Senior policy Adviser – Covid Strategy and Inquiry

14 hours ago


Darlington, County Durham, United Kingdom HM Treasury Full time

If you’re interested in making a difference to people’s lives, the Treasury can offer you an exciting opportunity to influence decision making that affects the whole of the UK. Working at the heart of government, we collaborate across government to promote responsible public spending and drive strong and sustainable economic growth.


About the Team

The Treasury played a central role during the Covid 19 pandemic, and the team sits are the heart of the department leading the Treasury’s response to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry and providing support to high profile witnesses including senior politicians and officials. The team also advises ministers and HMT’s Executive Management Board (EMB) on the reports and recommendations from the Inquiry and work with other government departments to ensure that key lessons are learnt, enabling the government to be better prepared for future crises.


We are a friendly, fun and supportive team of 14 led by a Deputy Director and two E2s (grade 6s). We have a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion – welcoming colleagues from different backgrounds and with different working patterns.


The team also works extremely closely with legal colleagues including the Government Legal Department, Treasury Legal Advisers and our external legal team


About the Job

In this role, you will:

· Leading and overseeing HMT’s response to the Economic Response Inquiry module (Module 9) – HMT led decision making and overall strategy for the economic response to Covid, including totemic measures such as furlough. As such, HMT are likely to be the key material provider for this module. You would provide direction and oversee the cross departmental effort to:

  • Respond to detailed questions from the Inquiry in written corporate statements, ensuring these statements give a clear, comprehensive and compelling account of HMT actions and decision making, supported by documentary evidence. You would lead the team in developing statements with our legal team and seeking input and clearance from the Second Permanent Secretary and current and former senior officials;
  • Support HMT witnesses including past and current senior officials and former ministers, working with them and our legal team to develop their evidence and help prepare them for giving evidence in oral hearings;
  • Oversee HMT’s input to public hearings including opening and closing statements and the team’s hearing monitoring and communication plans;
  • Reflect on the key lessons learnt for HMT in this area and provide timely and robust advice to EMB and ministers on the Inquiry’s recommendations;
  • Work with colleagues from other core departments to respond to the Inquiry’s report and oversee the implementation of recommendations in HMT and across the government.

· Overseeing HMT’s response to the Inquiry’s reports and recommendations on other modules – The Inquiry published its first report, on Module 1 (Preparedness and Resilience) in July 2024 and the government has committed to responding by mid-January 2025. Further reports will follow through to at least 2027. Oversight of the response on each module will be shared between the two E2s, with the split to be agreed upon appointment. You would bring policy leadership and oversight to HMT’s response, including:

  • Preparations for Inquiry reports, including oversight of the response to any warning letters received by HMT in relation to proposed criticisms.
  • Acting as the lead official in HMT in cross-government discussions to develop government’s response to the Inquiry’s reports. You will liaise with teams across HMT to develop consensus positions on key policy decisions, effectively balancing a complex set of objectives.
  • Providing quality advice to ministers and EMB on key developments in the cross-government effort to respond to the report, where their interventions are needed and seek their clearance at the appropriate time.
  • Working with relevant HMT teams to develop and deliver robust procedures for implementing recommendations from the Inquiry, many of which involve complex organisational culture change, to help the department be better prepared for future crises.


As key member of the Covid Strategy and Inquiry Senior Leadership Team and working with the other E2, you will support the Deputy Director in ensuring strong leadership of the team, maintaining a supportive and proactive team culture, deputising and providing leadership resilience. You may lead on discrete corporate priorities within the Covid Team, and potentially also the wider Strategy Planning and Budget Group.

