Principal Private Secretary to the House of Lords Business Managers

Job summary

The Office of the House of Lords Business Managers, part of the Government in Parliament Group within the Cabinet Office, is structured into three sections: a) the Leader's private office, b) the Chief Whip's private office and outer office (handling business management and members), and c) the Whips' office (providing Personal Assistance and limited Private Secretary support to six additional whips, each representing several government departments).

Beyond private office support and facilitating Ministers' roles in the Royal Household, the office performs two main functions: business management (scheduling legislation and other business) and providing advice to Ministers and Whitehall on the Lord's' handling of constitutional and parliamentary business, including procedure and practice. Given the business managers' role in Parliament, their private offices are central to the interface between government, parliament, and party politics.

The Principal Private Secretary reports to the First Parliamentary Counsel, acting as head of office. This role involves managing fifteen staff (plus oversight of four Special Advisers) and a budget of around £1,700,000.

In addition to standard Principal Private Secretary duties, this role has specific responsibilities: personally managing the programme of Government primary legislation in the House of Lords under the principal's direction, and serving as the main official channel of communication between opposition and government business managers in the Lords (known as "the usual channels").

Job description

Main Objectives

• Oversee and deliver the Government's legislative programme in the House of Lords: Contribute to planning, negotiate scheduling with opposition parties, and facilitate the passage of bills, liaising with the House of Commons, Parliamentary Business and Legislation Secretariat, No.10, House of Lords authorities, and other Whitehall Departments.
• Manage all other Lords business: Arrange day-to-day business in the Chamber and Grand Committee via the Government Whips’ Office, and produce the weekly Forthcoming Business document.
• Provide high-quality private office support to 10 Ministers: Offer timely and accurate procedural advice to the Leader, Chief Whip, Deputy Chief Whip, Deputy Leader, and six Whips.
• Advise on Lords parliamentary business and policy angles: Support Cabinet Office teams and other Government Departments (especially Parliamentary Business and Legislation Secretariat, Cabinet Office Parliamentary Adviser, Constitution Group, No.10, and Bill Teams) on Lords procedure, conventions between Houses, policy relating to the Lords (e.g., Brexit-related procedural changes, Lords reform, appointments), and the Restoration and Renewal of the Palace of Westminster.
• Manage briefing for the Leaders on domestic committees: Oversee and ensure quality briefing for the Leader, Chief Whip, and Deputies for committees including the House Commission, Procedure, Privileges & Conduct, Liaison, Services, Finance, and Restoration and Renewal Client Board.
• Maintain strong relationships: Promote and maintain constructive and effective working relationships with the usual channels and the House of Lords administration.
• Lead the Lords business managers’ team: Line manage fifteen staff, liaise with four Special Advisers, and manage an annual budget of approximately £1,700,000.

Key Internal and External Relationships

• The Leader of the House, Chief Whip, Deputy Chief Whip, Deputy Leader, and Government Whips.
• Business managers in both Houses, in government and opposition, including the government and opposition front benches and the Convenor of the Crossbench Peers.
• Officials across Whitehall, particularly:

Commons: Principal Private Secretary/House of Commons Chief Whip.

No 10: Prime Minister’s Private Secretaries and the Director of Legislative Affairs.

Cabinet Office: Parliamentary Business & Legislation Secretariat and Constitution Group.

• Members of the House of Lords.
• The House of Lords Administration.

Line Management and Budgetary Responsibilities

• Staffing: Line management for fifteen staff and responsibility for four Special Advisers. The Cabinet Office delegates most HR functions (including recruitment, reward, and performance management) to the office.
• Budget: Manages an annual budget of approximately £1,700,000. This single budget is monitored both individually and as part of the Government in Parliament Group (with the Commons business managers and the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel).

Person specification

It is important that, through your CV and supporting statement that you provide evidence of the professional skills, breadth of experience and personal qualities for this post.

Essential Criteria:

• Experience of exercising sound judgement in a fast moving and political environment.
• Good knowledge and understanding of Parliamentary procedure, governance and processes and the handling of legislation; and ability to give clear and authoritative advice on Lord procedure and handling
• Personal resilience and the ability to work at pace and manage multiple priorities under pressure.
• A track record of strong and inclusive leadership skills, ability to lead a diverse team through change
• Excellent written and oral communication and negotiation skills and the ability to communicate effectively with ministers and other senior stakeholders

Desirable Criteria:

• Substantial previous experience of working with Parliament and/or the legislative programme
• Previous experience of having delivered a project or programme, including when dealing with political stakeholders
• Previous experience of collaborating and partnering with departments across Whitehall
• Previous private office experience

Behaviours

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

• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £81,000, Cabinet Office contributes £23,465 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Whatever your role, we take your career and development seriously, and want to enable you to build a really successful career within the Office and wider Civil Service. It is crucial that our employees have the right skills to develop their careers and meet the challenges ahead, and you’ll benefit from regular performance and development reviews to ensure this development is ongoing. As a Civil Service employee, you’ll be entitled to a large range of benefits.

