Private Secretary

At DSIT we're all about improving people's lives by maximising the potential of science & technology.

We accelerate innovation, investment and productivity through world-class science, research and development.

We use technology for good by ensuring new and existing technologies are safely developed and deployed across the UK, with the benefits more widely shared.

We are driving forward a modern digital government which gives citizens a more satisfying experience and their time back.

We do all this to enable the Government's 5 national missions: kickstarting economic growth, making Britain a clean energy superpower, taking back our streets, breaking down barriers to opportunity and building an NHS fit for the future.

Above all, we focus on improving people's lives. Whether it's researching new treatments for disease, developing better batteries, reducing burdens through better public services, keeping children safe online, and much more, outcomes for citizens are at the heart of what we do.

As the Private Secretary to the BDUK CEO you will work with the Chief of Staff and Assistant Private Secretary to provide oversight and leadership, as well as direction to ensure BDUK's CEO is supported to carry out their role effectively and efficiently, are focused on the right priorities day to day and can drive forward their objectives.

As Private Secretary you will be a critical bridge between the BDUK Senior Leadership Team, Ministers, Senior Civil Servants, the rest of BDUK, and its partners.

You will organise the CEO to deliver their objectives through official channels, ensuring that issues and decisions come to the Chief of Staff and/or the CEO when appropriate.

You will play a pivotal role in enabling the CEO to operate with maximum strategic impact.

You will play a key role in developing effective working relationships with other private offices across DSIT.

In particular those of the Permanent Secretary, Ministers, and Director Generals.

This provides an excellent opportunity to learn about the overall running of a Directorate at the heart of the government's digital agenda and to get to grips with the challenges that senior management face.

You will manage the BDUK CEO so they have the appropriate information and steers to lead the organisation effectively and contribute to the leadership of BDUK.

In doing so, you will also ensure that the CEO is sighted on issues as they arise within BDUK, and the wider department, and help them manage these effectively along with the Assistant Private Secretary.

This post offers the opportunity to work closely with a wide range of teams across BDUK and DSIT, as well as scope to become involved in projects.

You will commission information and advice from different parts of BDUK and prioritise requests, working with SLT's Executive Assistants and liaising with the Senior Management Team to ensure they follow up on actions on behalf of the CEO.

The role is challenging and exciting and we are looking for a highly organised individual with excellent interpersonal skills and a keen eye for detail.

You should be an excellent communicator who is comfortable working at pace, and who has a strong understanding of the support required by very senior decision-makers.

You will join a close-knit leadership support team which is led by the Chief of Staff.

Responsibilities

• Develop a strong awareness of how the team supports BDUK's organisational objectives; and act as a trouble-shooter in resolving day-to-day issues.
• Assist the Chief of Staff in providing a high-level gateway to and from the BDUK CEO, ensuring the effective and efficient operation of the office.
• Manage the CEO and Chief of Staff to ensure they are sighted on issues that arise within the organisation and wider department and help them manage these effectively
• Analyse, summarise and advise on briefings and commissions on a wide range of topics. Carefully consider options, implications and risk of decisions providing advice to the CEO and Chief of Staff as appropriate.
• Lead the development of strong working relationships with private offices across DSIT, including the Permanent Secretary, Ministers and Director Generals
• Commission information and advice from different parts of BDUK and prioritise requests, working with the Assistant Private Secretary to follow up on actions with the Senior Management Team.
• Work with the Senior Leadership Team to ensure information is effectively conveyed to DSIT's senior leaders including Ministers.
• Attend meetings with the BDUK CEO, record accurate minutes and ensure action points are tracked to a suitable resolution.
• Lead on an established submissions process when communicating with Ministers, Director General's offices and their teams and draft briefings and papers as necessary managing input from across wider BDUK teams.
• Support the CEO and SLT in their communications to the organisation, including drafting written updates and internal comms.
• Provide line management and support the career development of the Assistant Private Secretary
• Provide flexible administrative support to the CEO including on occasion covering incoming emails; prioritising and delegating work appropriately, according to relative importance and urgency.
• Provide flexible support to the Chief of Staff to assist with a wide range of BDUK wide activities.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £58,275, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology contributes £16,882 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology offers a competitive mix of benefits including:

• A culture of flexible working, such as job sharing, homeworking and compressed hours.
• Automatic enrolment into the Civil Service Pension Scheme , with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.
• An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities, which all staff are actively encouraged to pursue.
• Access to a range of retail, travel and lifestyle employee discounts.
• A hybrid office/home based working model where staff will spend a norm of 40-60% of their time in the office (minimum of 40%) over a month with flex dependent on balancing business and individual need.