Policy and Secretariat Team Leader

at  Ministry of Defence

JOB SUMMARY

The Ministry of Defence’s Conduct, Equity and Justice Directorate (CEJ) was officially launched on 1st April 2021. The Department’s support for the Directorate is a clear and public statement of our intent to act to tangibly, rapidly and significantly improve the lived experience of all those working in Defence, and for Defence to be an employer of choice. Our Armed Forces and Civil Service should reflect the society they exist to defend. By being inclusive we will access the widest possible pool of talent, and recruit and retain the range of thought and skills critical to Defence’s ability to safeguard our nation’s security. Expanding our talent pool will deliver competitive advantage and ensure our people feel included and valued for the differences they bring. An inclusive culture will build stronger, more cohesive teams, enabling everyone to fulfil their potential. Together this will enhance our operational effectiveness.
The Ministry of Defence’s central Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Team leads on setting the strategic direction for D&I across Defence (both military and civilian). The team supports the delivery of the Defence D&I strategy which is intended to enhance our operational output and improve the lived experience for all Defence people. We aim to transform Defence by enabling a step-change in the diversity of our workforce and creating a culture centered on respect, integrity and courage.
We are committed to delivering an inclusive and empowering culture, driven by the highest standards. Our diversity and inclusion priorities will align with our cultural and behavioural programme ‘Reaffirming Our Standards’ ensuring we maximise effective use of talent, that our leaders are setting the right example, and that our staff have a positive lived experience.
Defence needs to reflect the society it protects but at present we share many of the inequalities that exist within our society. The Central Diversity and Inclusion Team works towards creating and sustaining an environment which allows people to be their authentic selves at work: - a workplace where everyone’s needs are considered, where people feel respected and able to achieve their full potential.
The Whole Force: Service personnel, civilians and contractors all have a role to play in building an organisation where difference is valued, and every individual has a positive lived experience.
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The D&I team works closely with multiple stakeholders across Defence, government and external organisations, on multiple projects at pace, sharing best practice and knowledge, to understand and improve the lived experience for all Defence people. The D&I team works to positively change culture and behaviours to enable Defence to become a diverse and inclusive employer of choice.
The Diversity and Inclusion Policy and Secretariat Team Leader role will lead a small team of HEO’s within the wider D&I team. You will be responsible for developing and coaching your team to ensure that they deliver outputs of a high standard.
You will work with multiple stakeholders to directly deliver projects and create and update policy aimed at challenging barriers to inclusion within the department.
The role is suited to someone who is a self-starter, with initiative and problem-solving skills to deliver not only their own projects but also support the successful delivery of projects lead by the HEO’s they line manage.
The role includes Secretariat lead for the D&I Team, working closely with Defence People Team Parliamentary Correspondence colleagues to provide D&I related content for a response to Parliamentary questions, Ministerial Correspondence and Freedom of Information requests (to name a few) within required timelines.

BEHAVIOURS

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

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £43,080, Ministry of Defence contributes £12,480 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.
The post does not offer relocation expenses.
External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.
Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.
Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.
Any move to MOD 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/.
The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.
MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – we may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.
Things you need to know

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

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Policy