This permanent Grade 7 Private Secretary post sits in the Ministry of Justice’s Private Office and Parliament Directorate, supporting the Permanent Secretary and Second Permanent Secretary from 102 Petty France. It leads a team covering Civil and International Justice, Communications and Technology, advising the principals and coordinating work across the department and ministerial offices. The role is full-time at 37 hours a week; part-time and flexible arrangements are unsuitable, but full-time job-share applications are welcome, and office attendance is required when the principals are present. Applicants must be eligible Civil Service or accredited NDPB employees and meet SC vetting requirements, including five continuous years in the UK.
What the job involves
- Lead the team covering Civil and International Justice, Communications and Technology, ensuring its work supports the principals’ priorities and expectations are realistic
- Advise the Permanent Secretary and Second Permanent Secretary, building trusted relationships and anticipating their priorities and concerns
- Develop relationships with officials across the portfolio and with relevant Special Adviser and Ministerial Private Offices
- Lead the wider team through competing priorities and changing capacity, maintaining a welcoming and professional culture
- Line manage one SEO, with the management arrangement potentially expanding
- Use judgement and constructive challenge to resolve issues and progress work amid uncertainty and differing views
- Work with senior officials, Ministers, Special Advisers and external stakeholders on high-profile departmental business
Skills & knowledge
- Confident, credible communication across different levels of seniority
- Strong judgement to balance competing priorities with calmness and resilience
- Ability to build relationships with stakeholders and senior principals
- Adaptability, initiative, leadership, resilience and drive; able to work independently and make progress amid uncertainty
- Ability to give candid advice, challenge constructively and manage expectations while retaining principals’ confidence
- Ability to lead and support a team, deliver through others and maintain a professional culture under pressure
Checks & eligibility
- SC security clearance
- Continuous UK residence for the five years before applying
- Eligibility under Civil Service nationality rules and the right to work in the UK
Other
- Open only to current Civil Service employees and employees of accredited NDPBs appointed through eligible routes
- Able to work in the office when the Permanent Secretaries are present; staff are generally expected to spend at least 60% of working time in an office
- Able to work extended hours when required
- Full-time role at 37 hours a week; full-time job-share applications are accepted, but part-time and flexible arrangements are unsuitable
Nice to have
- Experience working on Justice issues and/or in a private office
What’s offered
- 25 days’ annual leave on appointment, rising to 30 after five years’ service
- Option to buy or sell up to three days’ leave annually, plus public holidays and a privilege day
- Choice of Civil Service pension schemes
- Training and development opportunities
- Employee-run support and advice networks
- Family-friendly policies, including reduced hours and job sharing, and paid maternity, paternity and adoption leave
- Flexible benefits, retail vouchers and discounts
- Free annual sight tests for employees using computer screens; Private Secretary allowance for extended hours
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23860 - Private Secretary to the Permanent Secretary and Second Permanent Secretary employer: Ministry of Justice
The Ministry of Justice is an exceptional employer, dedicated to transforming lives through education and vocational training. With a strong emphasis on supportive relationships and personal development, employees benefit from a collaborative work culture that prioritises safety and security while offering opportunities for professional growth and meaningful impact in the community. Working in this role not only allows you to make a difference but also provides a unique chance to contribute to the rehabilitation and resettlement of individuals in a dynamic environment.
