Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity to lead the Civil Service Commission as Chief Executive and Accounting Officer at a time of significant change. The successful candidate will lead the Commission through a period of change, as well responding to external challenges arising from wider reforms in the Civil Service. The role offers an excellent development opportunity for candidates seeking future progression in the Senior Civil Service.
The Civil Service CommissionThe Commission is an independent Executive Non-Departmental Public Body of the Cabinet Office, whose secretariat staff of circa 28 members supports two other �Independent Offices�: the and the. The Chief Executive is the senior official overseeing the secretariat functions of the Commission which also provides a support function to the other independent offices. The Commission exists to provide assurance that civil servants are selected on merit on the basis of fair and open competition and to help safeguard an impartial Civil Service. These functions are set out in the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010. More information on this can be found on the Commission�s .
Job description
This is a critical leadership role at the heart of the Commission where you will enjoy close working relationships with the First Civil Service Commissioner as well as other Commissioners, Senior Civil Servants and Ministers. You will be responsible for setting the strategic direction of the Commission; agreeing and delivering business plans; providing strong leadership to the secretariat and wider �Independent Offices�; ensuring the appropriate governance arrangements are in place and operating effectively; and acting as the principal policy adviser on all Commission-related issues as well as the Commission�s Accounting Officer.
You will need to be able to advise the First Civil Service Commissioner and other Commissioners in the discharge of their regulatory and statutory functions. Given this, the role requires demonstrable experience of working within regulatory frameworks, either as a regulator or regulated body within the private or public sectors. An understanding of the role of a regulator in terms of enabling and facilitation is also essential.
It is not commonplace for Senior Civil Service pay band 1 roles to include being a designated Accounting Officer, which usually occurs at more senior grades, and this role therefore offers an excellent development opportunity for future career progression in the Senior Civil Service.
Key responsibilities of the post holder will be:
1. Guiding the Commission through a period of change and transition in terms of its corporate governance and organisational structures.
2. Setting the strategic direction of the organisations, and helping to shape and embed the new governance arrangements.
3. Discharging the responsibilities as Accounting Officer for the Commission.�
4. Providing leadership and policy advice to ensure day-to-day delivery of the Commission�s and Commissioners� functions.
5. Providing leadership and management to a team of circa 28 staff, including six direct reports
6. Developing the policy, strategy and communications plan to ensure the Commission is an influential and independent voice in the discussions about Civil Service recruitment and Civil Service reform.
7. Acting as the main interface with the sponsor department (Cabinet Office) and Director of Propriety & Ethics as Senior Sponsor.
8. Enhancing further the Commission�s use of data and information systems to support and justify policy decisions made, including those relating to the compliance regime of the 72 regulated bodies.
9. Making effective and timely decisions on business cases from regulated bodies requesting approval to use an Exception to the .
10. Making effective and timely decisions as required on complaints and appeals in respect of adherence to the Recruitment Principles and/or concerns being raised under the, where appropriate.
11. Personally developing and maintaining effective relationships with key senior stakeholders in a number of the mid-size regulated bodies (Commissioners hold the relationship management responsibility for the 20 main government departments directly).
12. Overseeing the relationship management activity of the �secretariat� with the remaining smaller bodies.
13. Supporting the board of Commissioners, improving resilience and capability across the Commissioners, improving induction, and looking for opportunities to share best practice.
14. Managing a budget of circa �2m�and ensuring financial controls and regulations are adhered to.
15. Providing leadership and management to deliver considered policy advice to ensure day-to-day delivery of the functions of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments and the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
16. You will be required to produce an audited Annual Report and Accounts each year, which must be presented to Parliament.
17. Through your leadership behaviours, bring out the best in your team to deliver their objectives, encourage and support their development, and maintain a constructive working environment, even in fast-paced and challenging times.
Person specification
It is important, through your CV and supporting statement, that you provide evidence of the following Essential Criteria:
18. You are an experienced leader able to operate effectively independently and make decisions, including setting priorities, in a role that has significant autonomy.
19. You are able to operate in a context of significant uncertainty and change, providing clear leadership to those in the organisation, and maintaining the confidence of Commissioners, the First Civil Service Commissioner, Cabinet Office Senior Civil Servants, Ministers and the Independent Office Holders in the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments and the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
20. You demonstrate adaptability and flexibility, as well as a high level of emotional intelligence, in order to be able to navigate the different and changing requirements of the relationship with the three different organisations you are responsible for.
21. You are able to utilise power and insights from data to support your organisation in developing evidence based policy.
22. You have a good understanding of what being a regulator means, and demonstrable experience of operating within a regulatory environment.
23. You can develop, build and maintain effective relationships and networks with a range of very senior stakeholders while making finely balanced judgements on priorities and resource allocation.
24. You have excellent all round communication and stakeholder management skills.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
25. Leadership
26. Seeing the Big Picture
27. Making Effective Decisions
28. Changing and Improving
Benefits
Alongside your salary of �75,000, Cabinet Office contributes �20,250 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
Whatever your role, we take your career and development seriously, and want to enable you to build a really successful career with the Department and wider Civil Service. It is crucial that our employees have the right skills to develop their careers and meet the challenges ahead. You�ll benefit from a wide range of training and development opportunities, regular performance and development reviews to ensure this development is ongoing. As a Civil Service employee, you�ll be entitled to a large range of benefits.
This includes:
29. 25 days annual leave on entry, increasing on a sliding scale to 30 days after 5 years� service. This is in addition to 8 public holidays and one privilege day to mark the King's birthday.�
30. A competitive contributory pension scheme that you can enter as soon as you join where we will make a significant contribution to the cost of your pension; where your contributions come out of your salary before any tax is taken; and where your pension will continue to provide valuable benefits for you and your family if you are too ill to continue to work or die before you retire;
31. Flexible working patterns including part-time or time-term working and access to Flexible Working Schemes allowing you to vary your working day as long as you work your total hours;
32. Generous paid maternity and paternity leave which is notably more than the statutory minimum offered by many other employers;
33. Interest-free loans allowing you to spread the cost of an annual travel season ticket or a new bicycle;
34. The opportunity to use onsite facilities including fitness centres and staff canteens (where applicable); and
35. Occupational sick pay.