Job summary
HM Treasury
If you�re interested in making a difference to people�s lives, the Treasury can offer you an exciting opportunity to influence decision making that affects the whole of the UK. Working at the heart of government, we collaborate across government to promote responsible public spending and drive strong and sustainable economic growth. �
Our work ranges from protecting customers through the regulation of the financial sector, helping to reduce carbon emissions and creating a greener economy, to promoting British trade around the world and supporting people across the country on jobs, growth and more. �
HM Treasury is proud of a diverse and inclusive work environment, committed to fairness and the promotion of equality of opportunity for all. We know that having a range of experiences, ways of working and thinking makes us stronger and better at developing policy that reflects the needs of every community. We embrace different views and experiences and value the new perspective that people from a variety of circumstances bring to the work we do. We welcome applications from candidates who have not previously worked for the Civil Service, mid- and late-career changers with transferrable skills, people from all backgrounds and circumstances regardless of disability, gender, age ethnicity, LGBT+ identity and socio-economic status. �
We are part of the, a pioneering new cross-government hub which brings people together to play an active role in the most important issues of the day whilst working closer to the communities we serve. The campus provides the opportunity for people from all over the UK to help shape the future of the country, and our flexible working practices ensure you can collaborate effectively with our partners. It�s central government, made more accessible to you!
Job description
Public Services Group
The Public Services Group is at the heart of the Treasury�s work to secure strong and sustainable public finances. We manage public spending of more than �250 billion across key public services and departments, including health, education, the police, the criminal justice system, local government, housing, defence and the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
We do this by working with other government departments, ministers, and other Treasury teams to ensure that spending plans support high quality public services and provide value for money for the taxpayer.
Our roles offer a range of opportunities to work with senior leaders in other government departments, as well as helping to ensure the effective delivery of public services that so many people rely on.
The Group is committed to being an excellent place to work, with a relentless focus on good management, learning and development and continuous improvement in everything we do.�
Health and Social Care Team
We are responsible for Treasury�s oversight of over �170 billion of annual government spending in health and adult social care � accounting for almost a quarter of all public spending! We work collaboratively with the Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC) and its Arm�s Length Bodies, No10 and the Cabinet Office, and external partners including NHS leaders and Local Authorities.
Not only do we set budgets and monitor performance, we also look to deliver real value to the public and drive forward a long-term vision to make health and care services productive and sustainable into the future.
Given the importance of health and social care to the Government, MPs and the public, this is a high-profile team that offers demanding work. We are constantly in the thick of it and at the core of key Treasury spending decisions and issues. The team comprises people from a diverse range of backgrounds, including from both within and outside government. We are friendly, buzzy and completely committed to diversity, inclusion and personal development.�
About the Job
We are recruiting for a Senior Policy Adviser to join the Health Resilience and Growth branch of the Health and Social Care Team. The branch is responsible for oversight of policy and spend relating to the life sciences sector, including health R&D, medicines, vaccines, as well as the UK Health Security Agency, health resilience and pandemic preparedness, and HM Treasury�s involvement in the COVID-19 public inquiry.
The life sciences sector is among the most valuable and strategically important in the UK economy, and critical to the country�s health, wealth, and resilience. It is one of this government�s priority growth sectors. The post-holder will be responsible for leading HM Treasury�s work on life sciences, including health R&D and medicines spending. The role has leadership responsibilities across HMT and more widely across government to deliver a strategy for life sciences which balances HMT�s economic and fiscal objectives:
1. Leading on life sciences strategy for HM Treasury: working closely with teams which own levers which significantly impact the sector, such as R&D tax policy or manufacturing, as well as partners across and outside of government to assess options to strengthen and grow the sector, balancing core objectives to support economic growth, deliver better patient outcomes and protect public finances, and provide high-quality advice to Ministers which distils complex issues into clear recommendations.
2. Forging strong and collaborative relationships with stakeholders across government with an interest in the sector, such as the Office for Life Sciences, the Department for Business and Trade, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, as well as external experts, to have a strong understanding of key dynamics within life sciences, health R&D and medicines.
3. Leading on Health R&D for HM Treasury: setting the budgets for Health R&D at spending reviews, alongside the central R&D team, advising Ministers on the value-for-money of Health R&D programmes, understanding and trading-off priorities for this budget including supporting patient outcomes, the efficiency and productivity of the NHS and the attractiveness of the UK for life sciences companies to grow their businesses.
4. Providing ongoing spending control for health R&D and medicines policy: this includes scrutinising business cases, advising ministers on spending decisions and working with central HMT strategy and spending teams to manage risks to the spending forecast.
5. Leading the Health and Social Care�s Growth branch, including providing outstanding line management to one Senior Executive Officer (SEO). This means providing direction and support, ensuring the team has the capability and knowledge needed to deliver high-quality, evidence-based advice. You will regularly reprioritise to ensure the branch are balancing urgent pressures with strategic longer-term work to deliver high-quality outputs in line with the government�s priorities.
