Business Support Diary Manager

Job summary

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is the UK's largest government department, supporting millions of citizens every day through critical public services. Within DWP, People and Place Group plays a vital role in ensuring the organisation attracts, develops and supports the talented people needed to deliver these services.

We are recruiting a Business Support Diary Manager to join our People and Place Group supporting senior leadership teams within People Services and Resourcing (PSR).

As a Business Support Diary Manager, you will be part of a high-performing Business Support team, where you will provide critical support to the Business Support Manager and two Deputy Directors within the PSR function.

The Business Support Diary Manager plays a critical role in ensuring the smooth and efficient coordination of senior leaders’ time, priorities, and commitments. This role provides high-quality administrative and organisational support, managing complex diaries, scheduling meetings, and acting as a key point of contact for internal and external stakeholders.

The postholder will use strong judgement, attention to detail, and forward planning skills to balance competing demands, anticipate scheduling pressures, and proactively resolve conflicts. They will ensure leaders are fully prepared for meetings through effective briefing coordination and will support wider business operations such as travel arrangements, event logistics, and general administration.

Working in a fast paced environment, the Business Support Diary Manager enables leaders to focus on strategic priorities by providing reliable, flexible, and professional support. The role requires excellent communication skills, discretion, and the ability to build strong working relationships across teams and organisational boundaries.

We are looking for a highly organised and proactive individual who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment and takes pride in delivering an outstanding service.

Job description

The roles and responsibilities for the Business Support Diary Manager will include but not be limited to:

• Acting as a trusted point of contact, providing confident, professional support and helping them maximise the impact of their time and priorities
• Ability to work at pace, managing multiple priorities, demands and deadlines in a busy environment, demonstrating organisational and planning abilities.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to liaise confidently and professionally with senior leaders and a wide range of stakeholders ensuring discretion and sound judgement when handling sensitive information
• Problem‑solving approach, taking initiative to remove barriers, identify solutions, and support the smooth running of leadership activity
• High attention to detail, ensuring accuracy in diary entries, meeting logistics, and coordination of briefing materials
• Supporting planning and coordinating leadership meetings, events, engagement activities and wider business operations.
• Strong diary management skills, with proven experience coordinating complex, high‑volume schedules and adapting to rapidly changing priorities. Experience producing or coordinating briefings, agendas, or meeting packs. Knowledge of travel and event coordination, including logistics planning
• Strong proficiency in digital tools, such as Outlook, Teams, Excel, and other organisational or scheduling systems
• Team oriented mindset, working collaboratively and flexibly to support colleagues and wider business operations
• Understanding of large organisational structures, including navigating multiple teams and governance processes
• Identifying opportunities to improve processes, simplify ways of working and enhance the effectiveness of the Business Support function.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

• Excellent Diary and Time Management Skills: Proven ability to manage complex and demanding diaries, prioritise competing requests, coordinate meetings, and ensure efficient use of senior leaders' time. [LEAD CRITERIA]

• Strong Organisational and Administrative Capability: Demonstrable experience in managing multiple tasks simultaneously, maintaining accurate records, and delivering high-quality administrative support in a fast-paced environment.

• Effective Communication and Stakeholder Management: Ability to build positive working relationships with colleagues and stakeholders at all levels, handling enquiries professionally and communicating clearly both verbally and in writing.

• Planning, Prioritisation and Problem Solving: Ability to anticipate issues, respond to changing priorities, and use sound judgement to resolve scheduling conflicts and operational challenges with minimal supervision.

• Digital and IT Proficiency: Experience using Microsoft 365 applications, including Outlook, Teams, Word and Excel, to manage diaries, organise meetings, maintain information, and support business delivery.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Excellent Diary and Time Management Skills
• Delivering a Quality Service

We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form:

• Excellent Diary and Time Management Skills

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £32,137, Department for Work and Pensions contributes £9,310 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

DWP have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:

• Working patterns to support work/life balance such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
• Generous annual leave – at least 23 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (pro–rata for part time employees), plus 9 days public and privilege leave.
• Support for financial wellbeing, including interest-free season ticket loans for travel, a cycle to work scheme and an employee discount scheme.
• Health and wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme for specialist advice and counselling and the opportunity to join HASSRA a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly).
• Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after 1 year’s continuous service.
• Funded learning and development to support progress in your role and career. This includes industry recognised qualifications and accreditations, coaching, mentoring and talent development programmes.
• An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join professional and interpersonal networks including Women’s Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

To apply for this post, you will need to complete the following actions:

Online Test:

After submission of the first stage of your application, you will be invited to complete a Situational Judgement Test. If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application.

Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 23:55 on 22/09/2026. If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.

Should you require further information on this particular online test, please visit:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/civil-service-online-tests

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/preparing-for-the-civil-service-judgement-test

Our online test supplier will be performing scheduled maintenance between 12:00 and 13:00 on 13/09/2026. You will be unable to access tests during this period.

If you are in the middle of a test when the maintenance begins, your progress will be paused. You will be able to resume your test from where you left off via your application centre once the downtime has ended. Please note that you will not be able to launch any new tests while the system is offline.

Written Sift:

A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. The CV is an on-line tool accessed through the Civil Service Jobsite and there is no requirement to upload your personal CV. Our CV element is short and allows an initial check of eligibility but is not scored so please put the main content of your evidence and skills in your Personal Statement.

