Defence Afghan Relocation & Resettlement (DARR) – Executive Assistant to Deputy Directors

This post is advertised as a permanent position as it is expected to be required for at least 2 years and for the life of the DARR Directorate.
This role will be based at MOD Main Building. The team support hybrid working with a mixture of home/office-based working. This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.
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The Defence Afghan Relocations and Resettlement directorate was established in 2022 by the UK Ministry of Defence to administer the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme. ARAP was set up to provide a safe and legal means of relocating to the UK for those Afghans that served for, with or alongside UK Armed Forces in support of the UK mission in Afghanistan. Many thousands of deserving Afghans who kept our troops safe during their deployments in Afghanistan were brought to safety during OP PITTING, the airlift out of Kabul in August 2021 as the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan. However, not all of those Afghans eligible for relocation under ARAP were on those flights, and it is DARR’s mission to find those Afghans who satisfy the ARAP criteria and bring them and their family’s members to safety in the UK where they will be supported as they begin their new lives.
DARR work across Whitehall and have international relationships at the highest strategic level (including regular Ministerial engagement).
DARR is a friendly and welcoming Directorate, with individuals bringing a diverse mix of skills and experience. You will be supported to grow in your role, gain new skills, learn from others and do so in a safe environment where you can bring your whole self to work., As Executive Assistant to the Deputy Directors, you will be responsible for supporting a busy and diverse Senior Leadership Team (SLT) - helping to manage their time and interactions across the wider Directorate, the Department and across Government. In this important role, you will build relationships across DARR and use your tact and diplomacy to provide a range of comprehensive support services to the SLT. Individuals will gain the opportunity to learn in depth about the work of the programme, as part of the friendly outer office team, ensuring the smooth running of the Directorate. This could be your role if you would like to gain experience contributing to a high-performing outer office whilst working closely with senior departmental figures. You will work at the heart of the Directorate, supporting its efforts to grant eligibility, relocate and resettle Afghans who served the UK mission in Afghanistan. This is a rewarding and challenging role, as
the successful candidates will have the opportunity to enable the efforts to deliver one of Defence’s highest priorities, across the 250-strong Directorate and Whitehall.
Roles and Responsibilities:
+ Develop a positive and communicative working relationship with the three Deputy Directors to confidently manage and coordinate their diaries and movements.
+ Work collaboratively with the Director's outer office to manage core directorate functions and ensure a flexible response to the senior management needs across the Directorate.
+ Proactively manage incoming diary requests in a timely and professional manner i.e. coordinating invitations, booking rooms and preparing confidential materials.
+ Provide secretariat support for significant meetings, sharing the agendas and composing the meeting summary when necessary.
+ Act as point of contact for your named Deputy Directors, liaising with colleagues internal and external to DARR, responding to and managing contacts autonomously and effectively, escalating matters where necessary and appropriate.
+ Remain aware of the confidential nature of the portfolio and act with integrity and discretion at all times, i.e. mailbox management and executive meeting support for your designated team.
+ Work collaboratively with Executive Assistant colleagues in DARR to provide cover and offer a coherent business support service across DARR.
+ Support the day-to-day running of the Outer Office and wider Directorate.
+ Support the teams with ad-hoc duties., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Managing a Quality Service
+ Delivering at Pace
+ Changing and Improving
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
+ Managing a Quality Service, Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.
Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.
Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.
The post does not offer relocation expenses.
External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.
Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.
Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.
Any move to MOD 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/.
The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.
MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – we may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights., We'll assess you against these Success Profiles Behaviours during the Application.
+ Managing a Quality Service
Candidates should also provide a name-blind, or anonymous CV, which to include job history and demonstrate details of the skills and experience required for this role and a personal statement (up to 250 words).
In an event of high volume of applications, we will sift against the Personal Statement and the behaviour Managing a Quality Service.
At interview, candidates successful for interview will be assessed against these Success Profiles Behaviours.
+ Managing a Quality Service
+ Delivering at Pace
+ Changing and Improving
The interview will also include one Strength based question.
Candidates must have or be willing to undergo SC clearance.
When choosing your Behaviour examples, please make sure you use real life scenarios that relate to your own experiences. Whilst technology may help to enhance your written submission, presenting the ideas of others or those generated by technology, could result in your application being rejected.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk .
As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical.
The role currently being advertised has not been assessed as business critical and is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.
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 security 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.

+ Experience with managing conflicting priorities to meet deadlines, particularly the ability to multi-task and work across multiple diaries or disciplines.
+ Excellent organisation, prioritisation, and time management skills with an eye for detail.
+ Be flexible and adaptable to an evolving working environment, keeping daily tasks flowing while quickly adjusting plans.
+ Be collaborative and personable, building positive relationships - including with seniors.
+ Have good verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to adapt your style to suit different audiences and handle sensitive information with discretion.
+ Be motivated and resilient, with an appetite to handle a stretching workload and work independently.
+ Able to work independently on tasks and take the initiative along with developing the necessary knowledge to follow through on conversations.
+ Excellent IT skills particularly in the use of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook

Alongside your salary of £28,300, Ministry of Defence contributes £7,641 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