Deputy Private Secretary

Job summary

The Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) is a new arm’s-length body set up, at unprecedented pace, to administer compensation to people whose lives have been impacted by the infected blood scandal.

IBCA will ensure payment is made in recognition of the wrongs experienced by those who have been infected by HIV, Hepatitis B or C, as well as those who love and care for them. They have been frustrated and distressed by the delays in achieving proper recognition, and we must help put this right.

We are committed to putting the infected and affected blood community at the centre of every decision we make and every step we take to build our organisation to deliver compensation payments.

IBCA employees will be public servants. If successful in this role you will be appointed directly into IBCA, on IBCA terms and conditions as a public servant.

Successful applicants will join the Civil Service Pension Scheme.

Please note that the mission of IBCA means that it is likely to be fully operational for a period of approximately up to 5 years, after which IBCA will become a smaller residual service. When IBCA’s work begins to wind down, IBCA employees will receive support and practical guidance to find a new role, whether in the Civil Service, another Arms Length Body (ALB), or an external employer.

Job description

The role of IBCA’s Private Office is to get their principle to the right place, at the right time, with the right information to make the right decision. As Deputy Private Secretary, you will play a pivotal role within the Private Office, providing high-level operational and administrative support to the CEO/Director and senior leaders across the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA).

You will report directly to the Private Secretary and work as part of the ‘One Private Office’ operating model, contributing to a 30-person network operating in a high-stakes executive environment.

You will work in a fast-paced, high-profile environment, ensuring seamless alignment between operational delivery and IBCA’s wider objectives.

In this capacity, you will help ensure that the Private Secretary can effectively support both the Chief of Staff and the CEO in delivering strategic priorities and maintaining seamless executive operations.

You will be part of a team supporting the CEO/Director and senior leaders across IBCA undertaking key tasks to ensure the delivery of this vital service.

Key Responsibilities

• Monitor and prioritise the CEO/Director’s inbox, taking appropriate actions and ensuring timely progress.
• Identify and analyse emerging issues for resolution, and horizon-scan for future risks and opportunities.
• Build and sustain strong relationships with senior leaders and stakeholders across IBCA.
• Liaise with and influence key stakeholders within IBCA, understanding connections and dependencies across different sectors, and working effectively with others to ensure IBCA objectives are aligned.
• Accurately represent the CEO/Director’s views in discussions, correspondence and meetings; flag challenges and risks and escalate as required.
• Provide support on high-profile and sensitive issues with attention to detail..
• Ensure the Private Office works as a high-performing team, balancing demands effectively, delivering in a timely way, and supporting the development of individuals within the team.
• Undertake line management responsibilities, ensuring accountability for those you lead.
• Lead, support or coordinate engagement and political visits when required.
• Draft briefings and commission work with various stakeholders.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

We are looking for someone with:

• Experience of working in a fast‑paced, pressurised environment, with the ability to reprioritise using sound judgement, understand the risks of reprioritisation, multi‑task, and deliver to tight deadlines within a complex, agile landscape.(Lead Criteria)
• The ability to work within ambiguity, offer innovative solutions and make sound decisions, exercising judgement and aligning with corporate strategy and priorities to advance delivery.
• Experience building effective working relationships, providing leadership and coaching, and acting as an effective channel of communication between teams across IBCA.
• Experience owning and coordinating responses to commissions, and providing effective secretariat support for key meetings, including tracking and managing papers and actions.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, including experience influencing senior colleagues at Grade 6 level and above and developing relationships across all grades to improve working relations and delivery.

Desirable Criteria

• Previous Private Office experience, including supporting leaders at Director level

Additional information:

A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Whilst we welcome applications from those looking to work with us on a part time basis, there is a business requirement for the successful candidate to be able to work at least 30 hours per week.

Behaviours

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

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

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £48,912, Infected Blood Compensation Authority contributes £14,169 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).

• Premium allowance paid monthly after probation
• 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%
• 32.5 days of paid annual leave plus 8 bank holidays
• Family friendly policies to support you and your everyday responsibilities
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave, up to 12 months shared parental leave

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, Strengths and Experience.

Application information

As part of your application, you will be asked to complete an anonymised CV, which should include your career history, skills, experience and qualifications.

You will also be asked to complete a Personal Statement, of no more than 1250 words, that demonstrates how you meet the Essential Skills for the role.

At sift, you will be assessed on your CV/Personal Statement. Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the Lead Criteria.

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to interview.

Should you be successful at sift, you will be invited to attend an interview where you will be assessed on behaviours and strengths.

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date – week commencing 26th October or 2nd November

Expected interview date/s – week commencing 9th or 16th November

Interview location - Your interview will be conducted in person at the Newcastle Office.

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 via IBCA.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk 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 interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Sponsorship

IBCA recruitment policy limits Skilled Worker visa sponsorship solely to roles designated as business-critical (internal role not prioritised as hard to fill). Because this position does not fall into that category, we will not be offering sponsorship. Therefore, to be considered for this role, you must be able to demonstrate your right to work in the UK without requiring employer sponsorship.

Further Information

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

Any move to IBCA 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; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

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

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 IBCA if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

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: IBCA employees are public servants, therefore the Civil Service Nationality Rules (CSNR) do not apply. Candidates who do not meet the CSNR are welcome to apply and applications will not be rejected: successful candidates however will be subject to a Right to Work check to work within the UK.

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

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.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.

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

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 : Ibca Recruitment
• Email : Ibca.Recruitment@ibca.org.uk

Recruitment team

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

Further information

Our recruitment and selection processes are underpinned by the requirement of selection for appointment on the basis of merit by a fair and open competition. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact the Resourcing Team at IBCA.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Attachments

Employee Offer (2) Opens in new window (pdf, 1851kB)