Head of Private Office - SC

Location: Hybrid - Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, London, Manchester, Nottingham, Norwich or Swindon (2-3 days a week on site)

Contract Duration: 13/3/27

Daily Rate: £550 per day

IR35 Status: Inside

Security Clearance: SC

We are looking for a digitally optimised and authoritative individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment to lead the private office of a Director. You will be a confident communicator capable of giving direction at all levels, managing the flow of complex commissions, and setting the standard in your directorate, utilising the latest AI and collaboration tools to ensure seamless information exchange across the agency.

To act as the strategic engine and trusted advisor to the Director and the guardian of the Directorate’s delivery. You are responsible for ensuring the Director’s priorities are driven forward, integrating business operations, advising on sensitive issues and ensuring consistent join up across the wider business ensuring digital tools are optimised across the organisation. This role requires you to provide independent advice, challenge assumptions and manage the interface between the director, their executive team and external stakeholders.

We are looking for an experienced Business Integrator who understands how a complex organisation functions and how digital tools can support these functions. You will bring broad experience in operations, strategy and finance to act as the Director’s Critical Friend. This is a recruitment for multiple vacancies across our directorates - Strategy, Investment, capital projects, Workplace Services, finance and COO. Upon appointment, successful candidates will be mapped to the role that best aligns with their individual skills, experience, and professional strengths.

Essential criteria:

• Experience of evaluating the effectiveness of interventions and providing recommendations to senior leaders. You must be able to think beyond the immediate Directorate to the wider Government context. Credibility with senior stakeholders is essential.
• Experience of advising and influencing senior stakeholders despite having no direct line management over them.
• The ability to manage uncertainty and ambiguity, making logical decisions even when the path forward is not clear.
• Experience working in a strategic or managerial role with a track record of connecting different parts of a business.
• Experience of analysing and resolving complex challenges that span organisational boundaries.
• A digital leader, demonstrably proficient in the use of AI tools, agents and contemporary collaboration software.
• Experience of working in a fast paced environment, including experience of diary management and meeting organisation.
• An unwavering commitment to ethical conduct. As the strategic advisor, you will be privy to the Director's most sensitive concerns; maintaining their trust is paramount.
• The willingness to speak truth to power—telling the Director what they need to hear, not just what they want to hear.
• High levels of emotional intelligence and political acumen.
• Experience of leading a high performing team.
• Knowledge and understanding of the wider civil service system.

Desirable criteria:

• An understanding of the machinery of government.
• Experience of Private Office Project management - APM.

Disability Confident: As a member of the disability confident scheme, CLIENT guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group.

Armed Forces Covenant: CLIENT is proud to support the Armed Forces Covenant and as such, we guarantee to interview all veterans or spouses/partners of military personnel who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of ex-military candidates/military spouses or partners, who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group.

If you qualify for the above, please notify us on (phone number removed). We will be in touch to discuss your suitability and arrange your Guaranteed Interview. Should you require reasonable adjustments at any point during the recruitment process or if there is a more accessible way for us to communicate, please do let me know.

To apply for this role please submit your latest CV or contact Aspect Resources on (phone number removed).