Governance and Comms Officer

Job summary

This role sits at the heart of the Risk and Governance Secretariat, providing high-quality administrative and logistical support to ensure the smooth running of Board and Committee operations. The post-holder will work closely with the Board Secretary to support governance processes, manage logistics for senior-level meetings, and coordinate arrangements for Non-Executive Directors (NEDs).

The role also provides day-to-day support to the Head of Communications, assisting with a range of communications activities including digital projects. The post-holder will liaise with colleagues across the organisation, including in the Edinburgh office, to support internal communications and storytelling.

This is a varied and fast-paced role requiring strong organisational skills, sound judgement, and the ability to manage competing priorities with professionalism and discretion. The post-holder will work with senior stakeholders including Board members, NEDs, and the wider leadership team, and will be expected to role-model reliability, flexibility, and a proactive approach to delivery.

AI may be used to support the initial screening of applications, particularly where there are high volumes of applicants, to assist with the recruitment process.

N.B. GAD will not work with recruiters for this specific campaign

Job description

As our Governance & Comms Officer, you will provide essential administrative and logistical support across two key areas: governance and communications.

On the governance side, you will assist the Board Secretary in the preparation and administration of Board and Committee meetings, ensuring that invitations are issued, rooms are booked, catering is arranged, and that meetings run smoothly on the day. You will process NED travel and subsistence claims accurately and in line with policy, and coordinate travel arrangements for the Government Actuary and Deputy Government Actuary as required.

On the communications side, you will support the Head of Communications with a range of tasks, including the preparation and formatting of communications materials, assistance with digital projects such as video filming and editing, and liaison with colleagues in the Edinburgh office to gather stories about completed projects for internal communications purposes.

You will also play a key role in supporting the planning and delivery of client-facing and GAD-wide events, providing practical logistical assistance including catering coordination, venue sourcing and booking, and on-the-day support to ensure events run smoothly.

Across all areas, you will contribute to the effective running of the Secretariat, identifying opportunities to improve processes and ways of working, and providing flexible support to the wider team as needs require.

Please note this job description is a broad reflection of the current duties. It is not an exhaustive list and the role may evolve in line with business needs. There will be an expectation to take a flexible, can-do approach and to support across the team as required. Any broader change of scope will be at the discretion of the Board Secretary and discussed in conjunction with the post-holder.

Person specification

Governance & Board Support

• Assist the Board Secretary with the administrative preparation for Board and Committee meetings, including issuing meeting invitations and managing room bookings
• Process NED travel and subsistence claims accurately and in a timely manner, in line with relevant policies
• Coordinate travel arrangements for the Government Actuary and Deputy Government Actuary, including booking transport and accommodation in accordance with organisational policy

Diary, Meeting & Logistics Management

• Provide diary management support to the Board Secretary and other senior stakeholders as required, scheduling meetings and resolving conflicts proactively
• Arrange and set up meetings, both in-person and virtual, including room bookings, video-conferencing links, and technical set-up
• Coordinate catering arrangements for meetings and events, liaising with facilities and external suppliers as appropriate
• Provide on-the-day logistical support for Board meetings, Committee meetings, and wider governance events, including welcoming attendees and managing room set-up
• Support the planning and delivery of client-facing and GAD-wide events, assisting with venue sourcing and booking, catering coordination, and on-the-day logistics

Communications Support

• Provide administrative and logistical support to the Head of Communications across a range of communications activities
• Assist with the preparation, formatting, and distribution of communications materials as directed, with particular support for digital projects such as video filming and editing
• Liaise with colleagues in the Edinburgh office to identify and gather stories about completed projects for internal communications purposes

General Team Support

• Contribute to the effective running of the Risk and Governance Secretariat, providing flexible support across the team as workloads require
• Identify opportunities to improve administrative processes and ways of working, suggesting improvements to the Board Secretary

