CSSU pilots - Junior-level (HEO)

Job summary

The Civil Service Strategy Unit (CSSU) is at the heart of the government's agenda for change, aimed at growing the economy and improving people's lives right across the United Kingdom. We are an active part of the Future Civil Service Group (FCS), whose mission is simple: to make it easier for people to get great things done across the civil service and wider public sector. With FCS Group colleagues, we aim to improve speed, efficiency and innovation in improving public services, making them joined-up, resilient and effective in meeting the public's needs and expectations.

In CSSU we ensure that priority, cross cutting reform initiatives are developed, prioritised, delivered and scaled. With a direct link to the Civil Service Chief Operating Officer and liaison with Ministers, we have the ability to champion reform issues at the highest levels of government. This is an ambitious role looking at all aspects of the Civil Service, it is focusing on how we can radically improve our people, organisation, and digital use in departments, functions, professions and public bodies. We are a delivery-focused "think-and-do" tank where you can iterate, test, and fail fast, learning lessons on the way to find what truly works. CSSU has been newly reshaped in order to be more agile to the key strategic issues. The Directorate consists of around 50+ staff, located across the UK, who work together to deliver high quality strategic advice.

The role:

This is an excellent opportunity for a highly motivated and detail-oriented HEO to provide essential support for the CSSU and Future Civil Service (FCS) pilots workstream. Working closely with the G7 and SEO, you will play a crucial role in gathering evidence that underpins our pilots including across international comparators. Your work will be instrumental in ensuring data is well-managed, workstreams are well managed, and that senior-level reports are built on accurate, robust information, helping to drive a more agile and productive Civil Service. You will also support international engagement and finding best practice where needed.

Job description

Duties Involved:

• Research & Information Gathering: Conduct thorough research to support the baselining, design and evaluation of the pilots workstream, gathering information from various sources inside and outside government.
• Briefing & Reporting Support: Contribute to the preparation of reports and briefings by collating data, formatting documents, and ensuring all content is accurate and ready for review.
• Data Collection & Management: Own the collection and accuracy of all data for the assigned pilot workstreams. Maintain central trackers and databases with the latest information and insights.
• Stakeholder Liaison: Act as a key point of contact for routine queries and information requests from internal and external stakeholders regarding pilot workstream logistics and data.
• Logistics & Administrative Support: Provide logistical, Project management, and administrative support for pilot workstream-related meetings and workshops across departments. This includes scheduling, minute-taking, and action-tracking.
• Team Contribution: Support the G7 and SEO with ad-hoc administrative tasks and contribute to the overall effectiveness of the team.

Person specification

The work of this team is highly dynamic and requires a proactive approach. The successful candidate must demonstrate

• Exceptional flexibility and agility , with the ability to respond to new and changing strategic priorities.
• This includes the ability to create clarity in ambiguity by working iteratively on proposals and solutions, often in a sprint-based approach.
• We require critical problem-solving skills to perform effectively in a complex environment and
• A proven capacity for influencing and delivering through others to ensure we achieve our strategic objectives.
• Organisation & Attention to Detail: Exceptional organisational skills and a meticulous approach to detail, ensuring all data and documentation is accurate and well-managed.
• Data Literacy: Strong ability to work with and manage data in spreadsheets (e.g., Google Sheets, Excel).
• Communication: Clear, concise, and accurate written and verbal communication.
• Proactive Problem-Solving: A proactive and can-do attitude, with the ability to identify and resolve administrative issues.
• Teamwork: A supportive and proactive approach to working within a small team.

Distribution of tasks

The percentages below represent an indicative average distribution of effort across a typical work cycle.

• Data Management & Research: 35% (Leading data collection and research for all pilots).
• Briefing & Reporting Support: 25% (Collating data and drafting sections of reports and briefings).
• Logistics & Administrative Support: 30% (Providing logistical and administrative support for meetings and workshops, Project managing workstreams).
• Stakeholder Liaison: 10% (Acting as a key point of contact for routine queries).

Additional information:

Cabinet Office policy is that a minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. For some roles, due to their nature and the business need, this may be up to 100%. Requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Changing and Improving

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £39,250, Cabinet Office contributes

£11,370 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).

• 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%.
• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30.

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 and Experience.

Application process

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, and a personal statement.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

• Personal statement - Please provide a personal statement of no more than 750 words. It should explain how your knowledge, skills and experience (using examples) meet the requirements for this role in line with the Success Profile element(s) being assessed (e.g. Behaviours, Experience etc). Using the job advert information, particularly the job description and person specification. Information is available on the application process (including what Civil Service Success Profiles is) and how to write your personal statement .
• CV (no longer than two pages)

An initial sift based on Personal Statement may be held if a large number of applications are received. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift.

The interview will be of the following Success Profiles elements:

Behaviours:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Changing and Improving

• Expected timeline (subject to change)
• Expected sift date – tbc
• Expected interview date/s – tbc

Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.

Further Information

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

Any move to Cabinet Office 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 .

Reasonable Adjustment

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 CabinetOfficeRecruitment.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.

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

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 Ch eck 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

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

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

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 Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.

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) (o