Army - Policy and Secretariat Senior Executive Officer

Job summary

We are looking for an experienced policy professional with strong line management skills, able to deliver high quality outputs for Ministers and senior military and Civil Service personnel in a fast-paced environment.

The Ministry of Defence employs over 50,000 Civil Servants. Within that, the Army Top Level Budget (TLB) employs around 7,000 MOD Civil Servants located at over 300 locations. Ours is a diverse workforce, with roles ranging from trainers, human resources, teachers, and psychologists to storekeepers, financiers, project and programme managers, and policy secretariat staff. There are many different functions and professions delivering key outputs for the Army.

The Policy and Secretariat branch is a high performing team with significant policy and parliamentary business expertise. It carries out the Department of State function within the Army and represents the Permanent Secretary�s policy advisory role. It is one of the largest and busiest secretariats in Defence and is responsible for all Army Parliamentary and Ministerial business. This includes Parliamentary Questions, Ministerial Correspondence, Freedom of Information requests and Treat Official correspondence each year, alongside supporting Ministers and senior personnel at Select Committee appearances and submitting advice to Ministers on behalf of the Army.

Our portfolio is wide-ranging, including the equipment programme, personnel policy, basing and infrastructure, recruitment and training and the size and structure of the Army. Ministerial, public and media interest in the Army is consistently high. The size, nature and complexity of the Army means that it is often in the public eye with a commensurate requirement to ensure that Ministers and Defence communications are kept up to date on issues likely to attract Parliamentary or media attention.

The Army is operating a hybrid working balance which states 60% (3 days a week) of time in the Andover office. Occasional travel within the UK (including London and Scotland) will be required.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.�

Job description

The role of a Senior Executive Officer in the Army Policy and Secretariat is coordination and delivery focused, offering an exciting opportunity to improve your policy, analytical and collaboration skills. Working closely with colleagues across Army HQ and Defence, you will develop your specialist expertise while contributing to briefing Ministers and senior Army officials on priority issues.

The post will support the core outputs of the Policy and Secretariat team, which include:
� Provision of clear, effective, and impartial Departmental advice regarding Army matters to Defence Ministers and senior military and civilian staff.
� Generation and quality assurance of Ministerial submissions; supporting the development of Army policies and plans; and ensuring they are aligned with wider Departmental and Government policies.
� Broader support to Ministers, including the provision of briefings prior to meetings and responses for use at Parliamentary Select Committee inquiries.
� Development of lines to take and presentational advice about Army issues that may attract public, media and Parliamentary attention.
� Answering Parliamentary questions, drafting responses to Ministerial and Treat Official correspondence, and responding to Freedom of Information requests.

Key responsibilities:
� Contribute to the effective delivery of all Parliamentary Business relating to the Army, ensuring that it is completed within Departmental and legally mandated timescales.
� Support the provision of proactive, reliable, high-quality advice to Ministers and other stakeholders on all aspects of the Army portfolio including on matters of policy, Parliamentary and media interest.
� Provide Secretariat advice on Parliamentary and presentational matters to senior colleagues across the Army.
� Work as part of team to provide the Department of State function within the Army, including meeting or exceeding all statutory, Departmental and Government-wide targets for the delivery of Parliamentary and Ministerial business and fulfilling the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act (2000).
� Share responsibility with other Senior Executive Officers (SEO) in the team for allocating requests for information and correspondence (Ministerial Correspondence, Parliamentary Questions, Treat Officials, Freedom of Information Act requests) across the whole team, ensuring a balance of workload.
� Building strong relationships with key stakeholders throughout Defence and Army.
� Line manage up to two Higher Executive Officers (HEO) members of staff and provide leadership and development to the wider HEO cohort within the Secretariat to ensure consistent high quality of output, including assurance of correspondence.
� Must be prepared to travel occasionally within the UK (including London and Scotland).
� Participate in the continued development of the Secretariat function within the Army HQ through engagement with the leadership team, testing amended ways of working and suggesting alternatives where appropriate and role modelling positive behaviours.�

Person specification

To be successful in the role, you will need to be able to demonstrate:
� Ability to work flexibly and at pace and able to adapt to changing priorities.
� Strong written and verbal communicator, able to communicate at all levels and excellent presentation skills.
� Ability to develop collaborative relationships with a range of stakeholders and teams at all grades/ranks.
� Experience of delivery and meeting tight deadlines.
� Line management and leadership skills.

Essential criteria:
� Strong communication skills (both oral and written) and good analytical skills.
� Ability to work as part of a team and independently when required.
� Ability to work flexibly, adapt to changing priorities and meet tight deadlines.
� Willingness to undertake continuous learning and development endeavours to ensure a consistently high quality of output on behalf of the Army Policy and Secretariat.

Desirable criteria:
� Policy experience
� Parliamentary and/or Secretariat experience.
� Although previous experience working in a military environment or in defence would be advantageous, it is not crucial as we will develop the successful candidates with role specific training, with the potential for further professional developmental opportunities.

Behaviours

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

LeadershipMaking Effective DecisionsDelivering at PaceCommunicating and InfluencingSeeing the Big Picture

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

LeadershipDelivering at Pace

Benefits

Alongside your salary of �43,080, Ministry of Defence contributes �12,480 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

As a civil servant working alongside the Army, you will be part of a forward-looking organisation with inclusive workplace policies, excellent career prospects and a job that makes a difference.

The Army prides itself on being a supportive employer and where possible encourages flexible working, helping you to maintain a great work/life balance.

Other benefits for Army civil servants include:�

25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years� serviceAn environment with flexible working optionsA culture encouraging inclusion and diversityA� with an average employer contribution of Personal and professional development of skillsAlternative working patterns for many rolesAccess to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), a free service that assists you with achieving a productive, healthy environment that is conducive to a healthy lifestyle.Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave6 days special leave per year which can be used for volunteering activities

Does this sound like the role for you? If so, we would love to hear from you

The post does not offer relocation expenses.�

External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.��

Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.�

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.��

Any move to MOD 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 .�

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.��

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