Private Secretary to The Director of Higher

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

- 308338**Salary**:

- £32,222- London minimum £35,921- A Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%**Job grade**:

- Higher Executive Officer**Contract type**:

- Permanent**Business area**:

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

- Policy**Working pattern**:

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

- 1Contents

Location

About the job

**Benefits**:
Things you need to know

Location
- Sheffield, Yorkshire and the Humber, S1 2FJ : City of Westminster, London (region), SW1P 3BTAbout 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 a Private Secretary to the Director of Higher Education. This is an exciting opportunity to work in the heart of government on a high profile and exciting policy area.

The postholder will have the opportunity to be involved in some of the most high-profile policy areas that the Department holds.

The successful applicant will be joining a small and friendly Directorate Support Team and will have an opportunity to involve themselves in a range of different policy areas related to Higher Education.

**Job description**:

- Support the Director in their interactions with policy teams, supporting them in a wide range of meetings and events, and ensuring that their directions are implemented effectively.
- Develop and deliver a programme of visits for the Director to secure meaningful visits aligned to business aims and increase visibility across the Higher Education Directorate, the Skills Group, and the sector
- Provide on-going support to the Director by preparing weekly briefings/action lists that help the director stay on track in delivering their objectives
- Coordination of corporate commissions to the divisions, including sourcing more information, managing timelines, and collating returns, working often to tight deadlines
- Provide secretariat support to meetings, as needed, including taking minutes
- Support the Head of Office in creating a positive workplace culture in the Directorate.

**Person specification**:
**Essential criteria**:

- Strong ability to solve problems and use their own initiative to come up with creative solutions and resolve issues independently.
- Excellent organisational skills and ability to prioritise competing priorities effectively to resolve difficult issues.
- Strong inter-personal skills, and ability to communicate effectively and build relationships with colleagues and stakeholders at all levels.
- Work effectively in a team, being flexible and adaptable to support the wider team and division and complete all work to a high standard.

**Benefits**:

- Alongside your salary of £32,222, Department for Education contributes £8,699 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 paid for by DfE, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.

As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities.

Things you need to know

**Selection process details**:

- This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Strengths and Experience.**Application**

**Sift**

The CV and statement will be assessed against the essential criteria detailed in the advert.

**Interview**

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.

**Other Information**

Please be aware that this