Commonwealth Summit 2018 - Policy Advisers (Reference 1409) Desk Officers (Reference 1411) Events Officers (Reference 1412) Programme and ...
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Commonwealth Summit
2018
● Policy Advisers (Reference 1409)
● Desk Officers (Reference 1411)
● Events Officers (Reference 1412)
● Programme and Risk Manager (Reference
1414)
● Finance Officer (Reference 1416)
Grade: B2
Closing date: 08 May 2017
1
Contents
Welcome from the Chief Executive…………………………………………………………………….3
Message from the Prime Minister………………………………………………………………………4
What is the Commonwealth?...............................................................................5
The Commonwealth Summit……………………………………………………………………………..6
The Commonwealth Summit Unit…………………………………………………………………..…6
Our offer………………………………………………………………………………………………………....6
Role Specifications…………………………………………………………………………………………...7
Desk Officer……………………………………………………………………………………………………..8
Events Officer……………………………………………………………………………………………….….8
Programme and Risk Manager.......................................................................…..9
Finance Office………………………………………………………………………………………………...10
The Recruitment Process………………………………………………………………………………..10
Terms, conditions and benefits…………………………………………………………………..….13
2Welcome from the Chief Executive
Thank you for your interest
in the Commonwealth
Biography Summit Unit
I am delighted that you are interested in joining what will be a
Tim Hitchens is the Chief unique and memorable moment of your career – delivering one
Executive Officer of the of the UK’s biggest national moments since the Olympic Games.
Commonwealth Summit 2018.
He reports directly to the The Queen and the Prime Minister have high ambition for the
Prime Minister, and leads a Summit, with the Prime Minister describing it in her Lancaster
new organisation in the House speech as “a reminder of our unique and proud global
Cabinet Office advise the
Prime Minister and her relationships”.
Cabinet on the delivery of the
Summit, and to coordinate To deliver on their ambition we need to assemble a team of all
and oversee its preparation. the talents from a diverse range of backgrounds. Whatever that
Tim recently returned from background, we’re looking for creative, driven and enthusiastic
Japan where he was Her people with a determination to make the Summit a success. This
Majesty’s Ambassador. His pack explains the specific roles we’re looking for in more detail.
previous roles include Director
General (Economic and
Consular) and Africa Director Roles in the Summit team will stretch and develop you more than
at the Foreign Office, as well most in your Civil Service career – there will be some challenging
as Assistant Private Secretary days ahead but most importantly, it will also be enormous fun,
to The Queen. and an unforgettable experience.
I look forward to your application and the prospect of welcoming
you to the Cabinet Office.
3Message from The Prime Minister
The Prime Minister attending this year’s
Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey
As we prepare to host the Commonwealth Summit in London
next April, we are reminded of the unique and proud global
relationships that we have forged with the diverse and vibrant
alliance of Commonwealth nations.
The UK has a longstanding and firm commitment to the
Commonwealth and to the values it upholds, of democracy,
human rights and the rule of law.
And in hosting the Commonwealth Summit next year, the UK
is committed to working with all members not only to reaffirm
these shared values, but also to re-energise and revitalise
the Commonwealth to cement its relevance to this and future
generations.
As we look to create a truly global Britain, the deep
partnerships that we share through a 21st century
Commonwealth can help us strengthen the prosperity and
security of our own citizens, and those of our many friends
and allies across the world.
4What is the Commonwealth?
The Commonwealth is a unique membership of 52 nations spanning every continent, with
a combined population of around 2.4 billion people – over 60% of its people are under 30.
The Commonwealth is incredibly diverse, ranging from G7/G20 economies like Canada,
India and Australia; the world’s biggest emerging markets like India, Malaysia and South
Africa; to some of the smallest states on earth like Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and
Grenada.
Unlike other international organisations every member state has an equal voice in the
Commonwealth, meaning the interests of its 30 small states are addressed. Trade
between Commonwealth countries is projected to hit $1 trillion by 2020, supported by a
common language and legal systems.
