Ministerial Lead Drafter

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

- 273475**Salary**:

- £30,332**Job grade**:

- Higher Executive Officer**Contract type**:

- Permanent**Business area**:

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

- Operational Delivery**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
- 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

Ministerial, or Private Office correspondence is a Department of State function and performance is reported to Cabinet Office on a regular basis.

As a Lead drafter you will be responsible for submitting signature ready replies to correspondence, drafted by your team, to Private Office in time for the Minister to sign within the timeliness deadlines.

The role will primarily be based in Sheffield but will involve cross-site work with the correspondence teams and private offices based in London.

We are striving for world-class education, training, care for everyone whatever their background. For a more productive economy and so everyone has the chance to reach their potential and live a more fulfilled life.

We have a strong culture of inclusion and diversity and are committed to being an equal opportunities employer. We aim to develop all our staff to enable them to make a full contribution to meeting the Department's objectives, and to fulfil their own potential. We promote and support the use of a range of flexible working patterns to help staff to balance home and work

We support this culture though our 11 staff networks, including the BAME, LGBT+, Carers and EU/EEA Nationals networks.

**Job description**:
Each Minister has a Lead Drafter to organise and manage a drafting team, overseeing quality and timeliness whilst ensuring each written response reflects the Department’s policy clearly and accurately.

Producing replies to correspondence for your Minister will require a strong grasp of written English, and you will need to support your team in drafting to the same high standards of accuracy. As well as mastering grammar and your Minister’s preferences, Lead Drafters need to be tactful and sensitive to ensure that the tone and content of all responses are suitable for the correspondent and the situation.

In addition to strong written communication skills this opportunity would be perfect for someone looking to develop leadership and managerial skills as you will be expected to line manage and support your immediate drafting team, as well as manage your Minister’s caseload to make sure cases are progressed on time.

You will need to keep your team briefed and motivated, allocating work to make the most of their strengths, while ensuring they are stretched, coached and supported.

Due to team structures and priorities, you can be expected to work flexibly and support colleagues across all our business areas. You will also be expected to work closely with ministerial offices and negotiate with teams across the department where necessary to obtain policy lines or to resolve tricky or hard to place cases.

You will be supported in your role by the operational team leader (SEO) and senior managers. You will also play an important role in supporting drafters, by ensuring that their wellbeing is protected. You will need to have a high level of personal organisation, communication and think creatively under pressure.

**Person specification**:
The successful applicants will be expected to demonstrate the Departmental behaviours expected of the HEO grade. In particular:

- Strong communication skills and the ability to confidently engage with contacts across the Department
- Good level of written English and strong attention to detail.

Civil Service Competency Framework and Model Grading Guidance

**Essential Criteria**:

- Strong written communication and drafting skills. You can communicate clearly with people at all levels, changing the structure and style of communication to meet the needs of the audience.
- Strong leadership and operational skills. Confident in leading and managing a team to deliver in a fast paced and challenging environment.
- Excellent organisation skills. You can understand and manage a work queue and prioritise tasks to make sure that tasks are completed on time.
- You enjoy working with people. You work well with different personalities and know how to get the best out of them, whether in your team or amongst your peers and stakeholders.
- Resilient, tenacious an