Ministerial Diary Manager
London
Job Summary
Do you want a career where you can make a real difference? Do you want to have an impact on the UK and beyond? If yes, then a career at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) could be for you.
Here at DESNZ we are delivering our mission to make the UK a clean energy superpower, with clean electricity by 2030 and accelerating the UK’s journey to net zero.
Our work is helping ensure clean energy for all, keep bills down and seize the opportunities to lead the world in new green industries, taking back control of our energy with Great British Energy and encouraging greater energy efficiency across the UK. The work of the department has never been more timely or relevant, and by joining us you will be part of making that difference.
Our work is varied, interesting and most importantly it's impactful. Our DESNZ Values are interwoven into everything we do; we are bold, we are collaborative, we are inclusive, and we learn. As a department we are committed to these values to build a culture where everyone can thrive.
We work in an agile way. This means that, as our priorities evolve, your work may adapt to meet emerging needs and help us deliver our mission. This approach offers opportunities to develop your skills, gain new experiences, and contribute where you can make the greatest impact. This relates to the nature of the work rather than contractual terms, such as location or working pattern.
We offer great working benefits including a world-class pension, flexible working options and a career where your learning and development is taken seriously. We are enormously proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We support candidates with adjustments throughout our recruitment process. Information about disability confidence and just some examples of the adjustments that you can request can be found in the reasonable adjustment section below.
Find Out More
You can also follow our LinkedIn Careers Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/desnz-careers/
Job Description
This is a crucial role at the heart of our Private Offices (the teams providing day to day support to Ministers and senior officials). As a diary manager, you will have the opportunity to work closely with Ministers and senior officials as well as a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
You will be responsible for the Minister's diary and travel arrangements, as well as playing a role in inbox management and supporting private office / ministerial priorities. In summary, you will be pivotal in getting the Minister where they need to be, and working with the wider Private Office team to ensure the Minister has everything they need once they get there. In doing so you will have the opportunity to build your understanding of parliamentary procedure and gain an insight into a broad range of policy issues.
To be successful in this role you will need strong organisational skills, an eye for detail and the ability to juggle competing pressures effectively. You will need excellent communications skills and the confidence to engage with Ministers and senior stakeholders.
This role will provide a unique opportunity to work with a wide range of Private Offices and teams across the Department, and develop an understanding of how the Department and Civil Service functions. The role will suit someone who is looking to explore a career in the Civil Service, expand their current experience or take on a new challenge.
While Private Office roles tend to be busy, you will work as part of a motivated and friendly team who will support you when needed. Learning and development is a key priority for us, and you will have the opportunity to undertake training and develop new skills to ensure you have the tools you need to succeed.
This is a crucial role at the heart of our Private Offices (the teams providing day to day support to Ministers and senior officials). As a diary manager, you will have the opportunity to work closely with Ministers and senior officials as well as a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
You will be responsible for the Minister's diary and travel arrangements, as well as playing a role in inbox management and supporting private office / ministerial priorities. In summary, you will be pivotal in getting the Minister where they need to be, and working with the wider Private Office team to ensure the Minister has everything they need once they get there. In doing so you will have the opportunity to build your understanding of parliamentary procedure and gain an insight into a broad range of policy issues.
To be successful in this role you will need strong organisational skills, an eye for detail and the ability to juggle competing pressures effectively. You will need excellent communications skills and the confidence to engage with Ministers and senior stakeholders.
This role will provide a unique opportunity to work with a wide range of Private Offices and teams across the Department, and develop an understanding of how the Department and Civil Service functions. The role will suit someone who is looking to explore a career in the Civil Service, expand their current experience or take on a new challenge.
While Private Office roles tend to be busy, you will work as part of a motivated and friendly team who will support you when needed. Learning and development is a key priority for us, and you will have the opportunity to undertake training and develop new skills to ensure you have the tools you need to succeed.
Person specification
Your key responsibility will be to ensure a high quality and efficient service to Ministers. That can include:
Previous experience in Private Office is desirable but not required. We would love to hear from you if you have:
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero offers a competitive mix of benefits including:
The Department operates a discretionary hybrid working policy, which provides for a combination of working hours from your place of work and from your home in the UK. The current expectation for staff is to attend the office or non-home based location for 40-60% of the time over the accounting period.
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.
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, personal statement and a number of behaviour statements.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Please use your personal statement (in no more than 500 words) to explain how do your personal skills, qualities and experiences demonstrate your suitability for this role?
Applications will be sifted on behavioural statements and personal statement.
In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the personal statement only.
Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Please note - the CV incorporated into the application form is for information purposes only and will not be scored.
The interview will consist of behaviour and strength-based questions.
Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
Further Information
Reasonable Adjustment
We are proud to be a disability confident leader and we welcome applications from disabled candidates and candidates with long-term conditions.
Information about the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) and some examples of adjustments that we offer to disabled candidates and candidates with long-term health conditions during our recruitment process can be found in our DESNZ Candidate Guidance. A DESNZ Plain Text Version of the guidance is also available.
We encourage candidates to discuss their adjustment needs by emailing the job contact which can be found under the contact point for applicants section.
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.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
A location based reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Should another role become available within that period you may be offered this position.
Candidates who meet the minimum benchmark may be placed on a Reserve List for consideration for similar roles, including those at a lower grade. Candidates who narrowly miss the benchmark and are not placed on the Reserve List may still be considered for an offer in a similar role at a lower grade.
Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
Any move to the Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero 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.
DESNZ does not normally offer full home working (i.e. working at home); but we do offer a variety of flexible working options (including occasionally working from home).
DESNZ cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. DESNZ holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.
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.
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
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, Strengths and Experience.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) 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 basic (or equivalent) 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
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
Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the recruitment principles, and wish to make a complaint, then you should contact in the first instance DESNZrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: Click here to visit Civil Service Commission/Complaints
Job Summary
Do you want a career where you can make a real difference? Do you want to have an impact on the UK and beyond? If yes, then a career at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) could be for you.
Here at DESNZ we are delivering our mission to make the UK a clean energy superpower, with clean electricity by 2030 and accelerating the UK’s journey to net zero.
Our work is helping ensure clean energy for all, keep bills down and seize the opportunities to lead the world in new green industries, taking back control of our energy with Great British Energy and encouraging greater energy efficiency across the UK. The work of the department has never been more timely or relevant, and by joining us you will be part of making that difference.
Our work is varied, interesting and most importantly it's impactful. Our DESNZ Values are interwoven into everything we do; we are bold, we are collaborative, we are inclusive, and we learn. As a department we are committed to these values to build a culture where everyone can thrive.
We work in an agile way. This means that, as our priorities evolve, your work may adapt to meet emerging needs and help us deliver our mission. This approach offers opportunities to develop your skills, gain new experiences, and contribute where you can make the greatest impact. This relates to the nature of the work rather than contractual terms, such as location or working pattern.
We offer great working benefits including a world-class pension, flexible working options and a career where your learning and development is taken seriously. We are enormously proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We support candidates with adjustments throughout our recruitment process. Information about disability confidence and just some examples of the adjustments that you can request can be found in the reasonable adjustment section below.
Find Out More
You can also follow our LinkedIn Careers Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/desnz-careers/
Job Description
This is a crucial role at the heart of our Private Offices (the teams providing day to day support to Ministers and senior officials). As a diary manager, you will have the opportunity to work closely with Ministers and senior officials as well as a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
You will be responsible for the Minister's diary and travel arrangements, as well as playing a role in inbox management and supporting private office / ministerial priorities. In summary, you will be pivotal in getting the Minister where they need to be, and working with the wider Private Office team to ensure the Minister has everything they need once they get there. In doing so you will have the opportunity to build your understanding of parliamentary procedure and gain an insight into a broad range of policy issues.
To be successful in this role you will need strong organisational skills, an eye for detail and the ability to juggle competing pressures effectively. You will need excellent communications skills and the confidence to engage with Ministers and senior stakeholders.
This role will provide a unique opportunity to work with a wide range of Private Offices and teams across the Department, and develop an understanding of how the Department and Civil Service functions. The role will suit someone who is looking to explore a career in the Civil Service, expand their current experience or take on a new challenge.
While Private Office roles tend to be busy, you will work as part of a motivated and friendly team who will support you when needed. Learning and development is a key priority for us, and you will have the opportunity to undertake training and develop new skills to ensure you have the tools you need to succeed.
This is a crucial role at the heart of our Private Offices (the teams providing day to day support to Ministers and senior officials). As a diary manager, you will have the opportunity to work closely with Ministers and senior officials as well as a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
You will be responsible for the Minister's diary and travel arrangements, as well as playing a role in inbox management and supporting private office / ministerial priorities. In summary, you will be pivotal in getting the Minister where they need to be, and working with the wider Private Office team to ensure the Minister has everything they need once they get there. In doing so you will have the opportunity to build your understanding of parliamentary procedure and gain an insight into a broad range of policy issues.
To be successful in this role you will need strong organisational skills, an eye for detail and the ability to juggle competing pressures effectively. You will need excellent communications skills and the confidence to engage with Ministers and senior stakeholders.
This role will provide a unique opportunity to work with a wide range of Private Offices and teams across the Department, and develop an understanding of how the Department and Civil Service functions. The role will suit someone who is looking to explore a career in the Civil Service, expand their current experience or take on a new challenge.
While Private Office roles tend to be busy, you will work as part of a motivated and friendly team who will support you when needed. Learning and development is a key priority for us, and you will have the opportunity to undertake training and develop new skills to ensure you have the tools you need to succeed.
Person specification
Your key responsibility will be to ensure a high quality and efficient service to Ministers. That can include:
- Diary management: a well organised diary is critical to a Minister's success. You will be responsible for the Minister's day to day movements, working closely with your immediate team, other private offices and external stakeholders to arrange meetings and events.
- Organising travel: Ministers travel regularly within the UK and overseas. You will work closely with your team to coordinate travel arrangements, helping organise transport and accommodation while ensuring cost effectiveness and compliance with relevant departmental policies.
- Office processes: you will take responsibility for a set of core office processes, likely to include coordinating invites, correspondence and transparency returns. This will involve working across the team to ensure accurate and timely responses.
- Cross team work: we operate as one private office team, so as part of your role you will work collaboratively with colleagues across the different Ministerial and senior official offices on joint priorities. You will also have the opportunity to cover in other offices to broaden your experience and support colleagues.
Previous experience in Private Office is desirable but not required. We would love to hear from you if you have:
- The ability to plan, organise and work well under pressure – managing conflicting demands effectively.
- Demonstrate excellent attention to detail.
- Effective and confident communication skills – an ability to liaise with staff at all levels effectively and communicate with clarity and confidence.
- The ability to build and maintain good working relationships with colleagues and stakeholders.
- Experience of working both independently and as part of a team to achieve your goals.
- Securing SC is a requirement for this role. Candidates who do not yet hold a national security vetting are welcome to apply but should be aware they will be required to start an SC clearance application prior to appointment. If the application for SC clearance is refused, this will result in the applicant being moved into a different role.
- Experience providing business support or diary management for senior leaders.
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Managing a Quality Service
- Delivering at Pace
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
- Managing a Quality Service
- Delivering at Pace
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero offers a competitive mix of benefits including:
- A culture of flexible working, such as job sharing, homeworking and compressed hours.
- Automatic enrolment into the Civil Service Pension Scheme, with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
- A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.
- An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities, which all staff are actively encouraged to pursue.
- Access to a range of retail, travel and lifestyle employee discounts.
The Department operates a discretionary hybrid working policy, which provides for a combination of working hours from your place of work and from your home in the UK. The current expectation for staff is to attend the office or non-home based location for 40-60% of the time over the accounting period.
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.
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, personal statement and a number of behaviour statements.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Please use your personal statement (in no more than 500 words) to explain how do your personal skills, qualities and experiences demonstrate your suitability for this role?
Applications will be sifted on behavioural statements and personal statement.
In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the personal statement only.
Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Please note - the CV incorporated into the application form is for information purposes only and will not be scored.
The interview will consist of behaviour and strength-based questions.
Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
Further Information
Reasonable Adjustment
We are proud to be a disability confident leader and we welcome applications from disabled candidates and candidates with long-term conditions.
Information about the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) and some examples of adjustments that we offer to disabled candidates and candidates with long-term health conditions during our recruitment process can be found in our DESNZ Candidate Guidance. A DESNZ Plain Text Version of the guidance is also available.
We encourage candidates to discuss their adjustment needs by emailing the job contact which can be found under the contact point for applicants section.
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.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
A location based reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Should another role become available within that period you may be offered this position.
Candidates who meet the minimum benchmark may be placed on a Reserve List for consideration for similar roles, including those at a lower grade. Candidates who narrowly miss the benchmark and are not placed on the Reserve List may still be considered for an offer in a similar role at a lower grade.
Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
Any move to the Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero 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.
DESNZ does not normally offer full home working (i.e. working at home); but we do offer a variety of flexible working options (including occasionally working from home).
DESNZ cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. DESNZ holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.
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.
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
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, Strengths and Experience.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) 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 basic (or equivalent) 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
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 : Rachael Hemingway
- Email : rachael.hemingway@energysecurity.gov.uk
- Email : desnzresourcing.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the recruitment principles, and wish to make a complaint, then you should contact in the first instance DESNZrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: Click here to visit Civil Service Commission/Complaints