Private Secretary

**Details**:
**Reference number**:

- 304089**Salary**:

- £34,031- Plus a Private Office overtime allowance of up to 10 hours a week.- A Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%**Job grade**:

- Higher Executive Officer**Contract type**:

- Permanent**Business area**:

- DFE - Strategy Group**Type of role**:

- Policy**Working pattern**:

- Full-time, Job share, Part-time**Number of jobs available**:

- 2Contents

Location

About the job

**Benefits**:
Things you need to know

Location
- City of Westminster, London (region), SW1About the job

**Job summary**:
At DfE, we are proud of the commitment we make to diversity and inclusion and of the progress we have made. We have active & vibrant staff networks, special leave policies and workplace adjustments put in place for those who need them. We are continuing to build a diverse DfE, in an inclusive environment which nurtures and realises potential in all, at all levels.

Equality and Diversity - Department for Education

We are advertising for 2 rewarding and critical roles working in the private office for a Minister and the Permanent Secretary at the Department for Education. This is an opportunity to work in the heart of government, supporting the Minister for Children and Families or the Permanent Secretary as they make decisions and drive forward the Department’s policies.

Successful applicants will be joining small and friendly teams, working in a fast-paced and dynamic environment. These positions offer a unique insight into the Department and provide a superb opportunity for people to develop skills that will support progression in the civil service.

**Job description**:
The roles available are in the Private Office of the Minister for Children and Families and in the Private Office of the Permanent Secretary in the Department for Education.

In these roles, you will:

- Directly advise and work with Minister/Permanent Secretary to support them to deliver their priorities;
- Set direction to and work with senior civil servants and teams across the Department to ensure they provide high quality advice on policy and operational issues; and,
- Support Minister/Permanent Secretary to fulfil their duties, supporting them in a wide range of meetings and events, and ensuring they are well briefed for parliamentary debates and select committees.

This is an incredibly exciting time to be joining Private Office. We are looking for someone with outstanding skills and judgement; who is flexible; adaptable and proactive in the face of changing circumstances; and confident dealing with senior stakeholders. You will gain unique experience in this fantastic role working with brilliant colleagues and taking part in once-in-a-career opportunities.

**Person specification**:
Successful applicants will be hardworking and comfortable operating in high-pressure environments. **The essential experience criteria are the following**:

- Excellent organisational skills, and be able to prioritise competing priorities effectively to resolve difficult issues, and achieve shared goals in high pressure situations.
- Ability to establish and maintain relationships with a diverse range of people, including working with senior stakeholders to influence others and find consensus.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills and confidence articulating and delivering complex and sometimes difficult messages.
- Work effectively in a team, being flexible and adaptable to support the wider team and division, and complete all work to a high standard.
- Ability to process and analyse large amounts of information, draw conclusions and weigh up conflicting evidence to make clear recommendations.

**Benefits**:

- Alongside your salary of £34,031, Department for Education contributes £9,188 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Department’s transfer / promotion policies.
As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK.

You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years’ service. In addition, all staff receive the King’s Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days’ bank and public holidays.

We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.

Most DfE employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending at least 60% of their time in an office or work setting. Changes to these working arrangements are available in exceptional circumstances but must be agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role.

Travel to your primary office location will not be