About the job

Summary

DCMS is responsible for c400 appointments to the boards of c45 Public Bodies - high profile organisations such as the V&A, Tate, the British Museum, the British Film Institute, National Lottery Community Fund, UK Sport, regulators including Ofcom and the Charity Commission and a small number of advisory bodies including the Treasure Valuation Committee and the Reviewing Committee for the Export of Works of Art.

The team manages the Department’s public appointments process regulated by the Office for the Commissioner for Public Appointments to meet the business and policy objectives of DCMS Ministers, Cabinet Office, No 10 the wider department and its Public Bodies.

Job description

We are looking for a motivated and proactive individual to join our small team to manage DCMS’s public appointments process.

This is a fast moving, influential and, at times, demanding role, supporting the Deputy Director responsible and senior DCMS officials to deliver DCMS’s appointments agenda on behalf of DCMS Ministers.

This role requires close working with senior stakeholders (both within DCMS and externally) as well as Ministers, Special Advisors, No10 and the Cabinet Office and offers the chance for extensive personal development including in delivering at pace, clarity of communication and influencing skills.

It is a really exciting role that is a great opportunity to work across DCMS and you will also have the chance to join a really fun and supportive team.

Responsibilities

Some of your responsibilities will include:

-Effective and efficient management of all Chair and Trustee appointments in a portfolio of circa 10 - 15 DCMS ALBs; supporting ALB colleagues, candidates and the Deputy Director throughout each stage of the public appointment process;

-Providing detailed, well drafted, timely advice to Ministers on appointments within your portfolio, often to tight deadlines;

-Ensuring there is a strong and diverse field of applicants for roles in your portfolio, who can bring a wealth of talent and a broad range of perspectives to ALB Boards;

-Ensuring close and effective working relations with our key stakeholders, which include; Ministers, Special Advisers, ALB Chairs and Board Secretaries, the Devolved Administrations, the Cabinet Office based Centre for Public Appointments, No 10 Appointments team and the Commissioner for Public Appointments;

-Actively contributing to the overall planning and management of public appointments, including providing data and briefings on the appointments landscape to DCMS Ministers and senior officials;

-Providing continuous improvement of the quality of public appointment processes and systems; and

-Working across government to help to set standards and share/disseminate good practice in Public Appointments.

The ideal candidate must demonstrate strong organisational skills, work at pace, have a high attention to detail and the ability to build and maintain an effective network of contacts with key senior stakeholders, both internal and external. The hiring manager will be looking for you to demonstrate your skills and experience against the following criteria in your application:

-Strong organisational skills and the ability to develop and manage processes in order to maintain a high quality service to stakeholders and provide support to a fast-paced team;

-Work collaboratively and flexibly, building trusted relationships within DCMS, across government, and with very senior external stakeholders;

-Manage competing priorities and deliver them at pace and to a high standard;

-Ability to work flexibly and overcome challenges, often under considerable time pressure;

-Highly effective oral and written communication skills, and the ability to manage senior stakeholder relationships diplomatically; and

-Ability to plan, organise and manage your time and activities to deliver a high quality, professional, reliable and efficient service, applying project and risk management approaches to support delivery of objectives.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions

Benefits

You’ll receive over 30% of your total compensation package in benefits:

Flexible working arrangements and Flexi-time

26.5 days annual leave on entry increasing to 31.5 days after 5 years’ service.

Exceptional contributory pension scheme

5 days of paid leave for L&D

3 days of paid volunteering

Parental leave up to 9 months on FULL pay

Occupational sick pay

Brilliant and engaged staff networks to join including the LGBT+, BAME, Mental Health and Wellbeing and Women’s Network.

Access to one of the world’s largest learning and development platforms

Masterclasses and talks through the DCMS Academy

Season ticket loan, Cycle to work scheme and much more!

Things you need to know

Security

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check.

See our vetting charter.

People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

To apply for this post, you will need to submit the following documentation to us. This should be completed no later than 10am on 12th January 2022 via the CS Jobs portal.

A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.

A Statement of Suitability (max 750 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the criteria listed in the ‘Essential Requirements and Desirable Skills’ section of this document.

Sift/Interview details

At this stage, the panel, including the hiring manager, will assess your experience and behaviours and select applicants demonstrating the best fit with the role by considering the evidence you have provided against the criteria set out in the ‘Essential Requirements and Desirable Skills’ section of this document. Failure to address any or all of these may affect your application.

Interviews will consist of questions where candidates will be expected to build on the information provided in their application.

The interview will be a blended assessment consisting of a series of questions against the Civil Service Success Profiles Behaviours and Strengths.

Interviews will take place remotely via Google Hangout video call. Successful applicants will join the department through our remote onboarding process.

Timelines are detailed in candidate pack.

This role can be based in London, Manchester, Darlington or Belfast. The hub locations are displayed on the job advert. Not all hub locations yet have confirmed office space - successful applicants will be expected to work remotely until this becomes available.

DCMS has a London and a National pay scale. For more information on this, including the circumstances in which each pay scale will apply, please see the candidate information pack.

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.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Any move to DCMS from another employer will mean you can no longer access 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 here

A reserve list will be held for 6 months from which further appointments can be made.

The expectation within DCMS is that staff will normally remain in post for a minimum of 12 months for band C, 18 months for band B and 24 months for band A/AU and will not apply for DCMS roles on level transfer during that time.

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 Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-Employment.Checks@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prioragreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe carried out.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the “Contact point for applicants”; section.

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 Government Recruitment Service via DCMSRecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as 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.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

Further information on nationality requirements

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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.

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.

Apply and further information

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

Further information

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact (recruitment.team@dcms.gov.uk) in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/civilservicerecruitmentcomplaints/