Assistant Director, Operations and Engagement London, England
Job description
Details
Reference number
Salary
Job grade
Contract type
Business area
Type of role
Policy
Strategy
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
About the job
Benefits
Things you need to know
Apply and further information
Location
About the job
Job summary
The National Situation Centre (SitCen) brings together a unique set of skilled people, capabilities and experience, operating 24/7 to support horizon scanning and crisis-response across the full range of national risks, from civil emergencies to national security issues. We work at the sharpest end of the Government’s crisis response, supporting senior decision-makers.
Bringing together the best minds, the latest technology and a spirit of collaboration, SitCen helps to bring the absolute best of Government to the toughest challenges that our nation faces. Within SitCen, we pride ourselves on our team culture, which is operationally and customer focussed, innovative, compassionate, and inclusive, and continuously learning.
Job description
- Line management responsibility for the two policy engagement leads (SEO).
- Provide a “front door” for SitCen’s customers into a range of services and functions.
- Build effective strategic relationships with a range of internal stakeholders across the Cabinet Office and external partners.
- Engage in cross-Government crisis and policy forums, pushing SitCen as a strategic capability for Government to ensure it is maximising its impact and drawing as much necessary information from the policy community as required for any given scenario, both in crisis mode and in peacetime.
- Design, develop, review and assure analytical and technical products, alongside analyst and technology colleagues, ensuring they meet customer requirements.
- Lead incoming and outgoing visits across a wide range of stakeholders and levels of seniority.
- Lead internal and public communications about the SitCen, both proactively and reactively, as well as responses to Parliamentary Business.
- Lead on surge support to help engagement with departments, and externally, on acquisition of data when required, including during crises.
- Ensure SitCen’s physical space is maintained to the required standard, including AV and IT hardware.
- Support the SitCen SLT in the delivery of a number of key strategic projects.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
The successful applicant will:
- Have experience in building up relationships with key stakeholders, both externally and internally, in support of the delivery of specific Objectives. This includes understanding requirements, managing delivery and quality of outputs and establishing regular touchpoints with stakeholders.
- Be comfortable with representing the National Situation Centre with a range of external contacts, across a range of grades and seniority. This includes arranging and hosting visits with senior dignitaries.
- Have experience and knowledge in the production and presentation of detailed analysis to senior decision makers. Deep technical knowledge of analytical tools is beneficial, but not essential.
- Understand AV and IT hardware, with experience in identifying and finding solutions for maintenance issues.
- Demonstrate strong written and oral communication and interpersonal skills. This includes use of both powerpoint presentations and word documents.
- Be able to prioritise activities and adjust workload within a pressured, fast moving environment.
Desirable Knowledge and Experience
- Experience and knowledge of crisis response, national security and/or civil contingencies would be beneficial but not essential.
- Knowledge or appreciation of the production and delivery of data and analysis, particularly geo-spatial data and open source information would be beneficial but not essential.
- Line management or leadership experience is desirable.
Applicants will need to undergo SC clearance, and be willing to undergo Developed Vetting at a later date once they are working in the role, in order to be successful in their application.
The nature of this post may require you to respond to unexpected events and/or crises. During such times there may be a requirement to work outside of conditioned hours, including at weekends, at short notice, or to move to working a shift pattern.
You will be reimbursed for any work outside of conditioned hours in line with the Cabinet Office’s overtime and shift working policy.
Whilst there may be a requirement for working unusual hours at times, we would welcome a discussion about how you might be successful in the role. Applications from staff working part-time, full-time, compressed hours or job-share are welcome. Likewise if you are a person who requires adjustments to the workplace or working practices, please come and talk to us about how we might tailor the job to be flexible and inclusive of your needs.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Changing and Improving
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
- Delivering at Pace
Benefits
- 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, personal statement of no more than 1250 words and 250 word behavioural statements. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
You should align your personal statement to the essential criteria and evidencing why you are suitable for the role.
You will also be assessed against behaviours on both application and at interview.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the lead Behaviour, Seeing the Bigger Picture. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Expected timeline (subject to change)
Expected sift date – W/C 5th June
Expected interview date/s – W/C 19th June
Interview location - Remote 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 [email protected] 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 you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Further information
Please note that this role requires SC clearance, which would normally need 5 years’ UK residency in the past 10 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.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
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 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 [email protected] stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
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 applicant’s 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.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'contact point for applicants' section.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
- certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
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
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
Recruitment team
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: [email protected].
If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: [email protected].
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.