6. Alongside the team�s other Range Es (Grade 7s) and Range E2s (Grade 6s), acting as part of the Health and Social Care team�s leadership: you will be expected to actively contribute to creating a positive, inclusive and development-focussed team. This includes supporting team-wide objectives and role-modelling HMT and team values. You will also be expected to get involved in making the Public Services group, and the wider Treasury, a great place to work.
We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
Candidate Drop-In Session��
We will be running a candidate drop-in session for this role to give you greater insight about the role as well as the chance to learn more about HM Treasury and the recruitment process. If you would like to join us, then use the appropriate link below to join the call at the right time.�
5pm on Tuesday 14th May:
Meeting ID: 328 239 265 513
Passcode: rj2CqW
12:30 on Wednesday 15th May:
Meeting ID: 321 365 853 396
Passcode: XKrvBn
Person specification
We are looking for the below skills, experience and behaviours and we will ask you to demonstrate these in your application form. Please review the Candidate FAQ document that is attached to the advert for guidance on how to complete your application form. �
7. Ability to evaluate complex and unfamiliar information, balancing trade-offs, to decide a course of action, and communicate a recommendation in an accessible way to senior decision makers [Making Effective Decisions]
8. The ability to develop strong working relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, across different levels of seniority and other organisations, which remain constructive under stress [Working Together]
9. The ability to lead a high performing team to deliver high quality work across short and long term objectives, in the face of a dynamic and changing work environment [Delivery at Pace]
10. Experience of working in life sciences in either public or private sector, and/or an understanding of the life sciences sector and interest in life sciences [Experience]
The lead criterion is: Making Effective Decisions
If we receive large volumes of applications, we will conduct an initial sift on the lead criterion only.
Candidate Guidance Support Session��
We will be running an overview of Success Profiles and the STAR approach; top tips for the application and interview process and an opportunity to ask general questions around our recruitment practices. If you would like to join us, then use the link below to join the call at the right time.�
Wednesday 15th May at 12:45pm:
Your Interview
At interview stage, you will be assessed on the below criteria:�
11. Experience
12. Strengths
13. Behaviours: Making Effective DecisionsWorking Together Delivering at PaceSeeing the Big Picture
Interview Task/Presentation
Prior to your interview, we will contact you about a task/presentation that the interview panel would like you to complete as part of the assessment. The exact details will be communicated to you nearer the time.�
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
14. Making Effective Decisions
15. Working Together
16. Delivering at Pace
17. Seeing the Big Picture
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
18. Making Effective Decisions
19. Working Together
20. Delivering at Pace
Benefits
Alongside your salary of �52,960, HM Treasury contributes �14,299 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
21. 25 days� annual leave (rising to 30 after 5 years), plus 8 public holidays and the King's birthday (unless you have a legacy arrangement as an existing Civil Servant)��
22. Flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours)��
23. Generous parental and adoption leave package.�
24. A which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and average employer contributions of 27%��
25. Onsite restaurant and coffee bar. The London office also offers a gym, showers and prayer room��
26. Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme, season ticket advances and payroll giving��
27. Access to a retail discounts and cashback site��
28. A Rental Deposit Advance Scheme to help meet the total costs of deposits for privately rented homes��
29. A range of active staff networks, based around interests ( analysts, music society, sports and social club) and diversity ( women in the Treasury, ethnic minority network, LGBT* network, faith and belief network)�
Flexible Working Arrangements
HM Treasury views flexible working as essential in enabling us to recruit and retain talented people, ensuring that they can enjoy a long-lasting career with us. All employees have the right to apply for flexible working and there are a range of options available including; part-time, compressed hours and job sharing. Additionally, we operate flexitime systems, allowing employees the flexibility to adjust their working patterns throughout the week which is subject to operational needs and line management approval.��
At HM Treasury we have an incredibly broad remit; our work touches every citizen of the country. So, it�s important our employees come from the widest possible range of backgrounds, bringing us the widest possible range of perspectives and ways of thinking. We are committed to ensuring that all staff can realize their potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance.�
HM Treasury operates an office based working approach across all Treasury sites - Darlington, London, and Norwich, and along with the rest of the Civil Service, has an expectation of a minimum of 60% attendance in the office, along with working remotely. This blended working approach allows you to work collaboratively, meet stakeholders face to face, support others and promotes a healthy work life balance (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone�s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review. All our offices have been recently modernised and designed to collaborate and connect with colleagues as well as desk and quiet space to allow a range of ways to work.
The office working expectation is linked to location of the role, if you apply to a post in a single location then you will not be able to meet this expectation at any of our other sites or be able to move your role to another location.