Royal Air Force – Policy Secretariat Desk Officer Full Time

Job Summary

Do you thrive in a dynamic environment where no day is ever the same? Do you have excellent communication skills and an ability to turn complex issues into clear advice at pace? If you answered yes, we want to hear from you!

This is an excellent opportunity to join a dedicated team working at the heart of the Headquarters of Air and Space Command. The Air Policy Secretariat branch is a high performing team of civil servants with significant policy and parliamentary business expertise. It is one of the busiest secretariats in Defence and is responsible for all Parliamentary and Ministerial business relating to the RAF.

The pivotal role of the Policy Secretariat branch places it at the heart of Air, Space and Defence business, covering everything from operations, equipment, training and personnel issues. Team members work closely with senior leadership across Headquarters Air Command and MOD including Ministerial and Press Offices.

You will be a vital team member, relying on your excellent drafting skills to prepare clear and concise responses to parliamentary questions, ministerial correspondence and Freedom of Information Requests. You will also respond to correspondence from members of the public on behalf of the RAF.

This role is suitable for hybrid working. Job holders may work from home or another MOD site, with regular attendance at High Wycombe and MOD Main Building as required based on individual, team and business needs.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week. Part-time or Job-share will only be considered provided full time hours can be covered.

Job Description

What will the successful candidate be doing?

• Contribute to the effective delivery of all Parliamentary business relating to the RAF, including Ministerial Correspondence, Parliamentary Questions, Treat Officials, Freedom of Information Act requests, ensuring that correspondence is completed within Departmental and legally mandated timescales.
• Support Ministers in their accountability to Parliament through the provision of high-quality advice on relevant aspects of the RAF including on matters of policy, Parliamentary and media interest which can be relied on without question.
• Alongside your colleagues, contribute to a positive, supportive team culture in Air Policy Secretariat.
• Support Media and Comms colleagues handle emerging news events for both national and regional media enquiries and prepare briefings.

The work is high profile, involving regular liaison with Ministerial offices, RAF Senior Leadership Team and media colleagues. This is an interesting and busy role in a fast-paced environment, providing an excellent opportunity to develop skills and experience in the MOD’s policy profession. You will be part of a focused, friendly and supportive team and will be required to work alongside a variety of stakeholders to produce the output required.

Ministerial requests are numerous and often with short timescales so a clear head and an ability to deliver at pace is crucial. This role would suit a motivated individual who is able to prioritise effectively and respond to changing priorities, balancing short-and-long term pieces of work. High-quality communication skills, the ability to deliver at pace and excellent organisational skills are essential.

What will the successful candidate be doing?

• Contribute to the effective delivery of all Parliamentary business relating to the RAF, including Ministerial Correspondence, Parliamentary Questions, Treat Officials, Freedom of Information Act requests, ensuring that correspondence is completed within Departmental and legally mandated timescales.
• Support Ministers in their accountability to Parliament through the provision of high-quality advice on relevant aspects of the RAF including on matters of policy, Parliamentary and media interest which can be relied on without question.
• Alongside your colleagues, contribute to a positive, supportive team culture in Air Policy Secretariat.
• Support Media and Comms colleagues handle emerging news events for both national and regional media enquiries and prepare briefings.

The work is high profile, involving regular liaison with Ministerial offices, RAF Senior Leadership Team and media colleagues. This is an interesting and busy role in a fast-paced environment, providing an excellent opportunity to develop skills and experience in the MOD’s policy profession. You will be part of a focused, friendly and supportive team and will be required to work alongside a variety of stakeholders to produce the output required.

Ministerial requests are numerous and often with short timescales so a clear head and an ability to deliver at pace is crucial. This role would suit a motivated individual who is able to prioritise effectively and respond to changing priorities, balancing short-and-long term pieces of work. High-quality communication skills, the ability to deliver at pace and excellent organisational skills are essential.

Person specification

• An individual with strong organisational skills and the ability to track and oversee a wide spectrum of secretariat business across their portfolio.
• The ability to create high-quality written content, translating complex military language into clear, straightforward messaging. From preparing ministerial briefs to answering Freedom of Information requests, your words will play a crucial role in communicating key messages to a varied audience.
• The ability to develop strong relationships, engaging positively with stakeholders and co-ordinating activity with other teams.
• A team player, someone who is ready and willing to support colleagues and work collegiately.
• The ability to make effective decisions and demonstrate good judgement for issues which may need escalation/attract political attention.
• Excellent research skills, a keen eye for detail and the ability to analyse and interpret complex information and data, presenting it in an accessible way.
• An individual who is interested in politics, the workings of parliament and defence issues.

While experience of dealing with Ministers and parliamentary casework would be useful, it is not essential as training and support will be provided.

Behaviours

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

Alongside your salary of £30,740, Ministry of Defence contributes £8,905 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Benefits Include, But Are Not Limited To

• Flexible working
• Training and personal development opportunities
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• 25 days paid annual leave rising to 30 days on completion of 5 years’ service
• In addition to 8 public holidays per year you will also receive leave for HM The King’s birthday
• A highly competitive Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave
• Subsidised membership to a fitness suite and lunchtime/evening Military led fitness classes
• Café and shop on site

The post does not offer relocation expenses.

External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.

Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.

Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.

MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Please present your evidence using the S.T.A.R. format (Situation, Task, Action, Result)

Applicants are strongly advised to ensure that their submission uses the STAR format and demonstrates the behaviours detailed at EO level in the Civil Service Success Profiles – Civil Service Behaviours booklet.   Comprehensive coverage on Success Profiles can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles 

Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience.

Candidates will be required to provide a statement of suitability in no more than 250 words.

At sift, you will be assessed against your CV, Statement of suitability and the following Behaviours:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

At interview, you will be asssessed against the following Behaviours:

• Seeing the Bigger Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk .

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came in to effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system.

Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

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).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

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).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job Contact

• Name : Matthew O’Sullivan
• Email : Air-DRes-PolSec@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk

Further information

Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address: Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email: info@csc.gov.uk.