DIT Jobs 2023 – Private Secretary

About the job

Location

Darlington, London

Job Summary

About the job

We are looking for a high performing candidate to lead the Global Supply Chains (GSC) Private Office and Business Support team, as Private Secretary to the Director.

GSC is the DIT directorate which works across government to strengthen global critical supply chains, improving the UK’s security and economic resilience through international trade. The Private Office and Business Support team supports the Director and Deputy Directors to manage and deliver their priorities, and the wider SLT to manage the directorate.

This is a line management role, managing 3 x EO colleagues.

The successful candidate will personally support the Director as Private Secretary. They will lead their team to be an effective conduit between SLT and the directorate, facilitating communication and delivery . They will represent SLT’s priorities to the directorate, ensuring business is delivered in a timely and effective way , and drive join-up amongst teams by recognising connections and being aware of the full range of GSC business. They will maintain oversight of directorate knowledge management, and regularly update core directorate knowledge products , and will provide secretariat to senior meetings as required.

This role is a great opportunity for a focused, independently minded candidate seeking exposure to senior leadership and decision-making, with strong organisational skills and a personable, collaborative, can-do approach. The role will provide wide-ranging connections, insight into leadership and management, and exposure to one of the most fascinating and important business areas in DIT.

Job Description

• Organising and delivering high quality, efficient and effective support services that meet the Director’s and the Directorates business objectives.
• Managing and organising the day-to-day logistics of the Director’s diary including meetings and briefings.
• At times you will be required to deal with sensitive issues – you will act with diplomacy and maintain confidentiality at all times.
• Act as the Secretariat for Senior Leadership Team meetings.
• Take responsibility for commissioning work and actions on behalf of the Director for upcoming meetings to timescales that allow for successful delivery.
• Keep informed, through discussion with Directors and others, of live and forthcoming issues so that you can spot linkages between activities and plan activities in the diary effectively.
• Support the project team’s delivery against business objectives. Effectively manage staff to provide support across the directorate.
• Effectively present issues and recommendations to senior colleagues.
• Produce effective written communications for a range of stakeholders.
• This post involves the line management of three EO team members.

Hybrid working

The role will be based in either Darlington or London. You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process.

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

Informal hybrid working arrangements will be available as agreed with the vacancy manager and in line with the requirements of the role.

Most DIT employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending 2-3 days a week (pro rata) in an office, on average. If your office location is London, you will be eligible to receive London weighting.

Appointments will be made to candidates in merit order based on location preferences.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Have the ability to plan, organise and work well under pressure – managing conflicting demands effectively.
• Have effective and confident communication skills – an ability to liaise with staff at all levels effectively and communicate with clarity and confidence.
• Have the ability to learn quickly and work autonomously and within a team – exercising sound judgement and taking the initiative.

Personal Attributes & Skills

You will work collaboratively, quickly building successful and influential relationships with colleagues in the business.

You will be confident in working with senior stakeholders and support them in a considered and professional manner.

You will get things done, demonstrating excellent prioritisation skills and a business-minded approach to completing outcomes and learning from delivery.

You will communicate effectively to inspire colleagues and stakeholders to achieve desired outcomes.

Support in applying for our vacancies is available by joining a virtual . These sessions include helpful tips and advice on the recruitment process, from application to interview.

Behaviours

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace
• Developing Self and Others

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using

We are closely monitoring the situation regarding the coronavirus, and will be following central Government advice as it is issued. There is therefore a risk that recruitment to this post may be subject to change at short notice. In addition, where appropriate, you may be invited to attend a video interview.

Please continue to follow the application process as normal and ensure that you check your emails regularly as all updates from us will be sent to you this way.

Sift will take place week commencing 24/10/2023.

Interviews will take place week commencing 31/10/2023.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement.

Please align your CV with previous skills and experience. Maximum of 2 A4 pages.

In your personal statement, please explain your motivation for applying for this role and the extent to which you satisfy the essential and personal attributes & skills requirements of the role. Maximum word count of 500.

Candidates who pass the sift will be progressed to assessment/interview.

For this role, the Department will not consider sponsoring a visa or issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship. Please note we are unable to offer advice on any Visa and Immigration cases.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Please note – the successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 18 months before being released for another role.

The Department for International Trade embraces and values diversity in all forms. We welcome and pride ourselves on the positive impact diversity has on the work we do, and we promote equality of opportunity throughout the organisation.

Please note – harmonised terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to the Department for International Trade 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

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via [email protected] as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
• Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.

Vetting Requirements

SC

All security clearances require you to provide evidence of your UK footprint where you have been physically present in the UK. The requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for 3 of the last 5 years. Failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected.

If you require SC clearance you will need to provide evidence of the below requirements.

Checks Will Be Made Against

• Departmental or company records (personnel files, staff reports, sick leave reports and security records)
• UK criminal records covering both spent and unspent criminal records
• Your credit and financial history with a credit reference agency
• Security Services records

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

Security

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is

People working with government assets must complete

Nationality Requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

Working for the Civil Service

The

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

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.

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction.

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 : Davinia Hoggarth
• Email : [email protected]

Recruitment team :

• Email : [email protected]

Further information

Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of appointment on the basis of fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles.

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact DIT by email: [email protected].

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment.

For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: Click