A 250-word Technical Statement which will assess the following lead criteria:

"Excellent Diary and Time Management Skills: Proven ability to manage complex and demanding diaries, prioritise competing requests, coordinate meetings, and ensure efficient use of senior leaders' time."

A Personal Statement (maximum 750 words), explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities, and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role against the remainingessential criteria in the person specification.

If we receive a large number of applications, we will conduct an initial sift on the 250-word Technical Statement. If you pass the initial sift, you will be progressed to a full sift or directly to interview.

Please Note: We are not looking at how much time you have spent in a job, but rather how you have performed. Your Technical and Personal Statement must show demonstrable evidence of what you did, why you did it, how you did it, and what outcome was achieved. This should include the impact of your approach and evidence of your ability to take forward different approaches in different circumstances.

Interview:

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an interview lasting up to 45 minutes. This will take place via MS Teams, and the interview panel will be a minimum of two people and assess Behaviours and Technical Skill.

During the first 10 minutes of your interview, you will be assessed on the following Technical Skill: Delivering a Quality Service. This will be assessed using a scenario-based question at interview.

We will also be assessing the following behaviours at interview:

Communicating and Influencing / Seeing the Big Picture / Delivering at Pace

You will be provided with the scenario 5 working days prior to your interview to allow time for preparation. This assessment will evaluate how you would respond to a situation relevant to the role and demonstrate your ability to deliver a quality service at pace. This should be treated as confidential. The interview panel may ask you other questions which will not be shared in advance, including follow-up probing questions. Please note that visual aids or presentation materials will not be permitted during this part of the interview.

Indicative Sift and Interview Timeline:

• Sift week commencing 21st September 2026

• Interviews week commencing 12th October 2026

Hybrid Working:

This role may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in their DWP office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and your office will be your contractual place of work. If a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for the role and for you, you will normally be required to spend a minimum of 60% of your contracted working hours from your DWP office. If you have a disability, caring responsibilities, or other circumstances that may affect your ability to meet the minimum office attendance requirement, please discuss this with us using the contact details in this advert.

Important Information – Visa Sponsorship

Please note that these vacancies are not currently eligible for new applications for Visa Sponsorship on the Skilled Worker route, for any candidates who do not currently have permission to be in the UK as a Skilled Worker where they were sponsored before 4 April 2024, even if relying on tradeable points (including the new entrant tradeable points option) as they are not included in the published Immigration Salary List. This information is offered as guidance only, and we recommend that applicants seek specialist advice on their eligibility for Visa Sponsorship (if applicable) when considering whether to apply for any role.

Further Information​

At the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce.

Find out more about working for DWP on the DWP Careers Hub.

Reserve List

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

If you are placed on a reserve list but we cannot immediately offer you a post, please note:

• If you are later offered the role you applied for, in a location you have expressed a preference for, and you decline the offer or are unable to take up the post within a reasonable timeframe you will be withdrawn from the campaign and removed from the reserve list, other than in exceptional circumstances (e.g. a contractual Part Time Working Pattern cannot be accommodated in the initial role offered or in cases of serious ill health).
• If DWP makes an offer of an alternative role or location to that which you originally applied for, and you decline that offer, you will be able to remain on the reserve list.

Disability Confident Scheme

If high application volumes are received, the benchmark for candidates to proceed to the next stage may be raised. In line with our commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS), we aim to advance all candidates applying under the DCS who meet the minimum standard. However, we may only progress those candidates who best meet the required standards.

Reasonable Adjustments

We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should contact the Government Recruitment Service via DWPRecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the “Reasonable Adjustments” 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 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.

Integrity, plagiarism and Civil Service Principles

The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles.

Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words.

Examples of plagiarism can include:

- Presenting the work, ideas and experience of others as your own

- Copying content or answers from an online or published source that is not your own

Disclosure and Barring Service and Internal Fraud Database Checks

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 Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

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.

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

Important

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

Before applying for this vacancy, current employees of DWP should check whether a successful application would result in changes to their terms & conditions of employment, e.g. mobility, pay, allowances. If you are a current employee and are successful you must be able to be released from your current post within four weeks.

Those on protected TUPE/ COSoP terms and conditions applying on promotion or voluntary permanent level move will adopt DWP’s Terms and Conditions and this may have a different impact on pay and allowances. Please review this prior to acceptance of a role.

Civil Servants that would transfer into DWP from other government organisations, following successful application, will assume DWP's terms & conditions of employment current on the day they are posted, unless DWP has stated otherwise in writing. Accepting a post will be taken to mean acceptance of revised terms & conditions.

Civil Servants applying on promotion will usually be appointed to the salary minimum or within 10% of existing salary.

Any move to DWP 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 the Childcare Choices Website.

Feedback

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).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 : Sarah Day
• Email : sarah.day1@dwp.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : dwprecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s 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 DWP by email: HR.BUSINESSASSURANCE@DWP.GOV.UK.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission. Click here to visit the Civil Service Commission.

Attachments

Success-Profiles-Candidate-Overview Opens in new window (pdf, 635kB)DWP Terms and Conditions January 2024 Opens in new window (docx, 17kB)