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Parliamentary Team - Parliamentary Officer

Posting date:	26 July 2024
Salary:	£32,000 to £33,600 per year
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	18 August 2024
Location:	London
Company:	Government Recruitment Service
Job type:	Permanent
Job reference:	362994/1

Summary

The Home Office has one of the most challenging and critical jobs in Whitehall: to keep Britain safe, secure our Borders and protect the vulnerable. We operate at the heart of the Government's agenda, leading on immigration and passports, drugs policy, crime policy, counter-extremism and counter-terrorism and state threats, and work to ensure visible, responsive and accountable policing in the UK. The challenges the department faces are significant and can change rapidly in the global environment in which we operate, making this one of the most exciting and stimulating Government departments in which to work.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Home Office parliamentary business and legislation team, working in the Home Secretary's Private Office. It is responsible for planning and shaping the department’s engagement with Parliament, working across all areas of the Home Office. The successful job holders will have significant responsibility including directly briefing ministers, special advisers, and senior officials.

Three roles in the parliamentary business and legislation team are available with excellent opportunities to cover high-profile and fast paced work with ministerial attention and interest from Parliament. The roles provide an excellent opportunity to hone parliamentary handling skills in a high-profile environment.

The post holders will each play a key role in ensuring that the Home Office is meeting parliamentary and No10 deadlines. Each role will need someone able to prioritise work and to respond to changing deadlines.

Role 1 – Parliamentary Questions

You will be responsible for ensuring that Parliamentary Questions received by the Home Office are being drafted by officials and receiving timely clearance from both special advisers and ministers.

In addition, you will also be expected to assist with a range of other parliamentary work as the need arises including:

• Assisting with allocating and answering Parliamentary Questions
• Preparation for ministers’ appearances at Home Office Oral Questions (preparing and quality assuring briefing, printing, flagging, etc.);
• Leading on providing information and advice on All Party Parliamentary Groups.
• Assisting with parliamentary outreach and training to the wider Home Office.
• Leading on managing relations with the Home Office Whips and parliamentary private secretaries.

Role 2 – Legislative strategy

You will assist with the management and delivery of the department’s legislative programme (primary and secondary), co-ordinating with all relevant teams, private offices, and special advisers to ensure that ministers are provided with comprehensive parliamentary advice and the department’s obligations to Parliament are met.

In addition, you will be expected to carry out and co-ordinate key research on parliamentary handling, engagement, and strategy, and assist with the laying of secondary legislation. You will also provide secretariat support to the departmental Legislation Board.

Role 3 – Parliament, legislation, and external affairs co-ordination

You will assist the Deputy Director for Parliament, Legislation, and External Affairs, and will work closely with her leadership team to ensure the smooth running of the Unit. Your duties will include managing the emails and diaries for both the Deputy Director and Head of Parliamentary Business and Legislation, ensuring the department receives a good service from the Unit. You will also direct and assign work appropriately, including commissioning actions such as drafting, updates, and briefings, and will lead responses to Freedom of Information requests on behalf of Private Office.

Other ad hoc tasks to support the wider parliamentary and legislative strategy teams will be required where needed, with support from colleagues.

Important information

• The roles are based in 2 Marsham Street, London. The team also spends time in both Houses of Parliament and the wider parliamentary estate.
• Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working.  This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estates capacity. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details).
• This position is full-time due to business needs.