Head of Private Office

Job summary

The Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) is a new arm’s-length body set up, at unprecedented pace, to administer compensation to people whose lives have been impacted by the infected blood scandal.

IBCA will ensure payment is made in recognition of the wrongs experienced by those who have been infected by HIV, Hepatitis B or C, as well as those who love and care for them. They have been frustrated and distressed by the delays in achieving proper recognition, and we must help put this right.

We are committed to putting the infected and affected blood community at the centre of every decision we make and every step we take to build our organisation to deliver compensation payments.

IBCA employees will be public servants. If successful in this role you will be appointed directly into IBCA, on IBCA terms and conditions as a public servant.

Successful applicants will join the Civil Service Pension Scheme.

Please note that the mission of IBCA means that it is likely to be fully operational for a period of approximately up to 5 years, after which IBCA will become a smaller residual service. When IBCA’s work begins to wind down, IBCA employees will receive support and practical guidance to find a new role, whether in the Civil Service, another Arms Length Body (ALB), or an external employer.

Job description

The Head of Private Office is responsible for embedding, and leading the 'One Private Office' operating model across a 30-person network. Operating in a high-stakes executive environment, this role establishes robust governance, quality assurance, and workforce capability frameworks to drive operational excellence. The postholder provides strategic counsel to Director-level stakeholders, and manages senior staff to foster an inclusive, high-performing team culture.

The role of the IBCA's Private Office is to get their principal to the right place, at the right time, with the right information, to make the right decision. As the Head of the Private Office, you will report directly to the Chief of Staff. Your role will be to ensure the Private Office effectively supports the CoS and CEO, building capability in the Private Secretaries in their role as trusted advisers, ensuring they are focused on the right priorities, equipped to make informed decisions, and able to operate effectively across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Operating Model & Strategy : Embed, and continually refine the 'One Private Office' operating model, driving consistency, efficiency, and alignment across the functional network.
• Governance & Assurance: Establish robust governance and quality assurance frameworks, ensuring clear task ownership, risk mitigation, and protection of organisational reputation.
• Capability Development & Workforce Planning: Lead strategic workforce planning across the 30-person network, identifying capability gaps and delivering targeted development to build a resilient, high-performing team.
• High level counsel & Problem Solving: Provide high-level counsel to SCS and CEO-level stakeholders on cross-organisational risks, mediating structural disputes and handling emotive or complex issues with empathy, integrity, and political sensitivity.
• Leadership & Representation: Line manages senior staff (at Grade 7 level), fostering a collaborative, inclusive 'One Team' culture, and representing the Private Office across senior leadership forums.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with the CEO Principal Private Secretary to support the Chief of Staff to align operational delivery with executive priorities, fostering an IBCA-wide perspective and shared strategic focus.

Additional information:

A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Whilst we welcome applications from those looking to work with us on a part time basis, there is a business requirement for the successful candidate to be able to work at least 30 hours per week.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Leadership and management capability: Demonstrable leadership experience including the ability to set direction for others, provide oversight of specialist work, coach and develop colleagues, and build confidence and capability across the wider team. This also includes confidence to balance competing demands, manage ambiguity, maintain momentum across multiple strands of work and remain calm under pressure. (Lead Criteria)
• Private Office: Extensive experience operating at a senior level within a Private Office or executive environment, with a proven ability to provide strategic counsel to Director Level stakeholders.
• Operating Model & Capability Building: Track record of embedding complex operating models, leading workforce planning across a wider network, and identifying capability gaps to build a strong team ethos and culture.
• Systemic Problem Solving & Governance: Success in mediating high-level structural disputes, establishing quality assurance frameworks, and ensuring clear task ownership to maintain organisational alignment and reputation.
• Strategic Leadership & Advisory: Demonstrated ability to evaluate cross-organisational risks and deliver high-level advice—particularly on sensitive or emotive matters—with diplomacy, empathy, and integrity.

Travel

There will be an expectation of weekly travel to the Newcastle office.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together
• Seeing the Big Picture

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £75,262, Infected Blood Compensation Authority contributes

£21,803 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• Premium allowance paid monthly after probation
• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and employer contributions of 28.97%
• 32.5 days of paid annual leave plus 8 bank holidays
• Family friendly policies to support you and your everyday responsibilities
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave, up to 12 months shared parental leave

Things you need to know

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, Strengths and Experience.

Application information

As part of your application, you will be asked to complete an anonymised CV, which should include your career history, skills, experience and qualifications.

You will also be asked to complete a Personal Statement, of no more than 1250 words, that demonstrates how you meet the Essential Skills for the role.

At sift, you will be assessed on your CV/Personal Statement. Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the Lead Criteria.

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to interview.

Should you be successful at sift, you will be invited to attend an interview where you will be assessed on experience, behaviours and strengths.

• Expected timeline (subject to change)
• Expected sift date – week commencing 12th October 2026
• Expected interview date/s – week commencing 2nd November 2026

Interview location - Your interview will be conducted in person at the Newcastle office.

Reasonable Adjustments

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via IBCA.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Security Clearance

Please note that this role requires SC clearance, which would normally need 5 UK residency in the past 5 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

Sponsorship

IBCA recruitment policy limits Skilled Worker visa sponsorship solely to roles designated as business-critical (internal role not prioritised as hard to fill). Because this position does not fall into that category, we will not be offering sponsorship. Therefore, to be considered for this role, you must be able to demonstrate your right to work in the UK without requiring employer sponsorship.

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to IBCA 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; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website .

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service / Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the IBCA if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

PLEASE NOTE: IBCA employees are public servants, therefore the Civil Service Nationality Rules (CSNR) do not apply.