Director of Strategy
Intellectual Property Office
Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 28th October 2024
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Type of role
Operational Delivery
Policy
Senior leadership
Strategy
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About the job
Job summary
About the role
The Director of Strategy is a key senior member of the IPO Board, supporting the Chief Executive in delivering the IPO’s mission, strategy and corporate plan, as well as acting as a visible senior leader across the whole of the IPO.
The role holder is responsible for leading a directorate of c.75 people and the management of a diverse portfolio of corporate activities, including high-quality planning and governance, cross-government stakeholder coordination, oversight of our change management office, and responsibility for our research and economics function and programme.
This role offers a unique opportunity to influence the strategic direction of the IPO while playing a vital part in the organisation’s overall governance and operational effectiveness. The Director of Strategy will be instrumental in ensuring that the IPO remains at the forefront of intellectual property innovation and leadership.
The successful applicant will be an experienced senior leader with experience of managing a diverse portfolio of corporate activity and creating the right environment for people to excel. They’ll role model our leadership qualities of ‘inspiring, accountable, curious, adaptable, trusting and trustworthy, and kind’, and be committed to making the IPO be the best organisation it can be for our customers and our people.
Job description
Main responsibilities:
This is a senior leadership role with wide-ranging responsibilities. They include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Leadership of the Strategy Directorate (c.75 people), ensuring strong delivery supported by an inclusive, high-performance culture where staff are ‘Adaptable, Accountable, and Connected’
• Serve as a critical member of the IPO Board, providing strategic input and decision-making to shape the direction of the IPO, and providing senior leadership to all within the organisation.
• Effective delivery of the IPO’s strategy; working closely with other directors to align activities with the overall mission and corporate objectives.
• Oversee the IPO’s corporate planning processes; ensuring they are robust, effective, and aligned with the organisation’s long-term goals.
• Manage corporate governance to a high standard, including engagement with Ministerial and Private Offices, as well as other senior stakeholders.
• Oversee the IPO’s Project Management Office (PMO) and shape the organisation’s change management function.
• Ensure that the IPO’s research and economics program is closely matched to policy outcomes.
• Develop the capability and skills of the directorate, ensuring the appropriate resources are in place to meet stakeholder and organisation needs
Person specification
What we’re looking for
Candidates will be expected to demonstrate through the selection process the following skills and experience:
• Strong leadership skills with experience of inspiring and empowering diverse teams, including teams of specialists, and driving up engagement, capability, professional excellence and performance to achieve quality outcomes.
• Our leadership qualities of ‘inspiring, accountable, curious, adaptable, trusting and trustworthy, and kind’,
• Proven experience in leading and managing a diverse portfolio of corporate activity; shaping its direction, performance, capacity, culture, values and goals.
• Strong ability to prioritise and set clear direction in a constantly changing environment; delivering results that provide value for money and maintain high delivery standards.
• Excellent influencing and communication skills, demonstrating the ability to work collaboratively across peers on the IPO board, Directorate leadership, the wider IPO, and other government departments; communicating complex issues clearly and concisely.
A keen interest in IP is desirable but not essential.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Making Effective Decisions
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.
Intellectual Property Office Benefits:
- Cycle to work scheme
- Discounts on selected High Street Retailers
- Chiropractors and massage therapy on site at a discounted rate
- Eye-care vouchers
- Childcare vouchers
- Parent network groups
- Excellent development opportunities including access to technical and nontechnical training
- Opportunities for secondments, both internal and external
- Armed Forces: Reservist training 15 days a year for training five days for annual cadet camp
- Armed Forces: Reservist mobilisation not less than three months and no more than 12 months in five years
- Travel Season ticket loan
- Annual summer/winter food market with local vendors
Our Newport HQ Facilities include:
- Coffee shops and restaurant
- Self serve convenience shops
- Hairdressers
- Gym
- Nursery facilities
- Shower and changing rooms
- Access to Tredegar House National Trust grounds
- Bike racks and electric bikes to borrow
- On-site parking and car share spaces
- Electric vehicle charging points
Things you need to know
Selection process details
How to Apply
To apply for this post, please send us the following documents no later than 23:55 on 28/10/2024 via the Civil Service Jobs portal:
A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements and relevant professional qualifications. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years; and
A Statement of Suitability (no more than 1,000 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 in the person specification.
Assessments
Staff Engagement Exercise (SEE)
Shortlisted candidates will be asked to prepare and present a five minute presentation to a group of staff of varying grades, representative of the business area/organisation where the role will be based. The staff will then ask questions and have a discussion with the applicant for 30 minutes.
The interaction will be witnessed and recorded by an Occupational Psychologist (OP) who will provide feedback and observations in a written report provided to the final interview panel. The presentation topic will be provided to short listed candidates. The staff engagement will not lead to a pass or fail decision; rather, it is intended to highlight areas of strength and possible concerns which the panel can probe
at interview.
Please note that this assessment is due to be held remotely via Microsoft Teams/in person at the Newport office the week commencing 18th November 2024.
Individual Leadership Assessment (ILA)
Psychometric Assessments
Candidates will complete a range of online psychometric tests - mainly personality questionnaires but often including aptitude tests and the profiles/results are interpreted by an Occupational Psychologist (OP).
The OP facilitates a remote interview with the candidate in order to validate and discuss the profiles/results in relation to their career and leadership style. Evidence from the interview and psychometrics is processed and summarised in a written report provided to a final interview panel, covering the main themes and recommending areas for the panel to probe the candidate at interview.
Please note that this assessment is due to be held remotely via Microsoft Teams the week commencing 18th November 2024.
Interview
Interviews are due to be held the week commencing 2nd December 2024 and further information will be provided after sift.
You will be asked to attend a panel interview in order to have a more in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification.
Interviews will consist of questions where candidates will be expected to build on the information provided in their personal statement and CV. Candidates may be asked to prepare a short presentation on a topic to be advised if/when invited to the interview stage.
The following behaviours will be assessed at interview:
• Leadership
• Communication and Influencing
• Working Together
• Seeing the bigger picture
• Making effective decisions
You may also have the opportunity to speak to the vacancy holder prior to the closing date to learn more about the role and the organisation. Please note this is not part of the formal assessment process. We may take up references for shortlisted candidates prior to interview. Please contact Alex.Sparkes@ipo.gov.uk if you would like to organise this.
Indicative Timeline
Please note that these dates are only indicative at this stage and could be subject to change. If you are unable to meet these time frames, please let us know by contacting scsrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. Please ensure you quote the job title and reference number in
your e-mail.
• Launch 04/10/24
• Close 28/10/24
• Shortlist w/c 11/11/24
• Assessments w/c 18/11/24
• Interviews w/c 02/12/14 (held in Newport)
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.
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 : SCS Candidate
- Email : scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
