JOB SUMMARY

Do you want to help shape how a government department delivers for communities across the country?
Are you someone who enjoys making sense of complexity, working with others to solve problems, and spotting risks before they become issues?
If so, this is an excellent opportunity to join the Strategy Directorate at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).
We are looking for a motivated and collaborative Senior Executive Officer (SEO) to play a central role in MHCLG’s business planning and portfolio oversight work. You’ll sit at the heart of the department, helping to ensure our resources, programmes, and activities are aligned with ministerial priorities and wider government objectives — and that risks and interdependencies are well managed.
This is a stretching and visible role, where you will work closely with senior leaders, programme teams, and central functions. You’ll be task managed by a Grade 7 Head of Planning and Portfolio Oversight and be part of the Departmental Governance, Planning and Oversight Team.
This is a unique chance to work at the heart of MHCLG, with exposure to senior officials and cross-Whitehall partners. You’ll gain first-hand experience in strategy, strategic planning, governance, and portfolio management — skills that will equip you for future leadership roles in the Civil Service.

JOB DESCRIPTION

As an SEO in the Governance, Planning and Oversight Team, you will:

• Support MHCLG’s annual business planning process – coordinating inputs from across the department, ensuring milestones are met, and producing clear summaries for senior decision-making.
• Draft and prepare high-quality documents – including contributions to the MHCLG Delivery Plan and Outcome Delivery Plan, ensuring they are clear, accurate, and strategically aligned.
• Strengthen portfolio oversight arrangements – monitoring programme performance, working with PMOs and portfolio leads to track delivery against plans, and escalating risks and issues where appropriate.
• Surface risks and interdependencies early – analysing data and evidence from programmes to provide clear, actionable insights for senior leaders.
• Champion strong programme management disciplines – supporting consistency across PMOs, helping to embed good practice in planning, reporting and assurance.
• Maintain strong relationships across the department – building links with policy teams, finance, private offices, and delivery leads, acting as a trusted point of contact for planning and portfolio matters.
• Support departmental governance – ensuring that accurate, timely information flows into senior boards and that decisions are followed up and acted on.
• You’ll also have opportunities to stretch beyond your core role, for example contributing to cross-departmental strategy projects, supporting corporate reform initiatives, or improving the way MHCLG manages delivery across its portfolio.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

We’re looking for someone who is organised, collaborative, and keen to take responsibility for important areas of work. You should bring:

• Strong organisational skills – able to keep complex processes on track and manage competing priorities.Clear written and verbal communication – able to draft concise, compelling documents and engage confidently with colleagues at all levels.
• Analytical ability – comfortable handling information on programme performance, identifying risks, and drawing out trends and interdependencies.
• Collaboration skills – able to work across boundaries, building positive relationships with programme managers, PMOs, finance, and senior leaders.
• Initiative and problem-solving – someone who can spot risks early and help find solutions.
• Commitment to personal growth – this is a stretching role with significant exposure, and you’ll be supported to develop the skills you need to progress.

AT SIFT, THROUGH YOUR CV AND COVERING LETTER WE WILL BE ASSESSING:

Experience
Your covering letter should be between 500-750 words referencing how you meet the criteria set out in the job description

IN THE FULL CAMPAIGN WE WILL TEST THE BELOW SUCCESS PROFILE ELEMENTS:

Experience: Yes - Experience questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description
Strength: Yes
Behaviours: Yes

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)
• 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

There may be opportunities for candidates to work flexibly depending on the business needs. This will be discussed with the vacancy manager on a case-by-case basis if you are successful for the role.

• Please note: The Darlington Economic Campus is a pioneering new cross-government hub which will bring together people across departments and public organisations to play an active role in the most important economic issues of the day. The work of the Campus will make a real difference to people both across the UK and internationally. There will be substantial career opportunities and exciting prospects - a career at the Campus means you will be working at the heart of Government, with access to the benefits and fantastic opportunities offered by the civil service