9348 - Secretary to the Independent Statutory Inquiry into the Omagh Bombing
General Information
Working Pattern
Full Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
External
Location
Belfast, London
Region
London, Northern Ireland
Closing Date
15-Sep-2025
Post Type
Fixed Term, Loan, Secondment
Civil Service Grade
SCS 1
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
9348
Descriptions & Requirements
Job description
Background
On 2 February 2023, the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland announced that he would establish an independent statutory inquiry into the Real IRA bombing of Omagh on 15 August 1998, in which 31 lives were lost.
The Inquiry was formally established on publication of its Terms of Reference in February 2024. Since then, it has conducted a number of preliminary and commemorative public hearings in Omagh and Belfast
The Role
The post holder will report to the Chair of the Inquiry in terms of line management but will also be overseen by the Senior Sponsor for the Inquiry in the Northern Ireland Office.
The Secretary of an inquiry is one of the Chair's key advisers, alongside the Solicitor and Counsel to the inquiry. The Secretary role provides leadership to the inquiry team and works alongside the Chair in delivering the Inquiry's terms of reference (which have yet to be published). The post holder will be responsible, alongside the Inquiry Chair, for leading the inquiry team. The team is made up from a mixture of civil servants, solicitors, paralegals and barristers. The Secretary is the key contact between the Inquiry and the sponsor team at the Northern Ireland Office, ensuring that the sponsor is provided with governance assurance while maintaining the independence of the Inquiry.
This Inquiry Secretary role offers the opportunity to work on an extremely interesting issue which is of wide public interest and is likely to attract significant media and political attention.
Additional Information
Please view our candidate information pack for full details about the role, key responsibilities person specification, and the criteria you will be assessed against throughout the recruitment process.
About
We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit:
Diversity & Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.
Contact Information
If you require any assistance please contact us on scsrecruitment@ Please quote the job reference in your email to enable us to support you more quickly.
Job Description Attachment
* Accessible Candidate Pack (Job Description Supporting Documents)
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* Candidate Information Pack (Job Description Attachment)
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Application form stage assessments
Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability
Statement of Suitability
Guidance for the Statement of Suitability
Please provide a statement to evidence how you meet the essential criteria required for the role:
Essential Experience
* Excellent leadership skills with experience of leading mutli-disciplinary teams and delivering challenging objectives under intense scrutiny.
* Experience of working effectively and sensitively with a wide range of people, showing empathy, compassion, and excellent communication skills
* Experience of delivering substantial programmes of work, achieving high quality results and value for money
Essential Abilities
* Highly developed communication, networking and negotiation skills, with the personal presence and credibility to secure confidence with the Inquiry's Chair, Counsel and Solicitor, as well as at the most senior levels across the Civil Service and beyond.
* Ability to maintain a calm, collaborative working style, and wellbeing of yourself and your team, in a potentially pressured environment
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability
Interview stage assessments
Interview Dates
From week commencing 6 October 2025
Behaviours
Communicating and Influencing
Leadership
Seeing the Big Picture
Working Together
Other Assessments
Which assessment methods will be used?
Presentation
Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)
You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application, including your CV, statement of suitability and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.
Level Of Security Checks Required
Developed Vetting (DV)