Its members are united in their commitment to democracy, human rights, the rule of law
and the promotion of peace and prosperity - core values which underpin ‘The
Commonwealth Charter’. Its main purpose is to enable dialogue between its members on
issues of mutual concern, and at its bi-annual meeting of its heads of government
(‘CHOGM’), provides a mechanism for governments to solve problems together.
5The Commonwealth Summit
In April 2018 the UK will host the Commonwealth Summit to set out a shared future for a
vibrant and diverse Commonwealth, with leaders from more than 52 countries expected to
attend. The Summit – one of the biggest national events since the Olympic Games – will
take place over seven days across London and Windsor with associated events and
festivals across the UK.
For the first time, Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle will be among the summit
venues. During the Summit week leaders from over 52 countries will gather for the
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (‘CHOGM’). The Summit will also see the
UK take over as ‘Chair-in-Office’ of the Commonwealth until 2020.
The Commonwealth Summit Unit
In January the Cabinet agreed to establish a new unit in the Cabinet Office – led by Tim
Hitchens as CEO – to advise the Prime Minister on the delivery of the Summit, and to
oversee and coordinate its preparation. The Unit will also support a new Inter-Ministerial
Group (IMG) co-chaired by the Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary to provide
ministerial oversight of Whitehall’s preparations.
The unit will expand to around 80 people in the coming months, comprised mainly of two
Directorates for policy and operations, led by Harriet Mathews and Sarah Bartholomew
respectively.
Our Offer
This is a unique opportunity to work on one of the Prime Minister’s biggest foreign policy
priorities – to deliver a significant moment for Global Britain and shape our future
relationship with a third of the world’s population.
The Cabinet Office is looking to fill a range of demanding but highly rewarding posts
across several teams in the Commonwealth Summit Unit.
All posts will offer the chance to:
● Gain unique insight and experience of delivering a major international summit;
● Advise the Prime Minister and the Cabinet on a wide range of policy, operational
and international issues;
● Learn how the Cabinet Office coordinates and drives government business across
Whitehall, and internationally;
6● Become an expert in relationship management by working with a wide range of
stakeholders including No10, Whitehall departments, the Royal Household,
business, civil society, the Police and foreign governments.
These roles involve working with a high level of autonomy, flexibility and discretion. They
will require you to have excellent stakeholder management skills to drive work across
Whitehall through regular contact with senior officials across all departments, but
especially No10, the Foreign Office and Home Office. Political nous and the ability to
deliver at pace are particularly desirable. Line management opportunities are available for
some roles.
Role Specifications
Policy Adviser [11 posts]
Role: To coordinate policy development and implementation plans for the Commonwealth
Summit. Successful applicants will be expected to:
● develop expertise in the area, including staying up to date with the latest policy
developments
● engage relevant stakeholders including Whitehall departments, academics,
businesses and non-governmental organisations
● Coordinate policy development with Whitehall departments to ensure that HMG
strategic priorities are reflected, providing challenge and impetus as needed
● help create negotiating and influencing strategies, working with the international
engagement team to ensure their information is up to date
● Help translate policy areas into practical proposals, working closely with the
programme team and partners
● make a strong corporate contribution to the Commonwealth Summit Unit, including
helping promote an inclusive learning and development culture
Successful applicants will be intellectually creative and curious; clear communicators; and
collaborative team players who want to make a real and tangible difference in the world
7and for the UK
Desk Officer [8 posts]
Role: To lead engagement with key countries, advice to FCO, other Ministers and
Parliament and programmes which deliver tangible outcomes in line with our CHOGM
priorities. Successful applicants will be expected to:
● develop expertise in the area, including staying up to date with the latest policy
developments
● engage relevant stakeholders including Whitehall departments, academics,
businesses and non- governmental organisations
● help create negotiating and influencing strategies, working with the policy team to
ensure their information is up to date
● make a strong corporate contribution to the Commonwealth Summit Unit, including
helping promote an inclusive learning and development culture
Depending on the role you should also expect to:
have oversight of a group of Commonwealth countries, building and maintaining
close relationships with FCO geographical desks, High Commissions and Posts and
other key stakeholders to develop detailed knowledge of their interests and promote
policies that lead to greater engagement, understanding and support from the
region
lead the relationship with FCO Ministers, providing policy advice and identifying
opportunities for Ministerial engagement to support policy objectives
manage the UK’s relationship with Parliament on Commonwealth issues
draft the full range of written products including briefing for Ministers, speeches
Events Officer [2 posts]
Role: Manage the planning and delivery of events supporting the run up to the
Commonwealth Summit. Some events will be delivered by the Commonwealth Summit
Unit, with others delivered by stakeholders in collaboration with the unit – but across all
8events we want a consistent standard approach.
