Chief of Staff

Job summary

The Cabinet Office and HM Treasury (COHMT) operate at the strategic centre of the UK Government, managing a portfolio of circa £5bn to deliver critical policy outcomes. The COHMT Commercial Team’s vision is to be a top-performing function that sets the standard for excellence across the Civil Service. The COHMT commercial team has recently undergone a strategic evolution, transitioning into a highly specialised Commercial Delivery and Operations model. The directorate comprises of two delivery clusters and a third cluster containing central strategy, performance and all enabling functions as well as non-category delivery and commercial portfolio management.

The COHMT Commercial team operates with our core values in mind which are: We are Curious, Collaborative and Kind, we act with Integrity and are Focused on value for money.

This role sits within the Commercial Portfolio, Enablement & Operations cluster and will play a pivotal part in operating alongside the Commercial Leadership Team (CLT) to support the Commercial Directors to deliver their vision of a high performing commercial directorate, delivering optimised commercial outcomes and securing value for money. The role will provide strategic and operational support to the Commercial Directors and Commercial Leadership Team and will have responsibility for the successful function of the Private Office. You will be instrumental in enhancing the overall performance of the Commercial Leadership Team through improving systems and processes, embedding best practice and working to develop best in class Private Office functions. You will be responsible for the line management of the Executive Assistants within the Private Office.

Job description

The successful candidate will have overall responsibility for the following areas:

• Responsible for providing high quality, efficient and effective support to the Directors. This will include routinely demonstrating strong organisational skills whilst working at pace, supporting the Directors to ensure priorities are driven forward and communicated both internally and externally.
• Lead the Private Office function to deliver an effective and efficient delivery service, identifying and delivering continuous improvement opportunities to continually evolve service to the Commercial Directors and Commercial Leadership Team.
• Working alongside the Strategy and Planning manager to ensure internal and externally-shared information is well planned and co-ordinated in line with the Directorate communications strategy and approach.
• Governance: Perform directorate governance, including setting agendas for senior leadership meetings, tracking action items, and unblocking internal bottlenecks.
• Responsible for managing, commissioning and collating information required for the Directorate and the team for reporting purposes or in response to high level queries, tracking and completing actions on behalf of the Directors and facilitating and attending meetings as required, including scheduling, preparing agendas and producing minutes/actions.
• Being the spokesperson for the Commercial Directors where necessary and enabling effective responses to commissions.
• Producing high-quality reports, presentations and submissions tailored to the needs of the audience that are clear, with proportionate detail and engaging as required by the Directors.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships in both CO and HM Treasury Private Offices, ensure all commissions are approached with a view of both Departments and all ALBs.
• Provide a full range of secretarial and administrative support to the Commercial Leadership Team (CLT) and Directors, including the organisation of wider team meetings, routine meetings, and away-days - taking control of the logistics, co-ordination of content with suitable contingencies should any issues arise.
• Building strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders and working collaboratively with senior managers and colleagues across the organisation, and acting as a trusted adviser to the Commercial Directors.
• Holding the highest level of confidentiality for the Commercial Directors, including sensitive personal information, future team and Government policy and decisions.
• Supporting the Commercial Director in building a strong team culture and helping to define and embed core team values.
• Manage and develop a team of Executive Officers.
• PQ & FOI Management: Manage and coordinate the drafting and submission of responses for Parliamentary Questions (PQs) and Freedom of Information (FOI) requests on behalf of the directorate.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Demonstrate the ability to proactively oversee the Private Office and run governance structures, providing robust support to ensure the leadership team operates with maximum efficiency.
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills, both written and verbal, with the poise to interact with stakeholders across all levels of seniority and provide trusted advice.
• Strong aptitude for drafting comprehensive documents, briefings, and high-standard presentational materials with meticulous attention to detail.
• Maintain composure in high-pressure environments, successfully managing multiple deadlines and competing demands to produce high-quality outputs promptly, including experience managing commissions, PQs, and FOI requests.
• Superior organisational and planning capabilities, operating with independence to effectively balance a diverse range of operational, administrative, and support responsibilities.
• Exhibit strong skills in prioritisation and the capacity to deliver succinct updates, ensuring messages are cascaded effectively to maintain team cohesion and transparency.
• Possess superior organisational and planning capabilities, including the aptitude for drafting comprehensive presentations and documents while monitoring team targets and milestones.
• Display high levels of personal resilience and the capability to remain focused and productive when faced with rapidly evolving requirements.
• Prove capable of rapidly grasping new concepts and delivering results at a significant pace
• Operate with independence, taking full ownership of workstreams while effectively balancing a diverse range of responsibilities.

Additional information:

Cabinet Office policy is that a minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. For some roles, due to their nature and the business need, this may be up to 100%. Requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Behaviours

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

• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together
• Seeing the Big Picture

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £59,207, Cabinet Office contributes £17,152 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).

• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• An environment with flexible working options.
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
• A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and employer contributions of 28.97%.
• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30.

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 and Experience.

Application process

Please submit a CV, no longer than two pages in length, a separate Statement of Suitability (max: 1000 words) and a number of behavioural statements (max: 250 words each) that outline your suitability for the role and evidence against the behaviours listed.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Please provide a Statement of Suitability (max: 1000 words) to demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria as listed in the 'Person specification' section of the job advert.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the lead Behaviour, Managing a Quality Service.

Selection process

At interview you will will be assessed on your Behaviours and Experience.

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

• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together
• Seeing the Bigger Picture

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date – w/c 2nd November

Expected interview date/s – w/c 9th November

Interview location - Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.

Reasonable adjustments

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 at: cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
• Complete the ‘assistance required’ section in the ‘personal information’ page of your application form to provide information we should be aware of that will enable us to support you further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Further information

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

Please note that this role requires SC clearance, which would normally need 5 years UK residency in the past 5 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

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

Any move to Cabinet Office 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: https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk.

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

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/Disclosure Scotland 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.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

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

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

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.

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.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).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 : COHMT Private Office
• Email : cohmtcommercial@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

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

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and wish to make a complaint, then in the first instance you should contact Government Recruitment Service by email at : cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at info@csc.gov.uk. For further information on the Recruitment Principles and bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/.

Attachments

Cabinet Office Employee Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 302kB)Cabinet Office Terms and Conditions - External 2025-02-20 Opens in new window (docx, 83kB)