Coventry, West Midlands (England), CV1 2WT : Darlington, North East England, DL1 5QE : Manchester, North West England, M1 2WD : Sheffield, Yorkshire and the Humber, S1 2FJ : City of Westminster, London (region), SW1P 3BT Job Summary https://youtu.be/rVaPVTGV3oA At the Department for Education (DFE), we are striving for world-class education, training and care for everyone whatever their background. Our ambition is to have a more productive economy, giving everyone the chance to reach their potential and live a more fulfilled life. We work in multi-disciplinary teams using Agile methods to innovate and radically improve services that: Raise education standards and provide the best start in life for children, Support disadvantaged and vulnerable children and young people, Drive economic growth. Our work and set up is truly end-to-end. We work closely with Ministers and our users on the design of our programmes and policies, through to successful implementation, through our research and analysis, finance and commercial, communications, technical design and programme management. We achieve our work by blending excellent strategic, operational and analytical thinking leading to well developed and tested policies and processes. Job Description This role sits within the Directors’ Office and Directorate Support Team and will interact closely with the Senior Leadership Team, supporting them to perform their duties effectively. The role requires someone who pays strong attention to detail but can also consider the bigger picture in a strategic way. We are looking for a highly organised individual who is detail orientated and able to prioritise multiple, often competing priorities. You will be a member of a high-performing team and supportive network of PAs and wider Directorate and Corporate support staff. Key Responsibilities Will Include, But Not Limited To: Planning and scheduling – assist with and maintain appropriate systems to enable effective planning and scheduling. Diary management for Deputy Directors including setting up meetings, maintain a schedule of key stakeholders and staff discussions. Ensuring that papers/briefings/agendas are in place for meetings, and commissioning background briefings where required. Monitoring and reporting – assist in maintaining project controls and in producing project reports. Admin – organise key divisional and Deputy Director led meetings, providing secretariat support when required. Stakeholders – maintain stakeholder relationships with and on behalf of SLT members, ensuring responses to external requests are provided in a timely manner. Working with divisional teams to collate responses for a range of commissions for the division, taking initiative to ensure all are supported. Working with the wider PA network/team to coordinate single responses to collective commissions where appropriate. Organisation of internal events and meetings. Other ad-hoc duties deemed appropriate to the grade by your Deputy Director(s). Providing Secretariat support to Directorate level boards when required. Supporting DDs and Divisions with reward and recognition processes e.g. In Year Awards. Travel and accommodation - booking travel and accommodation as required in line with Department policy and guidance. Apprenticeship Information You will be required to undertake a Level Three Business Administration apprenticeship as part of the role. The length of the training for this apprenticeship is typically 18 months. Please indicate your interest in your statement of suitability. Applicants must review the content and eligibility requirements using the apprenticeship standard on the Skills England website: Business administrator / Skills England To Be Able To Undertake The Apprenticeship: You must have lived in the UK for 3 years prior to apprenticeship start date and not be undertaking another apprenticeship at the same time. You must not already have a substantial amount of the skills and knowledge that is covered in the contents of the apprenticeship standard. You must not have already worked in a similar role, or your previous learning, and/or work experience covers the contents (Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours) of the apprenticeship standard. Please Note That You Cannot Undertake The Apprenticeship If: You already have all the skills and knowledge that is covered in the contents of the Apprenticeship Standard. You have already worked in a similar role, or your previous learning, and/or work experience covers the contents (Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours) of the Apprenticeship Standard. You have a degree (or equivalent) in the same or similar subject as the apprenticeship standard. At the enrolment stage, the individual's eligibility will be checked by the training provider. This role sits within the Directors’ Office and Directorate Support Team and will interact closely with the Senior Leadership Team, supporting them to perform their duties effectively. The role requires someone who pays strong attention to detail but can also consider the bigger picture in a strategic way. We are looking for a highly organised individual who is detail orientated and able to prioritise multiple, often competing priorities. You will be a member of a high-performing team and supportive network of PAs and wider Directorate and Corporate support staff. Please Note That You Cannot Undertake The Apprenticeship If: You already have all the skills and knowledge that is covered in the contents of the Apprenticeship Standard. You have already worked in a similar role, or your previous learning, and/or work experience covers the contents (Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours) of the Apprenticeship Standard. You have a degree (or equivalent) in the same or similar subject as the apprenticeship standard. At the enrolment stage, the individual's eligibility will be checked by the training provider. Person specification Essential Criteria Excellent organisational skills and ability to prioritise effectively to manage a high workload in high pressure situations. Proficient user of MS Teams and Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote. Ability to establish and maintain relationships with a diverse range of people, including senior stakeholders and use these to influence others. Excellent written and oral communication skills and confidence in articulating and delivering complex and sometimes difficult messages. Work effectively in a team, being flexible and adaptable to support the wider team goals when needed. Ability to process and analyse large amounts of information, draw conclusions and weigh up conflicting evidence to make clear recommendations. Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Communicating and Influencing Delivering at Pace Managing a Quality Service Working Together Alongside your salary of £31,479, Department for Education contributes £9,119 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Department’s transfer / promotion policies. As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK. You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years’ service. In addition, all staff receive the King’s Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days’ bank and public holidays. We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours. Most DfE employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending at least 60% of their time in an office or work setting. Changes to these working arrangements are available in exceptional circumstances but must be agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role. Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DfE, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered. As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities. Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience. To apply for this role, please select 'Apply Now' at the top or bottom of this advert. CV details need to be included in the template within the application form; attached or emailed CVs will not be considered. Please be advised there are two stages to the recruitment process for this role, these are outlined below. Stage 1 – Application At sift stage, you will be assessed on the Behaviours listed in the advert. We will also assess your CV in line with the Essential criteria listed in the person specification section. In the event of a large number of applications, we will sift on the Behaviour "Managing a Quality service" only. Stage 2 - Interview The interview will consist of a 45-minute blended interview. At interview you will be asked questions around the behaviours listed in the advert. We will also ask you some strengths based questions. Interviews will take place towards the end of November 2025. Please note these dates are subject to change. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. We receive many applications, and unfortunately we’re not able to provide feedback for candidates who aren’t shortlisted. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. Other Information Interviews may be via Microsoft teams or face to face; the vacancy manager will confirm prior to the Interview. In your application, please don’t include personal information that identifies you. This means we can recruit based on your knowledge and skills, and not background, gender or ethnicity - it's called name blind recruitment (opens in a new window). Please ensure that you remove from your application, all references to your: name/title educational institutions age gender email address postal address phone number nationality/immigration status Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use. We reserve the right to raise the minimum pass mark in the event of a high volume or strong field of candidates. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK from the location options provided and not from overseas. The government is committed to supporting apprenticeships, enabling people to learn and progress in a role whilst earning. We want to monitor the number of people who have completed apprenticeships who are now applying to progress further in their career and are asking this question to all candidates, on all vacancies. You will be asked a question as part of the application process about any previous apprenticeships you have completed. Your response to this question will not affect your application and it is not a requirement of the role to have completed a previous apprenticeship. If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe carried out. In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Department of Education of your intention by emailing Pre-Employment.Checks.DFE@education.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading. Department for Education do not cover the cost of travel to your interview/assessment unless otherwise stated. A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made. Candidates will be posted in merit order based upon location preference. Where more than one location is advertised you will be asked to state your preferred location. New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band. Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. Terms and conditions of candidates transferring from ALBs and NDPBs Bodies that are not accredited by the Civil Service Commission and are not able to advertise at Across Government on Civil Service jobs will be treated as external new starters and will come into DfE on modernised terms and conditions with a salary at the band minimum. Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission but do not have civil service status will be offered modernised terms and will not have continuous service recognised for leave or sickness benefits. Salaries should be offered at band minimum, but there is some flexibility where this would cause a detriment to the individual. Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission and do have Civil Service status will be treated as OGD transfers. Staff appointed on lateral transfer will move on to pre-modernised DfE terms (unless they were on modernised terms in their previous organisation). Staff appointed on promotion will move on to modernised DfE terms. Staff will transfer over on their existing salary (on lateral transfer) and any pay above the DfE pay band maximum will be paid as a mark time allowance. Staff moving on promotion will have their salaries calculated using the principles set out in the attached OGD transfer supplementary information. Reasonable adjustment If a Person With Disabilities Is Put At a Substantial Disadvantage Compared To a Non-disabled Person, We Have a Duty To Make Reasonable Changes To Our Processes. If You Need a Change To Be Made So That You Can Make Your Application, You Should: Contact Department of Education via centralrecruitment.operations@education.gov.uk soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional. Please refer to the attached ‘Reasonable Adjustments Guide 05_2025 – accessible version’ at the bottom of the advert, for further information. Childcare Vouchers Any move to Department for Education (DfE) will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/ Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience. Security Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks. Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks. Nationality requirements This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups: UK nationals nationals of the Republic of Ireland nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) Working for the Civil Service The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy. The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy. Diversity and 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 (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window). This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. Contact point for applicants Job Contact : Name : Rachel Appleton Email : rachel.appleton@education.gov.uk Recruitment team Email : Centralrecruitment.operations@education.gov.uk Further information The Department for Education’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the Civil Service Commissioners Recruitment Principles, which outlines that selection for appointment is made on merit based on fair and open competition. You have the right to complain if you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles. In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly with the department concerned via CentralRecruitment.Operations@education.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages