Private Secretary in the Northern Ireland Office

PAY:

Existing Civil Servants will have their salary calculated in accordance with the Departments pay on transfer / pay on promotion rules.

Your salary will be dependent on your base location.

BACKGROUND

The Northern Ireland Office supports the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in promoting the best interests of Northern Ireland. We make sure that Northern Irelands interests are represented within the UK Government and that UK government responsibilities are fully and effectively represented in Northern Ireland. We are the centre of expertise on Northern Ireland issues across Government.

The Northern Ireland Office employs around 170 staff, with offices in Belfast and London. As a small Department, we adopt a flexible project-based approach to ensure that we have the right people, with the right skills, in the right place to support the delivery of our key objectives.

Due to our structure and size, we are able to offer extensive exposure to Ministers and the opportunity to work on a far wider portfolio of policy and responsibilities than might be the case in a larger department. This creates an interesting and stimulating work environment.

Our key priorities are set out in our Operational Delivery plan and include:

• Supporting greater inclusion, tolerance and openness in Northern Ireland
• Contributing to a safer Northern Ireland, where terrorist and paramilitary groups are less able to cause harm to communities
• Ensuring that governance in Northern Ireland is responsive, transparent and able to deliver effective public service.
• Addressing the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland

For more information about what we do:

Visit:

ABOUT THE ROLE:

We are recruiting for a Private Secretary within the Ministerial Office in the Northern Ireland Office (NIO). In this role, you will lead a policy portfolio supporting all three ministersthe Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and the Lords Ministerwhile acting as the lead Private Secretary for the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State.

This is an exciting and varied role at the very heart of the NIO. You will join a friendly, high-achieving private office team where no two days are the same. We are looking for candidates with a positive, can-do attitude who are ready to get stuck in to support the ministerial team at the Northern Ireland Office.

You will also lead on a key Private Office function, such as Parliamentary Work or Communications. As part of the Private Office Group, which includes the Permanent Secretarys office, the correspondence manager and the Parliamentary team, you will work closely with colleagues across the group to ensure effective join up and delivery of ministers priorities.

This role will be suited to someone organised, communicative, and attentive to detail. Things can change at the last minute so you should be adaptable and patient. The team can be very busy so you will also need to be able to make informed decisions independently and with confidence.

That said, you will be supported by a team of other private secretaries, all of whom are working together to deliver the best possible service to ministers and the political team.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The main responsibilities of the role include:

• Leading on a policy portfolio for 3 ministers (the Secretary of State, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, and Lords Minister), while acting as the lead Private Secretary for the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State.
• Supporting the ministerial team on high-profile policy areas, and contributing to the smooth and efficient running of the ministerial Private Office, delivering the highest quality support.
• Working across the Private Office Group, the NIO and wider Whitehall in a leadership role and representing your Principals views with credibility.
• Providing strategic advice and join up on the preparation of policy advice from across the Department.
• Supporting ministerial visits in Northern Ireland and overseas as required.
• Leading on a key PO function.
• Line management of one Assistant Private Secretary.

Essential Criteria:

• A proactive, can-do attitude, with an ability to review processes, think strategically and creatively to implement solutions independently;
• Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders, and work effectively across a range of tasks under pressure;
• Exceptional interpersonal and management skills with the ability to understand different perspectives and exercise excellent judgement;
• A strong ability to influence at all levels, including with Senior Officials/ stakeholders, and to work collaboratively to resolve difficult issues;
• Proven experience of working effectively with Ministers and/or equivalent senior officials/ stakeholders.

Desirable Criteria:

• An understanding of propriety and ethics and the ability to maintain appropriate standards in line with the Civil Service, Ministerial, and Special Advisers Code.
• An understanding of the Northern Ireland political system and of the work of the Northern Ireland Executive.

SELECTION PROCESS:

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience. This link will explain how to answer the questions using the STAR method. Please look at the success profiles for SEO level.

The selection and interview process will consist of two stages:

SIFT

Well assess you against the following Success Profile behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and influencing (LEAD BEHAVIOUR)
• Delivering at pace
• Seeing the big picture
• Making effective decisions
  

Applications will be sifted on one behaviour example (Communicating and Influencing) of 250 words and a statement of suitability (of no more than 500 words).

Please use your statement of suitability to (in no more than 500 words) outline how you meet the essential criteria required for the role as set out in the job advert, as well as to demonstrate what skills you will bring to the role and why it interests you. Desirable criteria will be used as a tie breaker if there is a large number of applications.

INTERVIEW

The next stage will be an interview based on behaviours and strengths.

The behaviours being assessed at interview would be:

• Communicating and influencing (lead behaviour)
• Seeing the big picture
• Making effective decisions
• Delivering at pace

Strengths

It is difficult to prepare for strength type questions. However, you can think through your answers, focus on your achievements and aspects you enjoy and decide how these can be applied in the organisation and role. While strengths questions are shorter and we do not expect a full STAR response, the panel is interested in your first reaction to the question and information or reasoning to support this.

If you do not have work-based examples then please give examples from school/college, clubs, volunteering or other activities you have been involved in.

More information on behaviours and success profiles can be found here.

Please note that in the event of a large number of applications being received we may run the initial sift on the lead Behaviour Communicating and Influencing.

Your interview will either be conducted in person or by video. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview. Interview slots will be released to candidates who are successful at sift.

If successful at interview, you may be invited for a fireside chat with the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State.

Security Clearance:

This role requires National Security Vetting given the access to sensitive information afforded by the job role. You can find more information by reviewing the information held in the following links:

United Kingdom Security Vetting: Applicant - GOV.UK (

The vetting charter - GOV.UK (

In addition, there is a minimum UK residency requirement set by the Cabinet Office which is dependent on the security level required for the role.

This role requires SC and to be eligible to apply for this role you should have been present in the UK continuously for the past 5 years

Artificial Intelligence:

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements
provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Further Information:

Further information about the post may be obtained from Beth Lynas via email to

All applications for employment are considered strictly on the basis of merit.

This job description should not be taken as constituting conditions of employment.

Please note that due to the high interest in NIO opportunities, feedback cannot be given if you are unsuccessful at the sift stage. Feedback is available on request if unsuccessful following the interview.

Complaints:

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commissions Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles.

Please contact SSCL () in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages:

Reserve Lists:

In the event that the advertised post following interview, identifies more appointable applicants than available posts, we may hold applicant details on a merit/reserve list for a period of 12 months from which further future appointments can be made. Candidates placed on a reserve list will be informed of this. Those candidates who do not wish to remain on the reserve list should contact

to be removed from the reserve list.

Additional Information

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The NIO offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different NIO sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.

Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyones circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

Flexible working hours

The NIO offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. NIO welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the NIOs Flexible Working policy.

Benefits:

• 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
• 25 days annual leave, increasing to 30 days after five years service.
• Public Holidays
• Season Ticket Advance

WHJS1_NI