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Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
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About the job
Job summary
Team summary
At the Cabinet Office we support the Prime Minister and the Minister for the Cabinet Office in delivering key objectives and milestones ensuring the smooth running of government from developing policy, to modernising public services.
The Cabinet office sits at the heart of government is both a corporate centre for government and a policy department in its own right that challenges, supports, leads and provides services to other Ministerial Departments. We welcome talented people from all backgrounds with the skills and the commitment to build a career in the Civil Service.
The Cabinet Office Purpose is:
- to maintain the integrity of the Union, coordinate the security of the realm and sustain a flourishing democracy;
- to support the design and implementation of HM Governments policies and the Prime Ministers priorities; and
- to ensure the delivery of the finest public services by attracting and developing the best public servants and improving the efficiency of government.
The Public Bodies Team is responsible for overseeing the delivery of services through approximately 300 arms length bodies (ALBs). In 2022, arms length bodies employed around 340k people. In 2019-2020 (the last financial year unaffected by temporary Covid-19 funding), they spent c. £243bn. ALBs touch every aspect of public life, from science funding through UK Research and Innovation, to national museums like the V&A, leisure funding through Sport England, and public healthcare through the Care Quality Commission.
The Public Bodies Team sits within the Corporate Service Groups strategy cluster. The strategy cluster supports Cabinet Office ministers, the Civil Services Chief Operating Officer and the Cabinet Offices Chief Operating Officer in discharging their duties and delivering on the Governments priorities. Strategy colleagues will have access to unique L&D, networks and exposure to senior individuals.
Job description
The postholder will lead the delivery of the joint Cabinet Office and HM Treasury Public Bodies Reviews Programme, a commitment in the Declaration for Government Reform to increase effectiveness and efficiency of public bodies and a key component of the Public Bodies Reform Programme. Around 125 arms length bodies are due to be reviewed over the three years of the programme, and ministers have set an ambition for each review to deliver at least 5% efficiency savings.
This is a challenging post that attracts a high level of attention from ministers and senior officials across Cabinet Office and HM Treasury. The role is best suited for an experienced G7 with good collaboration and influencing skills.
Responsibilities
The key responsibilities for the role are:
- driving forward the reviews programme, learning lessons as we proceed and seeking opportunities to enhance the delivery of the programme;
- working with HM Treasury spending teams and Cabinet Office technical experts to scrutinize bodies performance and reviewers initial recommendations;
- leading on the engagement with ministers and senior officials, updating them on the progress of the programme, developing and putting forward recommendations to keep the programme on track;
- lead the strategy and development of the governments vision for public body reform, utilising best practice, analysis and evidence, responding to cross-cutting issues and supporting ministers in meeting their responsibilities in Parliament and to the public;
- undertaking engagement with departments responsible for reviews, providing guidance and monitoring review outcomes to hold them to account on delivering efficiency goals; and
- leading and motivating a small team, guiding their work, and supporting their wellbeing and career development.
Person specification
Essential criteria
- Personal credibility and a track record of working closely with ministers, special advisors and senior officials.
- Strong communication skills with an ability to influence with ease, build consensus through effective relationships.
- Sound leadership skills, including the ability to build and develop high-performing teams.
- Comfortable working in ambiguity, with good organisational skills and an ability to manage competing demands and prioritise work for yourself and a team.
Desirable skills
- An understanding of how the centre of government works.
- An understanding of public sector finances.
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Leadership
- Working Together
- Delivering at Pace
- Making Effective Decisions
Benefits
£14,418 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
We will assess you against these behaviours during the selection process and you will be required to submit 250 word statements for each behaviour:
- Leadership
- Working Together
- Delivering at Pace
- Making Effective Decisions
- Seeing the Big Picture (assessed at interview only)
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour, Leadership. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Selection process
At interview, a combination of behaviours and strengths will be tested. You may be asked to undertake a presentation, details for which will be provided in advance. Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift will be undertaken on the lead behaviours ‘working together’.
Expected timeline (subject to change)
Expected sift date w/c 13th of November
Expected interview date/s w/c 27th of November
Interview location – online via Google meet
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.
Further information
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 SC clearance, which would normally need 5 years UK residency in the past 5 years. 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 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
A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.
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.
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 : Zainab Hasan
- Email : zainab.hasan1@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
If you are not satisfied with the response 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.