About You

Responding to the Covid Inquiry is one of EMB’s top priorities and a Labour Manifesto commitment, so you should expect to have significant exposure to EMB and ministers. You will need to be a credible and sensitive communicator, develop a strong grip on HMT’s role during the pandemic, and bring sound strategic judgment to the implications of the Inquiry’s work for HMT now. You will need to build trusted relationships with very senior HMT officials and Ministers (both current and former) as well as with other Government departments and our legal team. The nature of the role will shift as the Inquiry moves through its work, and you will need to be proactive in identifying emerging challenges and opportunities for HMT and adapting your and the team’s role accordingly. Experience working on a public inquiry or other processes requiring a strong understanding of legal concepts (such as legislation or Judicial Reviews) is not required but would be beneficial. As well as experience leading complex change within a large organisation


Some of the Benefits our people love

· 25 days annual leave (rising to 30 after 5 years), plus 8 public holidays and the King’s birthday (unless you have a legacy arrangement as an existing Civil Servant). Additionally, we operate flexitime systems, allowing employees to take up to an additional 2 days off each month

· Flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours)

· Generous parental and adoption leave packages

· Access to a generous Defined Benefit pension scheme with employer contributions of 28.97%

· Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme and season ticket advances

· A range of active staff networks, based around interests (e.g. analysts, music society, sports and social club) and diversity

For more information about the role and how to apply, please follow the apply link.


  • Senior Policy Adviser

    3 weeks ago


    Darlington, County Durham, United Kingdom HM Treasury Full time

    If you're interested in making a difference to people’s lives, HM Treasury can offer you an exciting opportunity to influence decision making that affects the whole of the UK!About the TeamHM Treasury's Prudential and Sustainability Team develop policy on prudential banking and sustainable finance. This role sits in the Prudential side of the Team....


  • Darlington, County Durham, United Kingdom HM Treasury Full time

    This is an exciting, stretching, and varied leadership role! The successful applicant will be heading a branch to deliver the government’s priorities and shape the long-term domestic framework for the Asset Management sector, ensuring it remains the global powerhouse that it is today. About the Team The Asset Management Unit is a team of seven which sets...


  • Darlington, County Durham, United Kingdom HM Treasury Full time

    Are you looking for an exciting and stretching role that provides the opportunity to see a policymaking process through from beginning to end, developing, testing, and implementing proposals ? If so, we’d love to hear from you !About the Team Personal Finances and Funds team brings together the strategic oversight of the asset management and consumer...


  • Darlington, County Durham, United Kingdom HM Treasury Full time

    Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to develop specialist expertise in cryptoassets? If so, we’d love to hear from you ! About the Team The Cryptoassets Unit leads on HM Treasury policy development for cryptoassets as financial services, including work to update the UK's regulatory framework address the risks and opportunities posed by this new...


  • Darlington, County Durham, United Kingdom HM Treasury Full time

    Government Policies – the plans we make and actions we take – shape lives. Great policy making is about understanding what needs to change, what problems need to be solved and supporting Ministers to arrive at the best solution to deliver the change. If you’re interested in becoming a Policy Adviser and working on priority issues for the Government,...

  • Policy Adviser

    1 week ago


    Darlington, County Durham, United Kingdom HM Treasury Full time

    If you’re interested in making a difference to people’s lives, HM Treasury can offer you an exciting opportunity to influence decision making that affects the whole of the UK!About the teamThe Climate and Environment Team (CET) acts as the focal point for HM Treasury’s work on climate change, net zero and the natural environment. We lead on embedding...


  • Darlington, County Durham, United Kingdom HM Treasury Full time

    Are you looking to join a welcoming, friendly and diverse team, working at the heart of Government's economic and fiscal objectives? If so, we'd love to hear from you!About the TeamThe Corporate Tax (CT) team work on high-profile and politically important policy measures that are central to the government’s economic and fiscal objectives. This...


  • Darlington, County Durham, United Kingdom HM Treasury Full time

    If you’re interested in making a difference to people’s lives, the Treasury can offer you an exciting opportunity to influence decision making that affects the whole of the UK. Working at the heart of government, we collaborate across government to promote responsible public spending and drive strong and sustainable economic growth!About the TeamThe...


  • Darlington, County Durham, United Kingdom HM Treasury Full time

    If you’re interested in making a difference to people’s lives, the Treasury can offer you an exciting opportunity to influence decision making that affects the whole of the UK. Working at the heart of government, we collaborate across government to promote responsible public spending and drive strong and sustainable economic growth!About the...


