Deputy Director, Secretary of State’s Delivery Unit
Department for Science, Innovation & Technology
Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 18th November 2024
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About the job
Job summary
We are looking for a Deputy Director to lead the Secretary of State’s new Delivery Unit.
This new Unit works closely with the Secretary of State and is focused on advancing delivery of his top priorities. The Unit tracks delivery progress, provides the Secretary of State with independent assessments of delivery, supports Secretary of State led stocktakes with his ministerial team and has the authority to intervene when delivery is off-track.
We’re looking for a delivery focused leader who can create the right environment to enable the Unit to drive delivery within DSIT to ensure we are focused on long-term, real-world outcomes.
You’ll have a strategic and collaborative mindset – a leader who is able to set clear direction to their team and build the coalitions and partnerships to deliver across the department and wider Government.
The Unit works within the Strategy and Delivery Directorate at the heart of DSIT, working alongside teams who lead on mission-driven strategy, , fiscal, legislative and devolution strategy.
Background
The Unit does 3 things:
- Provides support and challenge to test implementation plans for policy proposals to assess feasibility and whether they will deliver DSIT’s objectives
- Support the department and Secretary of State to assess delivery progress on his priorities by supporting teams in target setting, tracking the right data to understand progress trajectories, conducting rapid reviews and leading delivery stocktakes on delivery plans
- Diagnosing and solving problems – troubleshooting and working with the Secretary of State and wider government department to clear delivery blockers.
The Unit uses a range of delivery tools such as qualitative and quantitative data analysis, fieldwork, priority and rapid reviews and stocktakes to understand and bring delivery to life, acting as a trusted ally to the Secretary of State and the department.
Job description
This is an important leadership role for a new Government that has made clear how critical science and technology is to enabling the five national missions, growing the economy and improving people’s lives.
You will be responsible for shaping this new team and scoping their focus to ensure the work of the department is having real-world impact. You’ll work to build and bed in a strong and inclusive team culture - recognising the benefit of different ways of thinking, rewarding success and agility
You’ll confidently use and present data and evidence to draw conclusions. You’ll provide independent challenge to the department internally and work with other sources of scrutiny and challenge across Government (No10, CO, HMT etc), to ensure DSIT is accountable for whether we are achieving what we set out to.
The team’s successful licence to operate will be built on you building collaborative relationships across the department, wider Government and beyond to deliver results.
Person specification
Essential skills
- Excellent leadership skills with a strong track record of articulating a big picture strategic vision and driving forward to deliver it
- Ability to build capability and provide visible, positive and inclusive leadership
- A strong collaborator with proven ability to build coalitions to deliver shared objectives and navigate through tensions where there are different interests and equities
- Proven experience of building trusted relationships with Ministers.
- A strong communicator, able to communicate with clarity, conviction and impact and to confidently represent DSIT across HMG and beyond.
- Ability to work at pace and adapt quickly to changing priorities.
Desirable skills
- Experience of more than one of DSIT’s subject matter areas.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
- Leadership
Benefits
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology offers a competitive mix of benefits including:
- A culture of flexible working, such as job sharing, homeworking and compressed hours.
- Automatic enrolment into the Civil Service Pension Scheme, with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
- A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.
- An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities, which all staff are actively encouraged to pursue.
- Access to a range of retail, travel and lifestyle employee discounts.
- A hybrid office/home based working model where staff will spend a norm of 40-60% of their time in the office (minimum of 40%) over a month with flex dependent on balancing business and individual need.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Drop in Sessions
We will be hosting two information sessions for people who have questions:
Monday 11th November: 2:30pm - 2:50pm
Thursday 14th November: 3:00pm - 3:20pm
If you are interested in attending, please reach out to sidpo@dsit.gov.uk
To apply for this post please follow the instructions on the CS Jobs website by no later than 23:55, Monday 18th November 2024. As part of the application process you are asked to complete the following:
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 1000 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.
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.
Should you encounter any issues with your online application please get in touch with: scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.
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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).
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : SCS Candidate
- Email : scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
