Senior Parliamentary Capability Manager

Job summary

The Government People Group exists to work with departments, professions, and functions to build a modern, effective Civil Service. We support the government workforce with the right skills and capability. We are working with leaders to get the right people in the right jobs, with the right skills and continuous learning to excel in their roles.

Government Skills, formally Government Skills and Curriculum unit, sits within Government People Group. It was created in 2020 to improve the coherence and quality of learning and development in government through better training, knowledge and networks. This is an exciting time of growth for Government Skills with new positions being created to support the move to a new operating model aimed at reducing the cost of learning and improving the quality of outputs.

The Parliamentary Capability Team sits within Government Skills. Its role is to provide a programme of activities and resources designed to build parliamentary capability amongst civil servants. Responding effectively to parliamentary scrutiny has been identified as a priority by ministers.

This role will involve developing and delivering a wide range of parliamentary capability training to civil servants of all departments and grades, as well as working with the government’s business managers in parliament to identify and respond to emerging capability needs.

Job description

As Senior Parliamentary Capability Manager you will develop and deliver a wide range of parliamentary capability training to civil servants of all departments and grades, as well as work with the government’s business managers in Parliament to identify and respond to emerging capability needs.

This is a demanding and stretching role. You will be given responsibility for specific programmes from the start, and will be expected to deliver at pace. In return, you will develop a unique understanding of how the government’s business in parliament is managed, and the drivers and pressures that inform that work. No two weeks are the same - your work may range from explaining PQs to policy officials, to designing programmes to support scrutiny of secondary legislation, ensuring that ministers and officials know how to take bills through parliament, or training Senior Civil Servants on supporting ministers at select committees.

The postholder will:
● Lead the design, development and delivery of bespoke parliamentary learning programmes.
● Manage up to two HEOs.
● Deliver high-quality parliamentary training to civil servants of all grades and departments.
● Manage effective working relationships with the Office of the First Parliamentary Counsel, the Leaders of the both Houses offices, departmental parliamentary teams, ministerial private offices and officials in both Houses.
● Help to scope and assess parliamentary capability standards across government - and build training solutions for any identified gaps.

Person specification

Essential skills and experience required for the role:

• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to absorb complex processes and explain them to a range of audiences.
• Strong operational leadership - the postholder will need to plan and deliver a number of complex and fast-moving programmes, at pace.
• Demonstrable working knowledge of the UK Parliament.
• Confidence in dealing with senior stakeholders.
• Ability to lead and motivate colleagues.
• Experience in developing stakeholder networks and strategic partnerships.

Desirable skills and experience:

• Experience of, or a demonstrable interest in, the government’s work in Parliament.
• Experience of public speaking or presenting to a range of audiences.
• Interest in how adults learn, or willingness to learn.

Please note: this role requires candidates to obtain Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) level security clearance if they do not already hold it.

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.

Behaviours

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

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

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £47,670, Cabinet Office contributes £13,809 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• 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
To apply for this role, submit the following:

• A CV (include your employment history)
• A Personal Statement/Statement of Suitability (maximum 750 words) setting out how you meet the essential and desirable criteria for the role set out in the person specification.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the Personal Statement. Successful applications at this stage may move on to a full sift or to interview.

Selection process

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an online interview, detailed information will be provided to successful candidates following the sift. The interview will consist of:

• A short presentation to assess experience of the criteria for the role.
• Questions to assess the following behaviours: Seeing the Big Picture, Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace and Leadership.

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date – w/c 26 January 2026
Expected interview date/s – w/c 9 February 2026
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.

Further Information

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

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.

Reasonable Adjustment

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 cabinetofficerecruitment.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.

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 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.

Please note that this role requires CTC clearance, which would normally need 3 years’ UK residency in the past 3 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 be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter

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

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

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

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 counter-terrorist 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 : Daniel Wood
• Email : daniel.wood1@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, 94kB)