Private Secretary

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

- 325606**Salary**:

- £32,222**Job grade**:

- Higher Executive Officer**Contract type**:

- Permanent**Business area**:

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

- Administration / Corporate Support
- Secretarial**Working pattern**:

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

- 1Contents

Location

About the job

**Benefits**:
Things you need to know

Location
- Darlington, North East England, DL1 5QE : Manchester, North West England, M1 2WD : Sheffield, Yorkshire and the Humber, S1 2FJAbout 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

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Directorate Support Team (DST) within the Pupil Wellbeing and Safety Directorate, part of Schools Group. You will join the DST as we enter the next stage of our change programme and continue to develop our support offer to the directorate.

As a team we are responsible for planning, managing and reporting on Directorate budgets; managing and leading on a People programme of work; supporting risk management and assurance responsibilities; coordinating business planning activity and directly supporting SCS colleagues.

You will take on a role within a team that is vital in supporting leadership across the directorate.

**Job description**:
This is an exciting and high-profile role supporting the Director of Pupil Wellbeing and Safety Directorate to perform and deliver the maximum benefit to the department and the wider civil service. The role requires excellent communication skills, strong judgement, the ability to manage upwards and confidence in advising senior leaders. The post holder will focus on ensuring the smooth running of the Director’s Private Office, enabling the Director to lead and manage the Directorate’s business effectively.

**Key Responsibilities**:

- Daily management and delivery of Private Office functions to drive forward priorities and enable the Director to lead and manage departmental business effectively including assisting in producing high quality briefings to prepare for meetings;
- Acting as the secretariat for Directorate’s weekly SMTs, organising the agenda and ensuring attendance is maintained and reviewed;
- Providing clear commissions and steers to relevant colleagues in advance of meetings and events and obtaining contributions from all appropriate stakeholders;
- Supporting the Directorate Support Team more broadly, and acting as a mentor for Private Assistant’s in the team.

**Person specification**:
Providing close administrative support to senior civil servants is a role that provides unique challenges and opportunities. We are looking for someone to be able to demonstrate experience of these essential criteria:
**Essential Criteria**
- Experience of examining complex information and providing advice and feedback to support others, to help inform accurate decisions.
- Experience of developing good working relationships with stakeholders and communicating effectively with colleagues at all levels, including proactively seeking feedback from colleagues and senior leaders.
- You will be confident in presenting information to the Deputy Director’s and Director, and be able to articulate clear messages and guidance.
- You will have strong judgement and risk awareness, be able to anticipate problems before they arise and work with the team lead to create solutions.

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

- Communicating and Influencing
- Making Effective Decisions

**Benefits**:
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, with an average employer contribution of 27%.

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