Business Support Manager

at  Department for Business and Trade Digital Data and Technology

ABOUT US

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has a clear mission - to grow the economy. Our role is to help businesses invest, grow and export to create jobs and opportunities right across the country. We do this in three ways.
Firstly, we help to build a strong, competitive business environment, where consumers are protected and companies rewarded for treating their employees properly.
Secondly, we open international markets and ensure resilient supply chains. This can be through Free Trade Agreements, trade facilitation and multilateral agreements.
Finally, we work in partnership with businesses every day, providing advance, finance and deal-making support to those looking to start up, invest, export and grow.
The Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) directorate develops and operates tools and services to support us in this mission.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

It is essential that you have:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Effective time management and prioritisation skills;
• Comfortable building relationships and coordinating colleagues often to demanding deadlines;
• Proficient use of appropriate IT application (including Outlook, SharePoint, Word, PowerPoint and Excel); and
• Able to work proactively and at pace.

It is desirable that you have:

• Have previous experience working in a secretariat or coordination role.

MORE ABOUT US

This role can only be worked from within the UK, not overseas. If you are based in London, you will receive London weighting. DBT employees work in a hybrid pattern, spending 2-3 days a week (pro rata) in the office on average. Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DBT, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.
You can find out more about our office locations, how we calculate salaries, our diversity statement and reasonable adjustments, the Recruitment Principles, the Civil Service code and our complaints procedure on our website.
Find out more about life at DBT, our benefits and meet the team by watching our video or reading our blog!

ABOUT THE ROLE

Government is undergoing a digital transformation and, at the forefront of that, the Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) Directorate is working at the cutting edge of how people interact and are empowered by digital government services.
The DDaT team is made up of experts in digital, data and technology who are pushing boundaries every day. You will be part of the Private Office component of DDaT’s Business Operations team working to enable the work of Digital, Data and Technology portfolios and professions.
You do not need any knowledge of digital, data and technology to apply. We are looking for someone who can work autonomously across a broad directorate; helping to support the Senior Leadership Team to fulfill their duties efficiently and effectively.
We are committed to giving the successful candidate a unique opportunity to develop their knowledge and experience of agile, user-centred design, and digital, data and technology.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

What we are looking for from you…

• Fulfilling secretariat responsibilities for the Senior Leadership Team including coordinating meeting logistics, agenda, presenter attendance and post-meeting comms/actions.
• Coordinating input for commission requests, including Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, briefings, submissions and presentation packs.
• Administering Senior Leadership Team meeting and diary management needs, including organising diary requests, booking rooms, attendee logistics, travel bookings, agenda papers, written minutes, tracking actions, etc
• Ad hoc cover for other Business Support Managers (e.g. covering annual leave absences)
• Supporting team initiatives to drive service improvement changes e.g. efficiency, process or system/record improvements
• Building and maintaining stakeholder relationships across DDaT and the department.

You will be required to juggle a wide range of competing demands that are often urgent, complex and sensitive. You should be able to build a firm, high level knowledge of the team; operating diligently, calmly, positively and discretely to proactively and flexibly manage a range of issues. You will need to be able to identify and manage potential risks, knowing when to tackle issues directly and when to escalate.

This role is ideal for someone who:

• Has effective time management skills, including the ability to successfully prioritise workloads, and manage multiple competing priorities;
• Is proactive, a self-starter and able to identify potential issues;
• Has the ability to build strong working relationships and manage a diverse range of stakeholders, across a range of corporate functions and teams;
• Has a degree of resilience to recover and learn from setbacks; and
• Is an excellent team player but can also work effectively on their own.