Private Secretary London
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Job summary
DESNZ
The responsibilities for the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero for 2023 are as follows:
- Delivering security of energy supply
- Ensuring properly functioning energy markets
- Encouraging greater energy efficiency
- Seizing the opportunities of net zero to lead the world in new green industries
For 2023, our priorities are:
- Ensure security of energy supply this winter, next winter and in the longer-term – bringing down energy bills and reducing inflation.
- Ensure the UK is on track to meet its legally binding Net Zero commitments and support economic growth by significantly speeding up delivery of network infrastructure and domestic energy production.
- Improve the energy efficiency of UK homes, businesses and public sector buildings to meet the 15% demand reduction ambition.
- Deliver current schemes to support energy consumers with their bills and develop options for long-term reform to improve how the electricity market works for families and businesses.
- Seize the economic benefits of Net Zero, including the jobs and growth created through investment in new green industries.
- Pass the Energy Bill to support the emerging CCUS and hydrogen sectors; to update the governance of the energy system; and to reduce the time taken to consent offshore wind.
Our Inclusive Environment
We are building an inclusive culture to make the Department a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, not only because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because it will help us be more innovative and make better decisions.
We offer first-class flexible working benefits, excellent employee well-being support and a great pension. We are fortunate to have a range of excellent staff networks and are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We will support talented people from all backgrounds to build a career and thrive.
We actively welcome applications from anyone who shares our commitment to inclusion. We will fully support candidates with a disability or long-term condition who require adjustments in our recruitment process.
Job description
The role and our team
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) is at the forefront of the Government’s plan to secure the UK’s long-term energy supply, bring down bills and half inflation. As a department, we are responsible for delivering security of the UK’s energy supply; ensuring properly functioning energy markets; encouraging greater energy efficiency and seizing the opportunities of net zero to lead the world in new green industries.
We are recruiting for up to four HEO Private Secretaries to work directly with Ministers, Special Advisers (SpAds) and Senior Officials. These are stretching, high-profile roles demonstrating a wide range of core Civil Service skills in a uniquely challenging environment. Private Secretaries are the key link between Ministers, SpAds and the Department, working to deliver the steers and priorities of ministers based on the highest-quality advice from officials.
As an HEO Private Secretary you will work as part of a fast-paced and fun 5-6 person team, led by a G7 Senior Private Secretary, directly supporting the DESNZ Ministers and SpAds. You will need to be able to hit the ground running, be approachable to officials across BEIS, Whitehall, and demonstrate the confidence, resilience and flexibility required to deliver the highest quality service to Ministers.
These positions sit within the Policy, Strategy and Private Office Directorate (PSPO) in DESNZ. We are committed to being an inclusive employer with a diverse and representative workforce at all levels. We encourage applications from people from the widest possible diversity of backgrounds, cultures and experiences. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates and those with other protected characteristics. Appointments are made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition.
Due to business requirements this post is full time (Flexible working is available)
Person specification
Key responsibilities
In these roles delivering DESNZ’s energy and climate work, you will:
Advise the Minister on the UK’s climate and energy policy and have scope to shape your policy portfolio in line with your interests;
Support the Minister to deliver their priorities by working with Senior Officials in BEIS and across Whitehall;
Support the Minister with Parliamentary work, including Bills, debates, DESNZ orals and statements;
Accompany the Minister to events and on domestic and international trips.
Build positive relationships with teams throughout the Department and Whitehall.
Skills and experience
- You will need to develop a wide-ranging and in-depth knowledge of the subject areas, as well as a close and collaborative working relationship with policy officials.
You will have excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills.
- You will be able to function effectively as part of a team, and have to confidence to build strong relationships with colleagues, often at senior levels.
- You will be comfortable working in a fast-paced and ever-changing environment.
- You will be capable of effectively prioritising your work and delivering consistently under time pressure.
- You will display resilience and flexibility in order to respond to these changing circumstances and priorities.
Previous experience of working in private office would be desirable, but is by no means essential.
You will be offered support to develop in your role. This includes training and coaching and options such as mentoring and action learning sets. PSPO has an extensive learning and development offer from induction onwards. This includes offers tailored to the interests and demands of our teams. We follow best practice in line management in BEIS through regular performance management discussions and in-year reward rounds to recognise performance. We encourage people of all grades to become leaders in taking forward our corporate action plan. We are currently focused on three areas: Wellbeing, Diversity and Learning and Development.
Please note that applicants with Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) are eligible to apply but need to be willing to undergo Security Check (SC) upon starting the role.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Delivering at Pace
- Working Together
- Communicating and Influencing
- Seeing the Big Picture
Benefits
BEIS offers a competitive mix of benefits including:
A culture of flexible working, such as job sharing, homeworking and compressed hours.
Automatic enrolment into the Civil Service Pension Scheme, with an average employer contribution of 27%.
A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.
An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities, which all staff are actively encouraged to pursue.
Access to a range of retail, travel and lifestyle employee discounts.
A hybrid office/home based working model where staff will spend a norm of 40-60% of their time in the office (minimum of 40%) over a month with flex dependent on balancing business and individual need (from September 2021, depending on how the public health guidance evolves).
Things you need to know
Selection process details
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Please use your personal statement (in no more than 500 words) to provide a statement of suitability for the role of Private Secretary.
Please note - the CV incorporated into the application form is for information purposes only and will not be scored.
Applications will be sifted on personal statement.
The interview will consist of behaviour and strength-based questions.
Interviewees will be asked to deliver a presentation; further details will be provided nearer the time.
Sift and interview dates
Expected Timeline subject to change
Sift dates: w/c 03/04/2023
Interview dates: w/c 10/04/2023
Interview Location: MS Teams.
Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.
Further Information
Existing BEIS recruitment campaigns are continuing as usual, but candidates should be aware that following the Government’s announcement on the changes to some civil service departments, roles may be subject to the machinery of government moves and will ultimately be located in one of the new departments. We will provide more information if you are selected for a role. . This work remains of high importance to the civil service, and we thank you for your continued interest.
Reasonable Adjustment
If a disabled person 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
We are proud to be a disability confident leader, more information about the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) and some examples of adjustments that BEIS offers to disabled candidates and candidates with long-term health conditions during our recruitment process can be found in our candidate guidance document. A plain text version of the guidance is also available.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
A location based reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Should another role become available within that period you may be offered this position.
Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
Any move to Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy 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 https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
BEIS does not normally offer full home working (i.e. working at home); but we do offer a variety of flexible working options (including occasionally working from home).
BEIS cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. BEIS holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.
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.
BEIS wants to be accessible for all, and this includes offering assistance to attend interviews. The offer is targeted toward those from a lower socio-economic background, or who struggle to cover the cost of attending an interview. Please see the attached guidance document at the bottom of this Civil Service Jobs advert. Embedded in the document on page 5, are 2 documents that must be completed and returned to the email addresses listed on the forms to claim an expenses payment. If you have any issues accessing these documents please contact us at [email protected]
Feedback
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
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).
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