Assistant Private Secretary to the Director / Deputy Director of Communications Directorate

+ The Assistant Private Secretaries to both the Director and the Deputy Directors of Communications, are accountable for the proactive management of their inboxes and diaries. This requires discretion and includes making decisions on the prioritisation of work, meeting deadlines and coordinating meetings with the Director/Deputy Directors and other Private Offices.
+ These roles work closely with the Government Communications Service, plus senior stakeholders within both DWP and across Government.
+ These roles ensure the Director/Deputy Directors understand the part they play in protecting the data of DWP customers and staff. Working with stakeholders within DWP and across Government to ensure accountabilities are in place and are communicated, enabling effective risk ownership and mitigation to support the delivery of DWP objectives and the management of security risks.
+ These roles work closely with the Director/Deputy Directors, ensuring they have the tools/resources in place to deliver business requirements.
As a leader within the DWP Communications Directorate you will:
+ Apply professional expertise to deliver business benefits for the Department, champion value for money and compliance for all financial and governance related activity across the Directorate.
+ Operate in a culture of openness and honesty demonstrating a commitment to change through involvement and empowerment and by delivering results.
+ Engage in a professional manner with colleagues across government.
+ The post holders will be required to work in a flexible way and undertake any other duties requested by line management which are commensurate with the grade and level of responsibility for this post. Both post holders will be required to cover each other as and when needed., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Making Effective Decisions
+ Seeing the Big Picture
+ Communicating and Influencing
+ Delivering at Pace, This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
Selection will be by a written sift, followed by a virtual interview (video)
You will be assessed against experience, behaviours, and strengths.
We’ll assess both what candidates are good at, as well as what they enjoy, to help us measure candidates’ behaviours, strengths and their potential. The assessment process comprises of a written application and for shortlisted candidates, an interview testing both behaviours and strengths.
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
1. Written application
You’ll need to complete a CV and Personal Statement when you apply. Your CV should set out your career history with key responsibilities and achievements. Your Personal Statement (max 500 words) should explain how your personal skills and qualities make you a suitable candidate for this role. Your CV and personal statement will both be assessed against the essential criteria.
If there are a high number of applications received, an initial sift may be undertaken based on the first 3 essential criteria listed above. Candidates who pass the initial sift may progress to a full sift or may go straight to interview.
2. Interview
A ‘blended’ interview lasting around 45 minutes to 1 hour will test a mix of behaviours, and strengths:
It may help to use the WHO or STAR model to explain:
What the task/ work was, How you approached the task/work/situation and what the Outcomes were, what did you achieve? Or What was the Situation? What were the Tasks? What Action did you take? What were the Results of your actions?
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an interview. This will be a video interview. The interview panel will be a minimum of two people.
a. We’ll assess candidates against the following Civil Service Behaviours at HEO level:
+ Making Effective Decisions
+ Seeing the Big Picture
+ Communicating and Influencing
+ Delivering at Pace
b. You’ll also be assessed against two Civil Service Strengths relevant to the role. These aren’t defined by grade
Sift and Interview Dates:
Our anticipated timetable - which may be subject to change - is as follows:
+ Shortlisting will take place commencing 30/09/2024.
+ Interviews will commence W/C 14/10/2024.
+ Interviews will be held via Microsoft Teams. Further details will be provided if you are successful and shortlisted.
+ To apply for this post please follow the instructions in this candidate pack or the job advert on Civil Service Jobs.
+ Please submit your application no later than 29/09/2024 @ 23:55.
If you’re an existing Civil Servant and want to know more about transferring to another Department, refer to your current department’s guidance on transfers within the Civil Service.
3. Selection and Feedback
We will notify all candidates as soon as possible. Feedback will only be provided following an interview.
Candidates should not resign from their current job until all appropriate checks have been successfully completed.
If you’re an existing civil servant and want to know more about transferring to another department, refer to your current department’s guidance on transfers within the civil service.
If you have questions about the role, DWP or the application process, please contact mark.nunn@dwp.gov.uk
Further Information
Find out more about Working for DWP
A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.
Any move to DWP 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
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.
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.
The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. Applications will be screened and if evidence of plagiarism or copying examples/answers from other sources is found, your application will be withdrawn. Internal DWP candidates may also face disciplinary action.
Before applying for this vacancy, current employees of DWP should check whether a successful application would result in changes to their terms & conditions of employment, e.g. mobility, pay, allowances. Civil Servants that would transfer into DWP from other government organisations, following successful application, will assume DWP's terms & conditions of employment current on the day they are posted, unless DWP has stated otherwise in writing.
Reasonable Adjustment
At DWP we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce.
We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:Contact Government Recruitment Service via DWPRecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the “Reasonable Adjustments” 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 you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
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 the Civil 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.

+ Recent experience of working with senior colleagues in a fast-paced Government or a Communications environment with the ability to juggle multiple priorities at once.
+ Strong attention to detail and critical thinking with the ability to understand complex issues.
+ Recent experience of managing a senior leaders busy diary and email inbox, including making decisions on the prioritisation of work and delegation to relevant stakeholders e.g. Impacts meetings which must be attended, delegating actions to the right people.
+ Outstanding written and oral communication skills.
+ Recent experience of working with senior stakeholders, understanding the full implication of any correspondence, and having to alter, rectify, improve or completely re-write.
+ Recent experience of communicating with colleagues across a large organisation, using your networks, judgement and understanding of the wider context to support a senior leader in their work, adding value to the process and decision making.
+ Recent experience of engaging confidently with stakeholders at all levels to convey clear messages on behalf of senior leaders.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is the UK government’s biggest operational department with over 80,000 colleagues delivering services to over 20 million people.
It is implementing the biggest changes to welfare for a generation and our people are radically transforming the way they offer those services to the public.
The role of the Director’s Office is to support the Director of Communications as a member of the Government Communications Service (GCS) and as the Head of Profession for DWP. The Office also supports colleagues within the Communications Directorate, including recruitment, learning and development while ensuring steps are in place to keep them informed of changes and comply with relevant DWP and GCS governance.

+ Learning and development tailored to your role
+ An environment with flexible working options
+ A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
+ A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%
+ 170hrs (23 days) annual leave allowance in year one. This may vary for existing civil servants based on their number of years’ service