This job description is a broad reflection of the current duties. It is not an exhaustive list, and changes may be required, based on GAD’s immediate operational needs and strategic priorities which are at the discretion of the HR Director and in conjunction with the post holder.Provide diary management support to the Board Secretary and other senior stakeholders as required, scheduling meetings and resolving conflicts proactivelyArrange and set up meetings, both in-person and virtual, including room bookings, video-conferencing links, and technical set-upCoordinate catering arrangements for meetings and events, liaising with facilities and external suppliers as appropriateProvide on-the-day logistical support for Board meetings, Committee meetings, and wider governance events, including welcoming attendees and managing room set-upSupport the planning and delivery of client-facing and GAD-wide events, assisting with venue sourcing and booking, catering coordination, and on-the-day logistics

Behaviours

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

• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

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

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams) and virtual meeting platforms (Essential)
• Experience using SharePoint and/or video editing platforms (Desirable)

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £34,543, Government Actuary's Department contributes £10,007 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).

As well as competitive salaries, we offer a substantial package of benefits:

• Exceptional learning and development opportunities that you can explore alongside your day-to-day work.
• 25 days annual leave per year, increasing to 30 days after 5 years’ service. In addition, we offer 9 days public and privilege days leave per year (pro rata for part time staff)
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• 5 days of paid volunteering leave
• Up to 9 months maternity leave on full pay + generous paternity and adoption leave
• Staff reward and recognition bonuses that operate throughout the year.
• Occupational sick pay
• Family-friendly policies such as help with caring responsibilities, special leave, generous paid maternity, paternity, and adoption leave.
• Access to employee assistance programme which offers staff 24/7 confidential support and resources such as counselling, debt guidance and management advice.
• The opportunity to join a trade union.
• A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity.
• Salary advances for travel costs, including annual season tickets and cycle-to-work schemes.
• Access to the Edenred employee benefits system which offers discounts to popular retailers and access to various useful resources such as financial and savings advice.
• Complimentary BUPA health check.

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 Technical skills.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:

A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you provide employment history that relates to the essential criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained.

A Personal statement of up to 500-words explaining how you meet the essential criteria for the role, with particular reference to the criteria provided in the person specification of the JD.

Your CV and Personal Statement will be used to assess the essential criteria listed in the job description.

During the interview you will be assessed on the experience and behaviours listed in the Person Specification and detailed in this advert. The interview will include a presentation, details of which will be sent to those invited to interview.

Application deadline: 1200 hrs on 20 July 2026

Shortlisting: By w/c 27 July 2026

Interviews: w/c 03 August 2026

Interview location: In office - London, E14 4PU

Please apply via our recruitment portal below.

As part of the application form process, please submit your CV and supporting statement. Please do not email your CV outside of this process as it will not be accepted.

Shortlisting criteria is based on the Person Specification as set out in the Assessment Criteria section of the Job Description. Please ensure you provide examples of how you meet the Assessment Criteria; a strong application will also demonstrate that you meet the required criteria that are identified as key for this role. Applications will be shortlisted in line with the essential criteria for the role. The desirable criteria will not be assessed throughout the recruitment process, but will be used in the event of tied scores between candidates. Behaviours will be assessed at sift and interview stage. Candidates who are successful at shortlist will be contacted as soon as possible and advised of the interview process and assessment (exact times and dates will also be confirmed).

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

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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a 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.

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

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 : Recruitment Team
• Email : recruitment@gad.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@gad.gov.uk

Further information

The Government Actuary’s Department’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the recruitment principles of the Civil Service Commissioner, which outline that selection for appointment be made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitm… If you feel at any time your application has not been treated in accordance with the values in the Civil Service Code and/or if you feel the recruitment has been conducted in such a way that conflicts with the Civil Service Commissioner’s Recruitment Principles, you may make a complaint, by contacting the recruitment team at recruitment@gad.gov.uk in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commissioners.

Attachments

Governance & Comms Officer_EO July 2026 Opens in new window (pdf, 576kB)