2485 - Assistant Private Secretary to Special Advisers - ref. f43594203
Job Title
Assistant Private Secretary to Special Advisers
Pay Grade
EO
Salary
£32,416 - £34,361 - plus Private Office allowance of £3,242
Location
Gwydyr House, London, SW1A 2NP
Contract
Fixed Term Contract until 31st of March 2026 with possibility of extension or permanency
Hiring Manager
rutendo.ndoro@ukgovwales.gov.uk
Clearance
CTC (See Additional Information. Please note: Candidates who do not meet the eligibility requirements outlined below will not be appointed to the role if successful at interview. Please ensure you meet all eligibility criteria before applying.If you have any queries, please contact the hiring manager.)
About the Wales Office:
The Wales Office 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 the 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 United Kingdom.
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 in Cardiff and the other in London. As an accredited smarter working organisation, we offer considerable flexibility around ‘the way we work.’ We have great technology and an attractive employee benefits package which includes a commitment to investing in the learning & development of our staff.
Description:
An exciting opportunity has arisen to work as the Private Secretary to the Special Advisers in the Wales Office. This busy but rewarding role offers opportunities to work directly with Special Advisers to the Secretary of State for Wales and get involved with initiatives across the wider Private Office and Ministerial team.
This fast-paced post is an integral role in the Private Office division and directly supports the delivery of ministerial priorities. It also provides an excellent opportunity for anyone who would like to gain a real insight into the work of Ministers, how the department and the wider Government operates, and how the UK Government works collaboratively with the Welsh Government.
The successful candidate will need to be assertive and confident in their ability to prioritise a busy workload and work with Ministers, Special Advisers and colleagues at all levels. Excellent communications skills, sound judgment, and the ability to remain calm and reliable under pressure is also essential.In return, this role offers the opportunity to be at the heart of a busy, friendly team and gain valuable experience working at the centre of Government.
Given the nature of the role, it is London based and full time. You will need to be prepared to work some early mornings and evenings as part of a Private Office rota, and as such this role attracts a Private Office allowance of £3,242 in addition to the salary listed above.
Key Responsibilities:
Providing high quality support to the Special Advisers (SpAds), driving forward Ministerial priorities, and supporting with policy and Parliamentary work.Overall responsibility for the management of the SpAds’ diaries, including arranging all internal and external meetings.
Co-ordination and planning of the logistics for SpAds’ travel and visits.
Acting as the conduit between SpAds and the rest of the Department, feeding back and translating priorities.
Preparation of diary cards and day packs for SpAds.
Management and coordination of workflow, ensuring SpAds make timely decisions, quality checking submissions, and conveying feedback on submissions.
Ensuring that views/comments from SpAds are promptly and accurately conveyed to relevant officials within and outside the Department through both oral and written communication.
Responsibilities across the wider team including evening duties on a rota and covering for colleagues as needed.
The successful candidate may also lead on a policy portfolio within the private office.
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
Please evidence in your Statement of Suitability, how closely you match the essential criteria:
Essential:
Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail.Strong interpersonal and communication skills, plus an ability to work with senior stakeholders.
Ability to work well under pressure and balancing competing demands while ensuring that the ‘important’ does not get lost in the rush to attend to the ‘very urgent’.
Resilience and adaptability when working under pressure.
Strong ability to work within a team.
Desirable:
- Welsh Language skills.