Assistant Private Secretary at Department for Culture, Media and Sport in Manchester

Job summary

This is an incredibly exciting time to join the DDaT team at DCMS, as we strive to collaborate across the department to deliver secure, user-centred services that drive smarter working, innovation and efficiency. We are transforming DCMS to meet the demands of an agile, delivery-focused department leading on some of the highest priority work for the government’s agenda to drive growth, enrich lives and level-up society.

Our plans include critical investment in our corporate systems, ensuring they are fit for purpose and reducing the manual input required. Equally, there is ongoing development of the way the department delivers its policy outcomes via digital and data services, using AI where needed to maximise the value these can bring to users in the department or throughout the society we serve.

You will join the newly-established Enabling team, which provides centralised coordination to support DDaT to achieve its objectives. We are a small team that delivers activity across finance, commercial, strategy, capability, comms, workforce, risk, governance and private office functions.

Job description

This role sits within the private office that supports the Chief Digital and Information Officer (CDIO) and wider DDaT SLT. The role provides dedicated administrative and strategic support to the CDIO, managing his schedule, coordinating briefings and communication, problem solving and acting as a link with the directorate and wider department and external stakeholders. This is a fast-paced and impactful role that requires excellent organisational skills, strategic thinking, and an ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously. It will suit an individual who thrives on working at pace, with meticulous organisation and a keen attention to detail. You must have good prioritisation skills to juggle the many demands on the CDIO’s time as well as the ability to quickly adapt and respond to changing circumstances.

Your main responsibilities will include:

• Providing high quality Private Office support to the CDIO, including proactive diary and inbox management, travel, minuting meetings, maintaining office systems and processes, and ensuring the DG is well prepared for meetings and events.
• Providing trusted advice and coordination across the directorate, supporting the CDIO on key and urgent issues across, spotting links and interdependencies, and acting as a point of contact for teams.
• Managing the organisation of key meetings, events, and briefings, ensuring they are well-structured, high quality, and aligned with strategic objectives.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships across a diverse network of internal and external stakeholders.
• Playing an active role in the wider DDaT Enabling team; embodying a high performing and supportive environment and endeavouring to continuously develop and improve processes and ways of working
• Line or task management of executive assistant(s)

Person specification

The ideal candidate would have the following key skills and experience, please note that desirable skills will only be used in the event of tied candidates.

Essential requirements:

● Experience of working in a Private Office or demonstrable capability in providing administrative or executive support in a fast-paced environment

● Strong organisational and prioritisation skills, with the proven ability to work flexibly and manage competing tasks to tight deadlines

● Ability to exercise sound judgement, anticipate potential issues, prioritise key tasks and escalate risks appropriately.

● Ability to use digital tools or technology to organise work, streamline processes and improve team efficiency

● Experience of working confidently with diverse stakeholders, communicating clearly and professionally with colleagues and senior leaders at all levels

Desirable skills:

• ● Experience of mailbox, diary management and travel coordination
• ● Experience of secretariat support for meetings or boards
• ● Experience of coordinating briefings, submissions or correspondence

We are running an information session where prospective applicants can find out more about the role. This will be hosted by Thembi Songo , and will take place on:

• Tuesday 20th October 2026 at 10.30 am

The session will be an opportunity to hear more about the role, the team and wider directorate and the department. It will also be an opportunity for you to ask any questions.

Please register your interest by filling out this Registration form and you will be sent an invitation. Invites will only be sent after this deadline has passed.

Please note that the session will not be recorded and will not focus on the DCMS recruitment process - please direct any queries that you have on this topic (timelines, reasonable adjustments, onboarding etc) to resourcing.team@dcms.gov.uk

Behaviours

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

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

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £36,734, Department for Culture, Media and Sport contributes

£10,641 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).

DCMS values its staff and offers a wide range of benefits to everyone who works here. We’re committed to developing talent, and supporting colleagues to have great careers in our department. To support with that, some of the benefits we offer include:

• Flexible working arrangements and hybrid working - DCMS staff work on a flexible basis with time spent in offices, and time spent working from home
• 26.5 days annual leave on entry, increasing to 31.5 days after 5 years’ service
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• Access to the Edenred employee benefits system which offers discounts to popular retailers and access to various useful resources such as financial and savings advice
• 3 days of paid volunteering leave
• Up to 9 months maternity leave on full pay + generous paternity and adoption leave
• Staff reward and recognition bonuses that operate throughout the year
• Occupational sick pay
• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme which offers staff 24/7 confidential support and resources such as counselling, debt guidance and management advice
• Active and engaged staff networks to join including the LGBT+, Ethnic Diversity, Mental Health and Wellbeing and Gender Equality Networks
• Exceptional learning and development opportunities that you can explore alongside your day to day work
• Season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme and much more!

Terms and conditions at SCS grades will vary. Those applying for SCS roles should refer to the candidate information pack for more information on terms and conditions.

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.

To apply for this vacancy, you will need to submit the following documents which will assessed against the experience success profile :

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you provide employment history that relates to the essential and desirable criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 2 x A4 pages and you should insert your CV into the "Job History" section on the Civil Service Jobs application form.
• A Statement of Suitability (max 750 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the essential requirements highlighted. You may also choose to reference the desirable skills listed however these will not be considered in the assessment of your application except in circumstances where there are a high number and calibre of candidates.

For the shortlist, we will select applicants demonstrating the best fit for the role by considering the evidence provided in your application.

In the event of a large number of applicants, an initial sift will be conducted on the statement of suitability. Those who are successful in the initial sift will then be scored on all elements of the application.

For support in writing your application and interviewing, please refer to the ‘Application and Interview Guidance’ document attached to the job advert.

The interview process will assess behaviours and strengths .

The behaviours to be tested at interview are:

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

You will not be made aware of the strengths being assessed prior to your interview.

For indicative sift and interview dates please refer to the attached Candidate Information Pack.

Your interview will take place remotely via Microsoft Teams.

Further Information

If the vacancy is offered as FTA/Loan, existing Civil Servants must join on a Loan basis only. Prior agreement to be released on loan must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

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

Any move to Department for Culture, Media and Sport 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

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

DCMS has a London and a National pay scale. For more information on this, including the circumstances in which each pay scale will apply, please see the ‘Candidate Information Pack’ attached.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

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

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.

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