MinComm Group that will bring together individuals and tasks currently in different parts of HM Treasury.

It will be led by an E2 (this role), and consist of two branches:

• The Corporate Governance branch, which is an established team consisting of a Head of Governance, two governance officers and a conflicts officer. Together they play a critical role in enabling the strategic oversight of the department, overseeing all aspects of the department’s governance processes, including acting as the secretariat to the Executive Management Board and Treasury Board and their sub-committees, and owning the relationship with departmental non-executive directors
• The Public Appointments branch is a new team, which will draw together roles and responsibilities currently sitting across the Treasury. It will consist of three other individuals, one of whom is already in post. The new team will provide a centre of expertise on public appointments within HMT and guide the process for all of the appointments HMT is responsible for, which includes some of the most high profile roles with huge national significance, such as the Governor of the Bank of England.

About the Job 

This is an exciting role at the heart of the Treasury. Working with the new Chief of Staff to the Permanent Secretary, the postholder will play a key role in ensuring the senior echelons of the department are focusing on the key strategic issues – discussing the right issues at the right time.

HM Treasury is responsible for some of the most important public appointments across government, including the Governor and Deputy Governors of the Bank of England. It is essential that these campaigns are run effectively to ensure that the best possible candidates are secured. This is a critical role, which will oversee all aspects of this process.

This role will also play a key part in the leadership of the Ministerial & Communications Group. They will be an active member of the Group Management Team and will particularly be expected to provide corporate leadership to those based in Darlington, where they will be the most senior member of the group.

The key accountabilities of the post are:

1. Creating and providing inclusive and effective leadership and management to the Public Appointments and Corporate Governance Team, as well as supportive line management of four DGs’ private offices. Together this will mean line management or countersigning management of fifteen people of varying grades. These are distinct teams, and strong leadership will be required to build a unified and supporting team culture
2. Leading all aspects of the public and direct appointments process to ensure that all appointments are completed effectively and in line with best practice, also leading on engagement with the Cabinet Office and the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Working closely with ministers, special advisers and No.10 to secure the best candidates in the necessary timeframes.
3. Being responsible for the Corporate Governance team – working with the Executive Management Board to ensure that the department’s governance is effective and that the relevant boards and committees are operating in a joined up and strategic manner, discussing pertinent issues at the right times.
4. Playing a key part in the overall leadership of the expanded Perm team. Working with the new DD Chief of Staff and Private Secretary to the Permanent Secretary, this individual will develop the culture and ethos of the Perm team, ensuring an inclusive and encouraging atmosphere where everyone feels motivated and able to deliver.
5. Contributing to the Ministerial and Communications group’s corporate agenda, including building a supportive and inclusive team culture for those based in Darlington.

Candidate Drop-In Session 
 
We will be running a candidate drop-in session for this role to give you greater insight about the role as well as the chance to learn more about HM Treasury and the recruitment process. If you would like to join us, then use the appropriate link below to join the call at the right time. 

Thursday 7th  December 11am

Click here to join the meeting

If you would like to speak to the hiring manager informally prior to the closing date for applications to find out more about the job, please contact Jonathan Crisp )

About your Application

Your application will consist of a CV and a 1,000-word personal statement.

 Your CV should consist of your career history, including any key achievements in each role. Your CV will not be scored, but instead will be used to provide further context on your personal statement, and support conversations at interview.

 Your personal statement should demonstrate evidence of how you meet the criteria listed below:

1.  A proven ability to lead and motivate a large and diverse team and oversee the delivery of a high-quality service to senior stakeholders. 
2. The ability to independently make sound judgements and decisions about a wide range of issues, and communicate these to seniors. 
3. Excellent communication and influencing skills, and an ability to use these to deliver your objectives even during difficult times. 
4. Experience of navigating governance processes in a large organisation and an understanding of their importance. 

Candidate Guidance Support Session 
 
We will be running an overview of Success Profiles, top tips for the application and interview process and an opportunity to ask general questions around our recruitment practices. If you would like to join us, then use the link below to join the call at the right time. 

Tuesday 12th December 5pm

Click here to join the meeting

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service
• Seeing the Big Picture

• 25 days’ annual leave (rising to 30 after 5 years), plus 8 public holidays and the King’s birthday (unless you have a legacy arrangement as an existing Civil Servant)

• Flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours)

• Generous parental and adoption leave package

• Onsite restaurant and coffee bar. The London office also offers a gym, showers and prayer room

• Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme, season ticket advances and payroll giving

• Access to a retail discounts and cashback site

• A Rental Deposit Advance Scheme to help meet the total costs of deposits for privately rented homes

• A range of active staff networks, based around interests (e.g. analysts, music society, sports and social club) and diversity (e.g. women in the Treasury, ethnic minority network, LGBT* network, faith and belief network).

Flexible working arrangements:  HM Treasury views flexible working as essential in enabling us to recruit and retain talented people, ensuring that they can enjoy a long-lasting career with us. All employees have the right to apply for flexible working and there are a range of options available including; part-time, compressed hours and job sharing. Additionally, we operate flexitime systems, allowing employees the flexibility to adjust their working patterns throughout the week which is subject to operational needs and line management approval.  

At HM Treasury we have an incredibly broad remit; our work touches every citizen of the country. So, it’s important our employees come from the widest possible range of backgrounds, bringing us the widest possible range of perspectives and ways of thinking. We are committed to ensuring that all staff can realize their potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance. 

HM Treasury operates an office based working approach across all Treasury sites – Darlington, London, and Norwich, and along with the rest of the Civil Service, has an expectation of a minimum of 60% attendance in the office, along with working remotely. This blended working approach allows you to work collaboratively, meet stakeholders face to face, support others and promotes a healthy work life balance (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). 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. All our offices have been recently modernised and designed to collaborate and connect with colleagues as well as desk and quiet space to allow a range of ways to work. 

Job contact :

• Name : Jonathan Crisp
• Email : Jonathan.Crisp@hmtreasury.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : hrrecruitment@hmtreasury.gov.uk