This is an essential post that critically enables the smooth working of the Department’s Payments, Systems and Financial Control (PSF) Directorate. The PSF Director is at the forefront of supporting the department in delivering its priorities and objectives.
The Assistant Private Secretary will play a key role delivering the environment to enable the Directors and Deputy Directors to focus on their top priorities and discharge their responsibilities efficiently and effectively.
The post holder needs to be an influential and proactive leader who not only supports the Directorates in achieving their vision but also builds effective relationships across the department.
The post holder will need to engage effectively and enhance Finance Groups relationships with stakeholders – including Ministers, Cabinet Office, and Finance customers across DWP.
This fantastic opportunity involves working with the Directors and their Senior Leadership Team daily. The role will provide you with a wider understanding and knowledge of working in a director’s office, which will see you collaborating with colleagues across the Department.
This is a very fast paced role within a busy Directorate, you will be required to effectively manage several competing priorities and lead and develop executive officers.
Places for Growth and Social Mobility
As part of the Places for Growth Programme, we are committed to delivering a more geographically diverse Civil and Public Service that will better serve the public and ministers.
As part of this initiative, we are continuously reviewing how we recruit into each location.
What are my Responsibilities?
You will need to be adaptable, resilient, and ready to undertake a diverse range of tasks ensuring the smooth running of the Director’s Private Office, enabling the Director to lead and manage the Directorate’s business effectively throughout the year.
Successful candidates can expect to be involved in a range of the following activities:
* Managing the Directors Inbox.
* Processing expenses, completing Transparency Data returns.
* Scrutinise and interpret information, using judgement to determine what the Director needs to action, requesting updates/ from key stakeholders to ensure information/updates are accurate and concise.
* Ensure preparations of the weekly/day pack (one note schedule, papers, agendas are prepared) Including commission work and advice and readouts to enable timely decisions to be taken to understand briefing, for example programme boards, departmental priorities, etc.
* Diary oversight – arrange meetings/rooms/travel, diaries will be open, so minimal oversight required to ensure there are no clashes and the diary is balanced. Ensure all meetings are covered by empowered deputies when director cannot attend.
* Maintaining Finance Directorates administration including Organisation Charts and Business Continuity Plans, SharePoint, annual leave tracker- ensuring leave is transferred into Directors Diary.
* Maintaining oversight of strategic events/communications across the Directorate and DWP to ensure key messages and mandatory compliance completion are aligned communicated in a timely manner to our colleagues.
* Organise and effectively facilitate the All-Colleague Call.
* Support/Contingency cover in coordinating monthly/quarterly central returns for PC&P, Finance group.
* Work with the head of office to ensure effective cover within the team, so that there is never a break in service.
The role will require some line management, depending on the size of the Deputy Directors, Diary Manager pool.
A team player who can work collaboratively within a small team and understand the need for transparency and effective communication.
Hybrid working
This job role may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in their DWP office and part of the week from home.
This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and your office will be your contractual place of work. The number of days that anyone will be able to work at home will be determined primarily by business need, but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be taken into account.
This role can only be delivered from the UK.
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About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident .