Private Secretary in the Northern Ireland Office in Lisburn

The Northern Ireland Office supports the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in promoting the best interests of Northern Ireland. We ensure that Northern Ireland's interests are represented within the UK Government and that UK government responsibilities are fully and effectively represented in Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland Office employs around 170 staff, with offices in Belfast and London. As a small Department, we adopt a flexible project-based approach to ensure that we have the right people, with the right skills, in the right place to support the delivery of our key objectives.

Our key priorities include:

• Supporting greater inclusion, tolerance and openness in Northern Ireland
• Contributing to a safer Northern Ireland, where terrorist and paramilitary groups are less able to cause harm to communities
• Ensuring that governance in Northern Ireland is responsive, transparent and able to deliver effective public service
• Addressing the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland

We are recruiting for a Private Secretary within the Ministerial Office in the Northern Ireland Office (NIO). In this role, you will lead a policy portfolio supporting all three ministers while acting as the lead Private Secretary for the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State. This is an exciting and varied role at the very heart of the NIO. You will join a friendly, high-achieving private office team where no two days are the same.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Leading on a policy portfolio for 3 ministers, while acting as the lead Private Secretary for the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State.
• Supporting the ministerial team on high-profile policy areas, and contributing to the smooth and efficient running of the ministerial Private Office.
• Working across the Private Office Group, the NIO and wider Whitehall in a leadership role.
• Providing strategic advice and join up on the preparation of policy advice from across the Department.
• Supporting ministerial visits in Northern Ireland and overseas as required.
• Leading on a key Private Office function.
• Line management of one Assistant Private Secretary.

Essential Criteria:

• A proactive, can-do attitude, with an ability to review processes and think strategically.
• Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills.
• Exceptional interpersonal and management skills.
• A strong ability to influence at all levels.
• Proven experience of working effectively with Ministers and/or equivalent senior officials/stakeholders.

Desirable Criteria:

• An understanding of propriety and ethics.
• An understanding of the Northern Ireland political system and of the work of the Northern Ireland Executive.

Further information about the post may be obtained from Beth Lynas via email. All applications for employment are considered strictly on the basis of merit.

The NIO offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different NIO sites and/or from home. Standard full-time working hours are 37 hours per week. NIO welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns.

Benefits include access to learning and development, a working environment that supports a range of flexible working options, a Civil Service pension, and 25 days annual leave, increasing to 30 days after five years service.