Assistant Speaker's Secretary
| Posting date: | 04 March 2024 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £56,180 to £66,497 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 18 March 2024 |
| Location: | Westminster, London, SW1A 0AA |
| Company: | House of Commons |
| Job type: | Contract |
| Job reference: | 5295_1709566242 |
Summary
House of Commons
The House of Commons is a unique and exciting place to work right at the heart of the UK's thriving democratic system.
Behind the scenes, the House of Commons Service is made up of more than 3,000 employees who support and facilitate the smooth day to day running of the House. They provide professional services to Members of Parliament, their staff, and the wider parliamentary community.
Staff Benefits
In addition to your salary, we offer an attractive range of benefits including:
- 30 days' annual leave (increasing to 35 days after first full leave year).
- Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%.
- Access to training and development.
- Flexible working.
- Interest free season ticket loan and bicycle loan.
Introduction
The Speaker's Office provides support to the Speaker of the House of Commons in the execution of his official duties. The Speaker's Office team undertakes work ranging from:
- Ensuring that the business in the Chamber runs smoothly before the House sits and during the sitting itself (producing speaking lists, processing requests for urgent questions and ministerial statements, giving the Speaker guidance when in the Chair);
- Responding to Members, colleagues and public about points of procedure and handling a high volume and wide range of other queries;
- Arranging official events and international conferences, overseeing diplomatic and protocol arrangements for a variety of meetings with senior stakeholders;
- Managing heritage state apartments with works of art and historical objects collections;
- Managing the Speaker's social media channels and producing internal and external communications;
- Supporting the Speaker in his various roles as Chair of the House of Commons Commission, Speaker's Committee on IPSA, Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, Honorary Joint- President of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK (CPA UK) and British Group Inter-Parliamentary Union (BGIPU).
The Role
As Assistant Speaker's Secretary, within the Chamber and Parliamentary function of the office, this post will support the Speaker's Secretary, who is in the Chamber whenever the Speaker is and who takes the lead in the office on procedural matters. The postholder will have responsibility for the work of the office which relate to the House of Commons Chamber and parliamentary business. This role is therefore integral to the running of the daily business of the House - it manages the high-profile, highly visible, core 'business as usual' work of the office which must run smoothly to facilitate Members of Parliament in their roles as elected representatives, the Government in its role of legislating, and the Opposition being able to effectively scrutinise the work of Government.
A core focus of the postholder will be to ensure that the office continues to provide excellent customer service for Members, their staff, House Service and civil service colleagues and thereafter constantly seeks improvements in order to deliver the best service possible.
Some of the responsibilities for this role include:
- Oversee daily preparation for business in the Chamber, including processing applications for Urgent Questions and emergency debates; processing information about Government statements and collating requests for Members to speak in debates and preparation for each day's Oral Questions, including Prime Ministers Questions.
- Undertake daily duties in the House of Commons Chamber with the Speaker's Secretary, including spotting, identifying, and recording Members who try to 'catch the Speaker's eye' to speak and managing the choreography of the Chamber from the perspective of the Chair, working with the Whips.
- Overseeing efficient management of Speaker's Office correspondence whether from Members, colleagues in the House or members of the public - monitoring the team to ensure that all messages are acknowledged and dealt with satisfactorily within agreed timescales, following best customer service practice at all times.
- Lead on the Speaker's Office contribution to internal ceremonial activity working with colleagues in the Lords.
Skills and Experience
To be successful in this role you will demonstrate:
- Ability to quickly develop an expert understanding of the demands of Parliament, particularly the demands on Members and their staff and able to be responsive and flexible to these demands with short notice.
- Significant experience of working effectively across a range of stakeholders, with conflicting priorities, and the ability to successfully negotiate and influence to achieve desired outcomes.
- Well-developed oral communication skills with ability to provide authoritative advice to Members of Parliament and present to a diverse audience in an insightful and nuanced manner when required. Ability to draft clear, concise and accurate briefing material or correspondence, sometimes on unfamiliar topics.
- Proven ability in strong planning, organisational and people skills, including the ability to approach challenges analytically, exercise impeccable independent but informed judgements, work calmly and flexibly under pressure and manage competing priorities and changing deadlines.
- Experience of bringing ceremonial events to successful delivery on time. Experience of resource management, ability to meet KPIs and learn lessons for continuous improvement.
Next Steps and Additional Information
- Application Form - If you would like to apply for this role, please submit an application providing evidence against criteria 1-5 in the Job Description.
More information on the role and the full criteria can be found in the Job Description.
Please note that most job offers will be made at the minimum of the salary range, other than in exceptional circumstances.
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