Inquiry Administration Support and Usher in Newtownabbey

This post is based at Bradford Court, Belfast, BT8 6RD. 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 procedural hearings and commemorative public hearings in Omagh and Belfast. The Chairman of the Inquiry is supported by a small secretariat, led by the Secretary to the Inquiry. The secretariat provides administrative and policy support to the Chairman and other office holders. The post holder will join a small innovative team and will contribute to the Inquiry's work as it progresses towards holding evidential hearings. It's an exciting time to be part of an energetic growing team with lots of potential for ownership, development and growth.

ABOUT THE ROLE: Working to the Hearings and Communications Manager, the Inquiry Administration Support and Usher is a key, central role and will support the delivery of the Inquiry's hearings. The primary responsibility of the role is ensuring the effective and professional delivery of the Inquiry's hearings. This provides the post holder with an exciting opportunity to work in a public facing role, acting as a key point of contact for Inquiry attendees and ensuring hearings run smoothly and effectively. The post holder will work flexibly across the secretariat team to provide support across various work strands.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The Inquiry Administration Support and Usher will have oversight of the hearing room on hearing days. This may include:

• Preparing the hearing room for public hearing days.
• Welcoming and assisting members of the public and legal teams into the hearing centre and managing the flow of hearings.
• Providing in person hearing room management including, working with the Inquiry team and the Inquiry's AV provider to ensure the legal teams in the room are familiar with the technology in place, supporting with daily announcements and swearing witnesses in before they give evidence.

Outside of hearings, the Inquiry Administration Support and Usher will provide operational and administrative support to the Inquiry. This may include:

• Inbox and diary management for the Secretariat team.
• Organising travel/accommodation requests.
• Processing invoices.
• Working with the Hearings and Communications manager to ensure external suppliers are arranged in advance of hearing dates.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA: The post holder will need to demonstrate the following in their application and at interview:

• Strong verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
• Confident with a sound ability to build professional relationships.
• Strong organisational and multitasking abilities, with excellent attention to detail.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Flexible, reliable, and proactive approach to work.

The role will require some out of hours working, particularly during Inquiry hearings.

Desirable: Existing CTC clearance (or higher).

We will assess you against the following Success Profiles behaviours at AO level during the application sift and interview process:

• BEHAVIOURS: Communicating and Influencing (application and interview) (lead behaviour)
• Working together (application and interview)
• Managing a Quality Service (interview)
• Delivering at Pace (interview)

EXPERIENCE: Please provide a work history and statement of suitability no longer than 500 words outlining how you meet the essential and desirable criteria. Both will be used in order to assess any demonstrable experience, career history and achievements that are relevant to the role. Your statement of suitability needs to set out evidence of how your experience meets the requirements set out above. Your layout is entirely your preference; you may choose narrative, bullets, etc. One narrative example may cover the requirements needed. You don't have to explain the whole process, just what you have done and the skills and experience you have used that are relevant to the role. Share with us what makes you suited to this role and why. What you can do, the skills you have that are transferable and the life experience or passion you have that are linked to this role. If you don't have work-based examples then give examples from school/college, clubs, volunteering or other activities you have been involved in.

You will also be asked to complete a CV with details of your education, professional qualifications, previous skills and full employment history. Your CV will not be formally assessed so please put the main evidence of your skills into your personal statement. Your CV will be used to add context to your personal statement.

Further Information: Further information about the post may be obtained from Laura Crichton via email. All applications for employment are considered strictly on the basis of merit. This job description should not be taken as constituting conditions of employment. Please note that due to the high interest in NIO opportunities, feedback cannot be given if you are unsuccessful at the sift stage. Feedback is available on request if unsuccessful following the interview.

COMPLAINTS: The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles.

SECURITY CLEARANCE: This role requires National Security Vetting given the access to sensitive information afforded by the job role. This role requires CTC and to be eligible to apply for this role you should have been present in the UK continuously for the past 3 years.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 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. All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity. Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone's circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

Benefits: Access to learning and development, a working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work-life balance, a working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity, a Civil Service pension, 25 days annual leave, increasing to 30 days after five years service, and Public Holidays.