Chief Executive, Civil Service Commission
| Posting date: | 23 May 2024 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £75,000 to £117,800 per year |
| Additional salary information: | Non civil servants will be expected to start at the salary minimum if successful. Standard pay rules apply for existing civil servants. |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 16 June 2024 |
| Location: | London |
| Company: | Government Recruitment Service |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 354161/1 |
Summary
The Civil Service Commission
The Commission is an independent Executive Non-Departmental Public Body of the Cabinet Office, whose secretariat staff of circa 28 members supports two other ‘Independent Offices’: the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments and the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The Chief Executive is the senior official overseeing the secretariat functions of the Commission which also provides a support function to the other independent offices. The Commission exists to provide assurance that civil servants are selected on merit on the basis of fair and open competition and to help safeguard an impartial Civil Service. These functions are set out in the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010. More information on this can be found on the Commission’s website.
This is a critical leadership role at the heart of the Commission where you will enjoy close working relationships with the First Civil Service Commissioner as well as other Commissioners, Senior Civil Servants and Ministers. You will be responsible for setting the strategic direction of the Commission; agreeing and delivering business plans; providing strong leadership to the secretariat and wider ‘Independent Offices’; ensuring the appropriate governance arrangements are in place and operating effectively; and acting as the principal policy adviser on all Commission-related issues as well as the Commission’s Accounting Officer.
You will need to be able to advise the First Civil Service Commissioner and other Commissioners in the discharge of their regulatory and statutory functions. Given this, the role requires demonstrable experience of working within regulatory frameworks, either as a regulator or regulated body within the private or public sectors. An understanding of the role of a regulator in terms of enabling and facilitation is also essential.
It is not commonplace for Senior Civil Service pay band 1 roles to include being a designated Accounting Officer, which usually occurs at more senior grades, and this role therefore offers an excellent development opportunity for future career progression in the Senior Civil Service.
Key responsibilities of the post holder will be:
- Guiding the Commission through a period of change and transition in terms of its corporate governance and organisational structures.
- Setting the strategic direction of the organisations, and helping to shape and embed the new governance arrangements.
- Discharging the responsibilities as Accounting Officer for the Commission.
- Providing leadership and policy advice to ensure day-to-day delivery of the Commission’s and Commissioners’ functions.
- Providing leadership and management to a team of circa 28 staff, including six direct reports
- Developing the policy, strategy and communications plan to ensure the Commission is an influential and independent voice in the discussions about Civil Service recruitment and Civil Service reform.
- Acting as the main interface with the sponsor department (Cabinet Office) and Director of Propriety & Ethics as Senior Sponsor.
- Enhancing further the Commission’s use of data and information systems to support and justify policy decisions made, including those relating to the compliance regime of the 72 regulated bodies.
- Making effective and timely decisions on business cases from regulated bodies requesting approval to use an Exception to the Recruitment Principles.
- Making effective and timely decisions as required on complaints and appeals in respect of adherence to the Recruitment Principles and/or concerns being raised under the Civil Service Code, where appropriate.
- Personally developing and maintaining effective relationships with key senior stakeholders in a number of the mid-size regulated bodies (Commissioners hold the relationship management responsibility for the 20 main government departments directly).
- Overseeing the relationship management activity of the ‘secretariat’ with the remaining smaller bodies.
- Supporting the board of Commissioners, improving resilience and capability across the Commissioners, improving induction, and looking for opportunities to share best practice.
- Managing a budget of circa £2m and ensuring financial controls and regulations are adhered to.
- Providing leadership and management to deliver considered policy advice to ensure day-to-day delivery of the functions of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments and the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
- You will be required to produce an audited Annual Report and Accounts each year, which must be presented to Parliament.
- Through your leadership behaviours, bring out the best in your team to deliver their objectives, encourage and support their development, and maintain a constructive working environment, even in fast-paced and challenging times.