  • Darlington, County Durham, United Kingdom HM Treasury Full time

    Are you an experienced economist, looking for a high-profile role at the heart of Government? If so, we’d love to hear from you! About the Team The Macroeconomic Assessment (MA) Team is at the core of the Treasury’s function as an economics Ministry. MA is a friendly, supportive and inclusive team who work collaboratively to deliver our objective of...


  • Darlington, County Durham, United Kingdom HM Treasury Full time

    This is a new role, responding directly to a priority ask of the new Chancellor and her team. The role is an opportunity to play a high-profile part in shaping the growth mission and driving delivery of the Chancellor’s priorities.About the Team The Growth Delivery Unit (GDU) is a new team established to drive delivery of the Chancellor’s priorities and...


  • Darlington, County Durham, United Kingdom HM Treasury Full time

    If you’re interested in making a difference to people’s lives, the Treasury can offer you an exciting opportunity to influence decision making that affects the whole of the UK. Working at the heart of government, we collaborate across government to promote responsible public spending and drive strong and sustainable economic growth!About the TeamThe...


  • Darlington, County Durham, United Kingdom HM Treasury Full time

    Are you looking for an exciting and meaningful role with significant exposure to seniors and special advisors across Whitehall? If so, we'd love to hear from you!About the teamThe Workforce, Pay and Pensions team work closely with teams across Whitehall and HM Treasury to set, deliver and maintain Government’s overarching policy positions on public...


  • Darlington, County Durham, United Kingdom HM Treasury Full time

    Would you like the opportunity to work on important international policy and macroeconomic issues, in an exciting and fast paced area with high ministerial interest? If so, this could be the role for you!About the Team This role is in the Global Economics Team. We are a team of 17 analysts that works at the heart of HM Treasury’s International Group to...


  • Darlington, County Durham, United Kingdom HM Treasury Full time

    The Workforce Pay and Pensions (WPP) team sits at the heart of Public Spending group, working closely with teams across Whitehall to set, deliver and maintain Government’s overarching policy positions on public sector pay and pensions. The team is also responsible for leadership of the implementation of the McCloud remedy. WPP is of crucial importance to...


  • Darlington, County Durham, United Kingdom HM Treasury Full time

    About the Team Government Financial Reporting (GFR) is a friendly and encouraging team of around 30 people that sits in HM Treasury’s Public Spending Group. We pride ourselves on developing technical expertise and working collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders. Working in GFR provides exposure to a broad range of finance, policy and risk...


  • Darlington, County Durham, United Kingdom HM Treasury Full time

    The Treasury is the United Kingdom’s economics and finance ministry.  We are responsible for formulating and implementing the government’s financial and economic policy. Our aim is to raise the rate of sustainable growth and achieve rising prosperity and a better quality of life with economic and employment opportunities for all.   A Treasury...

  • Senior Data Scientist

    3 weeks ago


    Darlington, County Durham, United Kingdom HM Treasury Full time

    Are you an experienced Data Scientist looking for a new challenge? This is an exciting new role, working directly on a priority of the Chancellor and her team, shaping work on the Growth Mission!About the Team As announced by the Chancellor on 8th July 2024, HM Treasury has established a Growth Delivery Unit. Sitting within the Strategy, Planning and Budget...


  • Darlington, County Durham, United Kingdom HM Treasury Full time

    Are you looking to join an encouraging and inclusive team, working collaboratively to provide expert economic analysis to support policy development? If so, we'd love to hear from you!About the TeamThe Macroeconomic Assessment (MA) Team is at the core of HM Treasury’s function as an economics Ministry. We are looking for two Assistant Economists to...

  • Commercial Advisor

    2 months ago


    Darlington, UK, County Durham, United Kingdom Unique Group Full time

    We are currently seeking a Commercial Adviser to join our team in Darlington, UK. This role will report to the Commercial Manager.The purpose of this role is to provide strategic commercial advice, ensuring effective bid management, and optimising commercial performance across our projects. This role requires a blend of strategic insight, commercial acumen,...