We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.
About the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales:
The Office of the Secretary of State for Wales is the face of the UK Government in Wales and the voice of Wales in Westminster. We support the Secretary of State for Wales and his Ministerial team in representing Wales at the heart of Government. We work in partnership with other Government Departments and other stakeholders to deliver a stronger Wales within a strong and prosperous United Kingdom.
This is an exciting time to be involved in devolution-related matters. Strengthening the union of the United Kingdom is more of a priority than ever to this Government and the need for Whitehall departments to understand how to work with the devolved administrations in the context of legislative change has never been greater.
Our departmental values are Commitment, Collaboration, and Quality. These shape how we operate in a challenging, demanding and fast paced environment which requires flexibility, transparency and professionalism.
The Office is based over two sites, with one base in Cardiff and another in London. As an accredited smarter working organisation, we offer considerable flexibility around ‘the way we work’. We have a great technology and an attractive employee benefits package which includes a commitment to investing in the learning & development of our staff.
About the team:
The team operates across a wide range of reserved and devolved policy areas, working to identify opportunities to benefit Wales within emerging UK Government policy and acting to identify issues and resolve misunderstandings. This influence-strong brief requires a flexible approach to engagement and an excellent understanding of the bigger picture.
The Domestic Affairs Team combines its work to progress longer-term, strategic objectives with an agile and responsive role in the department. Team members will frequently be called upon to provide briefing for Ministers or senior officials and provide understanding and insight on the impact of current events on their policy areas. The team consists of a Grade7, Higher Executive Officer and an Executive Officer.
Key responsibilities:
This is a key position within OSSW. The team undertakes strategic policy work, working with other parts of Government and a wider range of stakeholders, to support the Office in delivering on the Secretary of State’s priorities.
This role will involve:
- Providing high quality advice and written briefing to the Secretary of State and Ministers on matters relating to areas of Domestic Affairs.
- Drafting responses to official and Ministerial level correspondence on a range of issues in line with internal procedures and deadlines.
- Researching key information to support Ministers and Senior Officials.
- Working with Other Government Departments across Whitehall, the Welsh Government, and wider external stakeholders in Wales to ensure that Welsh interests are fully reflected in UK Government policy.
- Developing and maintaining effective relationships with internal teams including Private Office and Correspondence Team, working with them to effectively manage expectations and resolve issues where they arise to ensure consistent delivery.
The job description is not intended to be exhaustive and it is likely that duties may be altered from time to time in the light of changing circumstances and after consultation with the postholder.
Person Specification:
The post holder will play a key role in supporting the team to progress the Secretary of State’s priorities and will build effective relationships across Whitehall to deliver the wider UK Government Levelling Up and Union agendas.
Please evidence in your Statement of Suitability how closely you match the essential criteria:
Essential:
- The ability to work independently.
- Proven experience in administrative matters.
- A good command of the English language (GCSE equivalent or higher).
- Experience of drafting, ensuring your work is accurate and precise.
- An ability to communicate confidently with people at all levels and build rapport with important stakeholders.
- Intermediate or advanced IT skills, with specific experience of using Microsoft Office suite.
Desirable:
- Oral and written fluency in Welsh would be desirable but is not essential on this occasion.
Recruitment Process:
This campaign will be undertaken using the Civil Service Success Profile framework. You will need to provide evidence in your application to cover the following behaviours:
- Communicating & Influencing (Lead Behaviour) (Application & Interview)
- Making Effective Decisions (Application & Interview)
- Seeing the Big Picture (Interview only)
- Delivering at Pace (Interview only)
In the event of a high volume of applicants, we will sift only on the lead behaviour to create a shortlist for interview.
Additional Information
The Office of the Secretary of State for Wales is not an employer in its own right. Staff recruited to work at the OSSW will be employees of the Ministry of Justice who provide employment services on our behalf.
This role requires baseline checks (BPSS) and you will need to confirm your employment history for at least 3 years prior to the date of application so that pre-employment checks can be undertaken. If you have spent significant time abroad (a total of 6 months in the past 3 years) you would be required to give a reasonable account of the reasons why.
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