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BACKGROUND:

The Northern Ireland Office represents Northern Ireland interests at a UK Government level and UK Government interests in Northern Ireland. We have a wide range of responsibilities, including: underpinning political stability in Northern Ireland; overseeing the Northern Ireland devolution settlement; leading on national security policy in Northern Ireland; addressing the legacy of Northern Ireland’s past; delivering elections and constitutional reform in Northern Ireland; playing a key role in rebalancing the Northern Ireland economy; representing Northern Ireland interests, including around the Irish border, as the UK exits the EU. Our small size and diverse portfolio create a stimulating, fast-paced and challenging working environment, with regular engagement with a range of ministers, senior officials and other stakeholders. We support flexible working and have a modern, flexible IT system which helps enable this. The department values our people, recognising and promoting talent and providing a wide range of opportunities. A strong emphasis is placed on personal and professional development and there is a wide range of groups that staff actively participate in to shape and drive our culture and values.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

This role is located in the Constitution, Rights and Healthcare Policy Group (CRHG) in the Constitution and Identity Rights team. CRHG is made up of five policy-focused teams that lead on a range of issues related to constitutional matters, rights and equalities, elections and health in Northern Ireland. This work extends to supporting rights and identity matters arising from the negotiation between the UK Government and the EU Commission on the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.

The successful candidate will be responsible for taking forward work on a variety of issues relating to the implementation of the Belfast (‘Good Friday’) Agreement and its successors, including supporting the delivery of relevant language, culture, rights and identity commitments set out in the January 2020 “New Decade, New Approach” Agreement that restored devolved government in Northern Ireland, as well as spearheading work to implement the rights elements of the Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol to the Withdrawal Agreement, including oversight of the new “dedicated mechanism” arrangements involving the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. There may also be opportunities to work on other aspects of the Group’s portfolio where additional support and resilience is needed on an ad hoc basis.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

If your application is successful, you will:

• Lead on key policy questions within your area/s, supporting departmental priorities, for example ensuring that Article 2 of the Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol is properly implemented;
• Oversee and support cross-Whitehall delivery of the key language, culture and identity commitments set out in the New Decade, New Approach Agreement;
• Monitor relevant developments in Northern Ireland, including activities of the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly concerning your policy area/s;
• Provide clear, compelling and straightforward advice in writing and in person to ministers and senior officials;
• Work collaboratively with a range of stakeholders across Whitehall, the Northern Ireland Civil Service and with rights and equalities and other external stakeholders in Northern Ireland, championing your policy area and Government priorities;
• Link up relevant work across the department, ensuring a consistent and clear voice is presented across Whitehall and externally across a range of interconnected issues;
• Support your own professional development, promoting a culture in which talent and developmental opportunities are recognised and encouraged.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:

To be successful you must be able to demonstrate that you have:

• Good fundamental policy making skills, with strong written and oral communication; and
• Strong political awareness, with the capacity to understand the wider implications of both your work and that of others, across Government and externally.

DESIRABLE CRITERIA:

It would be desirable, but not essential, for applicants to have one or more of the following:

• An understanding of the political environment in Northern Ireland, including the devolution settlement; 
• Experience of working on human rights and equality issues and/or a good understanding of human rights law and policy;
• Previous experience of working with Ministers (or equivalent senior decision makers) and senior officials

For the essential and desirable criteria please upload a suitability statement of no more than 250 words setting out how you meet the essential/desirable criteria.

BEHAVIOURS:

We will assess you against the following Success Profiles behaviours at Level 3 during the selection process.

• Working together;
• Delivering at pace;
• Seeing the big picture;
• Communicating and influencing;
• Making effective decisions.

More information on behaviours and success profiles can be found here.

The interview will be of a blended nature consisting of behaviours and experience based questions.

Please note that in the event of a large number of applications being received we may run the initial sift on the lead behaviours of Working together and Delivering at pace.

CORONAVIRUS:

We are closely monitoring the situation with regard to coronavirus, and will be following central Government advice as it is issued. There is therefore a risk that recruitment to this post may be subject to change at short notice. Please continue to follow the application process as normal and ensure that you check your emails regularly for any updates from us as this is how we will communicate with you. You should note that interviews may need to take place via video or telephone conferencing and you will be advised of the format if invited to interview.