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.
Private Office – Assistant Private Secretary to the Advocate General, the Lord Stewart of Dirleton QC
Overview
The Advocate General for Scotland is a UK Government Minister and is one of the three UK Law Officers. Along with the Attorney General and the Solicitor General for England and Wales, the Advocate General provides legal advice to all UK Government departments on a wide range of issues including human rights and constitutional law. The Advocate General is the UK Governments principal legal adviser on Scots law and its senior representative within the Scottish legal community. The Advocate General is the Minister responsible to the UK Parliament for the Office of the Advocate General. There is no requirement to have a legal background or a background in Scottish Affairs for this role.
The private office is based primarily in Dover House, Whitehall, but the role will require regular visits to Parliament and some travel to the UK Government’s hub in Edinburgh, Queen Elizabeth House. Lord Stewart has an office in all three of these locations. It is a small team comprising the Senior Private Secretary (your line manager), the Assistant Private Secretary and the Diary Secretary.
As a member of private office, you will work on the highest profile issues as part of a dynamic and supportive team and will gain invaluable experience working at the heart of the decision-making process, working directly with the Minister, Senior Civil Servants across the Department and Whitehall, including No10 and a range of external stakeholders on a busy and stimulating portfolio.
Your role will include some core work in managing collective agreement, the minister membership of the Parliamentary Business and Legislation Committee, and likely line management of an EO Diary Secretary, but your specific portfolio can be shaped to your interest and strengths - the current post-holder leads on the international and national security related work of the Minister.
Flexible working
The role is a busy one, but we are committed to making flexible working a part of private office. Currently we are working in a hybrid office/home working, with usually not more than 3 days in the office per week, except during very busy periods. We want to continue this and although you will sometimes need to work outside normal hours (for which private office allowance is provided to compensate), we expect at least 1 or 2 days of home working will be possible in the role.
Job Description
The key responsibilities of the role include:
- Providing an effective channel of communication for the Minister and the rest of Whitehall, with stakeholders and with the public.
- Using your relationships, judgement and understanding of the wider context to support the Minister in their work.
- Providing high quality advice and support to the Minister, driving forward their priorities and supporting policy, parliamentary and media work.
TOP