Secretariat Manager

Details
Reference number

439317

Salary

£37,151

A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

GBP

Job grade

Higher Executive Officer

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

FSA - Strategy and Regulatory Compliance

Type of role

Administration / Corporate Support

Secretarial

Working pattern

Full-time, Job share

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

• Location
• About the job
• Benefits
• Things you need to know
• Apply and further information

Location

London (multi-location)

Some travel will be required in support of meetings. This will be within the UK and likely to be once or twice a month.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not overseas.

About the job
Job summary

Are you ready to take the next step in your career and play a vital role in the governance of a national organisation?

We are looking for a proactive and organised Secretariat Manager to join the Food Standards Agency's Private Office—a highly supportive and collaborative team that works at the heart of the organisation.

The FSA is a non-ministerial department of over 1600 people. We play a critical role in protecting public health and consumers' wider interests in food across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Our vision is an important one - to drive change, delivering "food you can trust" and working towards a healthier and more sustainable food system.

Job description

This role is central to the smooth running of the organisation's governance and offers a unique insight into its strategic direction. You will ensure the effective operation of Board and Executive Management Team meetings and events, including scheduling, minute-taking, and tracking actions. You will also work with the Chair and Chief Executive to plan future meetings and events that align with organisational priorities. Flexibility is key, as you will provide cover across the Secretariat team, collaborate widely to maintain excellent service and need to be prepared to travel to carry out the requirements of the post.

We are seeking someone who can work at pace, manage competing priorities, and build strong relationships with senior stakeholders. Excellent organisational skills, attention to detail, sound judgment, and strong communication skills are essential. You must be happy to travel across the UK on a regular basis to support meetings.

You will be part of a friendly and supportive team that values collaboration and professional growth. Working in the Private Office can be challenging but is extremely rewarding, offering a comprehensive view of the FSA's work and an opportunity to contribute to its governance at the highest level.

Working pattern guidance

Due to the requirements of the role, this post is being offered as full time or established Job Share only.

If applying as a job share partnership you should both complete separate application forms on Civil Service Jobs but should make it clear that you are applying as job sharers. Further details on job sharing can be found here JSF – What is the recruitment process for job sharers? , Civil Service Careers (civil-service-)

Person specification

Please read the attached Candidate Pack to discover further details about the role, our organisation, who we are looking for and the criteria we will assess against during the selection process.

We look forward to receiving your application and wish you every success.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,151, Food Standards Agency contributes £10,762 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Our candidate pack details the benefits that the FSA has to offer. Please also refer to the attached Terms and Conditions statement.

Things you need to know
Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Ability and Experience.

Full details of the selection process are detailed in the attached candidate pack.

Application and shortlisting

You will be asked to provide personal details (not seen by the Panel) and to confirm your eligibility to apply for the role.

Ability: You will be asked to complete an online test and, if successful, will proceed to the rest of the application.

You will then be asked to complete an application which will be used to assess you against the following essential and desirable criteria. (Desirable criteria will only be assessed in the event of a tie between candidates).

Essential criteria

Experience

• Lead criteria: Effective organisational skills, with experience of using initiative and sound judgement to effectively manage multiple priorities, administrative tasks and workstreams, delivering to tight deadlines whilst maintaining excellent customer service.
• Proven experience of working with colleagues to build relationships and achieve results.
• Proven experience of organisational skills to deliver meetings and workshops effectively.
• Demonstrates experience of writing minutes to a high standard to tight deadlines at senior level meetings.

Desirable criteria (Desirable criteria will only be assessed in the event of a tie between candidates).

Experience

• Demonstrates understanding of how a Non-Executive Board functions and is supported by the Executive.

Lead Criteria

An initial sift will take place on the Lead criteria.

In the event that we receive a large number of applications, the minimum pass mark for the Lead Criteria may be raised at shortlisting stage. Candidates who apply under the DCS, GPTW or RIS schemes and meet the minimum requirements will be unaffected by the pass mark raise.

Interview

If successful at shortlisting stage, you will be invited to a final interview in whichwe will assess you against the following Experience requirements of the role.

Experience

• Effective organisational skills, able to effectively manage multiple priorities, administrative tasks and workstreams, delivering to tight deadlines whilst maintaining excellent customer service.
• Experience of working with colleagues to build relationships and achieve results.
• Experience of organisational skills to deliver meetings and workshops effectively.
• Experience of writing minutes to a high standard to tight deadlines at senior level meetings.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

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.

Expected Timeline

Advert closes: 10 December :55)

Sift: Expected to take place during week commencing 15 December 2025

Final panel interview: Expected to take place during week commencing 12 January 2026

Interviews will be held remotely via MS Teams. (If you do not have the Microsoft Teams application installed on your computer, you can join on the web without installing the application).

Please note that indicated dates may be subject to change.

Childcare Vouchers

Any move to the Food Standards Agency 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

Reserve List

A reserve list will be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointment may be made.

Candidates that do not pass the interview but have demonstrated an acceptable standard may be considered for similar roles at a lower grade.

Visa Sponsorship

Please note that the FSA does not offer visa sponsorship and cannot provide advice on visa applications

Making a complaint

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.

If you feel your application has not been treated fairly in accordance with the principles, [and you wish to make a complaint, you should email the FSA's Director of People at If you are not satisfied with the response, you can contact the Civil Service Commission.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles .

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants
Job contact :

• Name : Ann Stirling
• Email :

Recruitment team

• Email :

Further information

If you wish to raise a complaint then please email in the first instance.

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