● Engage and build strong working relationships with relevant stakeholders including
Whitehall departments, external partners, Commonwealth organisations
● Work alongside the policy team to develop a programme of events which reflect the
Commonwealth policy priorities and engage people in the run up to the Summit
● Translate policy priorities into meaningful and engaging content; presented in a
creative and high impact way
● Work closely with Summit logistics delivery team to ensure all operational
interdependencies are understood; and there is a consistent approach and brand
applied between the Summit itself and the supporting events
● Closely manage budget requirements for event and maintain high delivery standard
with value for money
● Undertake detailed logistical planning required with a consideration for event
production, content, security, media opportunities
● Make a strong corporate contribution to the Commonwealth Summit Unit, including
helping promote an inclusive learning and development culture
Programme and Risk Manager
Role: Leading and managing the key components of the Summit’s programme and
approach to risk. Successful applicants will be expected to:
● Develop an effective and robust regime to manage and oversee the Unit’s overall
delivery programme and any associated risks
● Undertake any detailed programme and risk management work, along with any
wider tasks, in support of the Commonwealth Unit
● Engage and build strong working relationships both internally within the unit and
with external stakeholders.
● Make a strong corporate contribution to the Commonwealth Unit, including helping
promote an inclusive learning and development culture
9Finance Officer
Role: Developing a robust and effective approach to the management of the unit’s overall
financial profile. Successful applicants will be expected to:
● Lead on the unit’s overall financial and budgetary management processes,
developing the required tools to underpin this
● Engage and build strong working relationships both internally within the unit and
with external stakeholders, in order to consider any financial risks and demonstrate
an understanding of how these fit in the wider policy, operational and political
context
● Undertake any detailed financial planning and reporting work, along with any wider
tasks, in support of the Commonwealth Summit Unit
● Make a strong corporate contribution to the Commonwealth Summit Unit, including
helping promote an inclusive learning and development culture
The Recruitment Process
How to Apply Please apply via the Cabinet Office recruitment portal:
Please be aware that the Civil Service now operates an anonymised
selection process, replacing names with unique identification numbers
until the interview stage of the process.
Overview of the All applications will be reviewed by the Unit, and candidates will be
Process
10notified of the outcome in the week commencing 8 May 2017
Interviews are scheduled to take place from 17 to 19 May 2017.
The results of the interviews will be issued to candidates by 20 May
2017
Please note that these dates are only indicative at this stage and could
be subject to change.
Feedback will only be available to candidates who reach the interview
section of the process or beyond.
Arrangements for Interviews are scheduled to take place from 17 to 19 May 2017.
interview
The results of the interviews will be issued to candidates by 20 May
2017
Interviews will take place in central London (venue to be confirmed).
Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility
through the recruitment and selection process.
Expenses incurred by candidates during the recruitment process will
not be reimbursed by the Department except in exceptional
circumstances and only when agreed in advance.
Reserve Lists If we receive applications from more suitable candidates than we have
vacancies for at this time, we may hold suitable applicants on a
reserve list for 12 months. Future vacancies in the department
requiring the same skills and experience could be offered to
candidates on the reserve list without a new competition.
