Sponsor for The British Library and The National Archives
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 24th November 2024
Details
Reference number
Salary
Job grade
Contract type
Loan
Secondment
Length of employment
Business area
Type of role
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
About the job
Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity to join the high-profile and fast-paced Arts & Libraries team, which sits within the Culture & Creative Industries (CCI) directorate. Over 100 colleagues in CCI work across the creative industries, arts, and museums sectors, supported by a team of analysts. We aim to protect and promote the long term resilience of the very best of our nation’s cultural and creative assets to ensure they are made available to the widest possible audience, both at home and abroad, to improve the quality of life of individuals and communities.
The Arts & Libraries team mission is to engage and support our world-leading arts and culture sector in order to increase the personal, economic and social benefits of culture at a local and national level, through effective public investment and policy making.
The Libraries team not only sponsors the British Library and The National Archives, but is responsible for public library policy including superintending the delivery of public library services by local authorities.
Job description
The post-holder will be responsible for managing the day-to-day sponsor relationship with the British Library, The National Archives and the Advisory Council on National Records and Archives (ACNRA). As the first point of contact for most issues, you will have exposure to, and contact with, senior colleagues in both the public bodies themselves and the department.
This is a stretching SEO post with plenty of opportunity to demonstrate high levels of autonomy and self-direction within a supportive and good humoured team.
Amongst other things, the post holder will be responsible for:
- Managing live and strategic issues, including identifying and navigating issues that arise and applying a high degree of political awareness, autonomy and discretion where required.
- Liaising with British Library, and providing scrutiny, on business cases for major capital projects
- Briefing ministers and senior leaders on general and specific issues in relation to BL and TNA, using expertise from across department and/or public bodies as needed.
Person specification
The ideal candidate would have the following key skills and experience:
Essential requirements
- Very good communication, stakeholder and relationship management skills; ability to persuade and influence senior and/or external colleagues, often dealing with those in very senior and prominent positions externally.
- Ability to analyse a wide range of complex information, think critically, and articulate detailed issues into recommendations for senior officials and stakeholders, and to draw out lessons and wider implications in processes and policies.
- Experience of problem solving, analysis, and working on contentious or high profile issues, and experience of getting up to speed quickly with issues.
- Experience of bringing together expert advice from others (eg financial, commercial or legal) to understand wider implications and to inform discussions and recommendations, challenging where necessary.
Desirable requirements
- Sponsorship experience - understanding of the regulatory and control environment for sponsored Public Bodies, including some understanding of the range of technical, complex financial, legal, operational and policy issues, controls, and approval processes relating to Public Bodies.
- Experience of making judgement calls and developing solutions, acting decisively, working autonomously, including on contentious or complex issues where there may be no precedent.
We are running an information session where prospective applicants can find out more about the role. This will be hosted by Jenny Harland, and will take place on:
- 13 November, 2:00-3:00pm
The session will be an opportunity to hear more about the role, the team and wider directorate and the department. It will also be an opportunity for you to ask any questions.
Please register your interest by filling out this form - register your interest - and you will be sent an invitation.
Please note that the session will not focus on the DCMS recruitment process - please direct any queries that you have on this topic (timelines, reasonable adjustments, onboarding etc) to recruitment.team@dcms.gov.uk.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
- Making Effective Decisions
- Seeing the Big Picture
Benefits
DCMS values its staff and offers a wide range of benefits to everyone who works here. We’re committed to developing talent, and supporting colleagues to have great careers in our department. To support with that, some of the benefits we offer include:
Flexible working arrangements and hybrid working - DCMS staff work on a flexible basis with time spent in offices, and time spent working from home
26.5 days annual leave on entry, increasing to 31.5 days after 5 years’ service
A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
Access to the Edenred employee benefits system which offers discounts to popular retailers and access to various useful resources such as financial and savings advice
3 days of paid volunteering leave
Up to 9 months maternity leave on full pay + generous paternity and adoption leave
Staff reward and recognition bonuses that operate throughout the year
Occupational sick pay
Access to the Employee Assistance Programme which offers staff 24/7 confidential support and resources such as counselling, debt guidance and management advice
Active and engaged staff networks to join including the LGBT+, Ethnic Diversity, Mental Health and Wellbeing and Gender Equality Networks
Exceptional learning and development opportunities that you can explore alongside your day to day work
Season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme and much more!
Terms and conditions at SCS grades will vary. Those applying for SCS roles should refer to the candidate information pack for more information on terms and conditions.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
To apply for this vacancy, you will need to submit the following documents which will assessed against the experience success profile:
- A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you provide employment history that relates to the essential and desirable criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 2 x A4 pages and you should insert your CV into the "Job History" section on Civil Service Jobs on the Civil Service Jobs application form.
- 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 in reference to the essential requirements highlighted. You may also choose to reference the desirable skills listed however these will not be considered in the assessment of your application except in circumstances where there are a high number and calibre of candidates.
For the shortlist, we will assess your experience and select applicants demonstrating the best fit for the role by considering the evidence provided in your application.
In the event of a large number of applicants, an initial sift will be conducted on the statement of suitability. Those who are successful in the initial sift will then be scored on all elements of the application.
For support in writing your application and interviewing, please refer to the ‘Application and Interview Guidance’ document attached to the job advert.
The interview process will assess behaviours, strengths, and experience through an oral presentation which will be provided prior to interview.
Behaviours to be tested at interview are detailed below:
- Communicating and influencing
- Working Together
- Making Effective Decisions
- Seeing the Big Picture
You will be sent the behaviour questions in advance of the interview.
You will not be told the strengths questions being assessed in advance of the interview.
As part of your interview, you will be asked to deliver a short oral presentation. Full details of this, including the topic, length of time, and whether or not you will need to use visual aids, will be sent to you prior to your interview.
For indicative sift and interview dates please refer to the attached Candidate Information Pack.
Your interview will take place remotely via GoogleMeets.
Further Information
If the vacancy is offered as FTA/Loan, existing Civil Servants must join on a Loan basis only. Prior agreement to be released on loan 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.
This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Any move to Department for Culture, Media and Sport 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 https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
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 ‘Information for Applicants’ document.
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 circumstances 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-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter
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.
Reasonable Adjustment
We are committed to supporting candidates so they can perform at their best throughout the recruitment process. This includes making reasonable adjustments to our process.
In order to request an adjustment, please:
Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section on 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 a verbal test rather than a written one.
Alternatively, contact the Government Recruitment Service via dcmsrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Accessibility
If you are experiencing accessibility difficulties with any of the attachments, please contact us. Contact details can be found in the 'contact point for applicants' section of the job advert.
Feedback
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Jenny Harland
- Email : jenny.harland@dcms.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : dcmsrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
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/