This includes:

• 25 days annual leave on entry, increasing on a sliding scale to 30 days after 5 years’ service. This is in addition to 8 public holidays.
• This will be complimented by one further day paid privilege entitlement to mark the King’s Birthday;
• A competitive contributory pension scheme that you can enter as soon as you join where we will make a significant contribution to the cost of your pension; where your contributions come out of your salary before any tax is taken; and where your pension will continue to provide valuable benefits for you and your family if you are too ill to continue to work or die before you retire;
• Generous paid maternity and paternity leave which is notably more than the statutory minimum offered by many other employers;
• Childcare benefits (policy for new employees as of 5 April 2018): The government has introduced the Tax- Free Childcare (TFC) scheme. Working parents can open an online childcare account and for every £8 they pay in, the government adds £2, up to a maximum of £2000 a year for each child or £4000 for a disabled child. Parents then use the funds to pay for registered childcare. Existing employees may be able to continue to claim childcare vouchers, so please check how the policy would work for you here: https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/childcare-vouchers;
• Interest-free loans allowing you to spread the cost of an annual travel season ticket or a new bicycle;
• The opportunity to use onsite facilities including fitness centres and staff canteens (where applicable);
• Occupational sick pay.

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.

To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process, outlined below. This should be completed no later than 23:55pm, Tuesday 7th April 2026.

1. A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
2. A Statement of Suitability (no longer than 1250 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role.

Failure to complete both sections of the online application form (CV and Statement of Suitability) will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification.

As part of the online application process, you will be asked a number of diversity-related questions. If you do not wish to provide a declaration on any of the particular characteristics, you will have the option to select 'prefer not to say’. See the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy for more information.

Should you encounter any issues with your online application please get in touch with us via: scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Shortlist

Your application will be acknowledged when it is received.

A panel, including the hiring manager, will assess your application to select those demonstrating the best fit with the role by considering the evidence you have provided against the criteria set out in the ‘Person Specification’ section. Failure to address any or all of these may affect your application.

The timeline later in this advert indicates the date by which decision is expected to be made, and all longlisted and shortlisted candidates will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible thereafter.

Assessment

If you are shortlisted, you may be asked to take part in a series of assessments which could include psychometric tests and/or a staff engagement exercise. These assessments will not result in a pass or fail decision. Rather, they are designed to support the panel’s decision making and highlight areas for the panel to explore further at interview. For more information about the assessment process, please follow this link: https://scs-assessments.co.uk/

If you are successful at the application stage, you will be invited to attend a panel interview, in order to have a more in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification. We will be assessing against the success profile Behaviours at interview.

Successful shortlisted Candidates will be invited to meet the principals on the 16th of April at the House of Lords for an informal chat. Please note this is not part of the formal assessment process.

Full details of the assessment process will be made available to shortlisted candidates. If you are required to prepare a presentation for the final interview you will be given the subject in advance.

If we receive applications from more suitable candidates than we have vacancies for at this time, we may hold suitable applicants on a reserve list for 12 months, and future vacancies in the Civil Service requiring the same skills and experience could be offered to candidates on the reserve list without the need for a new competition.

Indicative Timeline

We will try and offer as much flexibility as we can, but it may not be possible to offer alternative dates for assessments or interviews. You are therefore asked to note the below timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process, in order to meet the dates given. Please note that these dates may be subject to change.

The anticipated timetable is as follows:

Advert Closing Date: 23:55, Tuesday 7th April 2026

Shortlist: Thursday 9th April 2026

Meeting with Principles: Thursday 16th April 2026 at the House of Lords

Assessment & Interview: Friday 17th April 2026 at 1 Horse Guards Road

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: scscandidate.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.

Reserve lists:

We may hold suitable applicants on a reserve list for 12 months, and future vacancies in the Civil Service requiring the same skills and experience could be offered to candidates on the reserve list without the need for a new competition.

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.

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; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

Current Civil Servants (all contract types) will need to ensure that they are still employed as a civil servant at the point of starting in the relevant new post. If their contract ends (e.g. end of FTA contract or resignation) at any point during the recruitment/onboarding process for the advertised role, they will no longer be eligible and may be withdrawn.

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.

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.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise.

As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a 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.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 : GRS SCS Recruitment Team
• Email : scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

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

Further information

Civil Service Commission Selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit, on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles.
In accordance with the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles, our recruitment and selection processes are underpinned by the requirement of appointment on the basis of merit by fair and open competition. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance you should contact; scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commission at info@csc.gov.uk and more information can be found at www.civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk

Attachments

453481 - Final Candidate Information Pack (1) Opens in new window (pdf, 758kB)453481 - Accessibility Pack (2) Opens in new window (docx, 427kB)