11Closing Date The deadline for applications is 11:55pm Monday 8 May 2017
12Terms, Conditions and Benefits
The information offered in this document is supplied in good faith but does not in itself form any
part of the contract of employment.
Appointment Term Fixed term appointment until 15th June 2018. Staff will join on loan and
return to their home departments thereafter.
Location Whitehall, London. Some travel may be required.
Relocation costs will not be reimbursed.
Working Arrangements These roles are available for full-time, part-time or flexible working
arrangements (including job share arrangements). However, closer to
the Summit (January 2018 onwards) flexible and part-time working will
be more difficult to accommodate.
Salary Range The post is at the B2 level.
Pay awards are made in line with current Civil Service pay
arrangements.
Staff applying on promotion will usually be appointed to the salary
minimum or within 10% of existing salary. Individuals appointed on
level transfer will retain their existing salary.
13Leave Allowance Staff on loan will remain on their home department’s leave allowance
and leave cycles. In recognition of the demanding nature of roles in
the Summit Unit, we are pleased to offer 2 days additional annual
leave entitlement to all staff. This must be taken while in the Unit.
Training and We are committed to investing in our staff and offer a range of work
Development
based training and qualifications, coaching and mentoring
opportunities and a guaranteed five days of learning a year.
Modernised Terms and Civil Servants taking up appointment on promotion will adopt the
Conditions
modernised Civil Service terms and conditions which came in to effect
from 1 July 2013. Existing Civil Servants appointed on level transfer
will retain their existing terms and conditions.
Eligibility Civil Service wide.
Security Clearance The successful candidate must hold or be willing to obtain security
clearance to Security Clearance (SC) level. Not having SC clearance
should not dissuade you from applying.
Reserved for UK This is not a reserved post.
Nationals
Equality and Diversity The Department is committed to being an equal opportunities
employer. We value and welcome diversity. We aim to develop all
our staff to enable them to make a full contribution to meeting the
Department's objectives, and to fulfil their own potential on merit. We
will not tolerate harassment or other unfair discrimination on grounds
of sex, marital status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic origin, disability,
14age, religion or sexual orientation. We will promote and support the
use of a range of flexible working patterns to enable staff to balance
home and work responsibilities; and we will treat people fairly
irrespective of their working arrangements.
Under the terms of the Equality Act 2010, we are legally required to
consider making reasonable adjustments to ensure that disabled
people are not disadvantaged in the recruitment and selection
process. We are therefore committed to meeting, wherever possible,
any needs you specify in your application. We will also consider any
reasonable adjustments under the terms of the Act to enable any
applicant with a disability (as defined under the Act) to meet the
requirements of the post.
The Department uses the 'two ticks' Disability Symbol, showing it is an
employer which has a positive attitude towards applications from
disabled people. The Department also offers a Guaranteed Interview
Scheme (GIS) for all disabled applicants. We are committed to
interviewing all applicants with a disability who provide evidence of
meeting the minimum requirements necessary for the post, as set out
in this applicant pack.
To be eligible, your disability must be within the definition laid down in
the Equality Act 2010. A disabled person is defined by the Equality
Act 2010 as someone who has a physical or mental impairment,
which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to
perform normal day-to-day activities. For the purposes of this policy,
these words have the following meanings:
● 'substantial' means more than minor or trivial
● 'long-term' means that the effect of the impairment has lasted,
or is likely to last, 12 months (there are special rules covering
recurring or fluctuating conditions)
15● 'normal day-to-day activities' include everyday things like
eating, washing, walking and going shopping.
Should you consider yourself eligible to apply for this post under the
GIS, please complete the form at Annex B.
Civil Service Code All civil servants are subject to the provisions of the Civil Service Code
that details the Civil Service values, standards of behaviour and rights
and responsibilities. For further information, visit Gov.UK.
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