JOB SUMMARY

The Prime Minister’s Office enables the Prime Minister to deliver the Government’s overall priorities and to communicate those priorities to Parliament, the public and international audiences. From the Policy Unit, Press Office, Switchboard and Custodians, to the Events & Visits team and the Private Office support; the diverse Downing Street team draws on varied expertise from across the Civil Service and beyond. The teams come together to deliver an excellent service to the Prime Minister while also making No10 a great place to work.
The No 10 Policy Unit is a tight-knit group of civil servants, special advisers and expert advisers which leads on the development of the Prime Minister’s policy programme at the heart of government. It advises the Prime Minister and his senior team on his domestic and economic policy priorities, working closely with Whitehall departments and external experts, and works on both strategic policy reform and the biggest live issues of the day. It is a fast-paced, diverse and friendly team and offers an unrivalled opportunity to have an impact on public policy.

JOB DESCRIPTION

There are three roles available, all of which are responsible for advising the Prime Minister and his senior team on critical policy areas. These are fascinating, rewarding and high-profile roles at the heart of government.

The three posts available:

• Senior Policy Adviser – Treasury, with a particular focus on the successful delivery of fiscal events, shaping the PM’s economic agenda and spending priorities. It is likely that transport and infrastructure will also be covered depending on appointee skill-set.
• Senior Policy Adviser – Business and Trade. The post-holder will lead on business policy, trade and economic growth.
• Senior Policy Adviser – Welfare. The post-holder will lead on welfare, labour markets and child poverty.

To deliver on the PM’s priorities, the post-holders will work closely with colleagues at a senior level across Whitehall, as well as teams in No10 – including policy and political teams, Private Office, and comms. They will also build influential relationships with a range of external stakeholders.
You will need excellent critical thinking skills and judgement to solve complex problems in a fast-moving environment. You will also need to be highly credible – able to set strategic direction, form influential relationships, and communicate clearly, concisely and persuasively.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Leading on the HM Treasury, infrastructure, welfare or business and trade briefs in the Policy Unit. This includes working across the house to ensure effective decision-making and advice to the Prime Minister; setting strategic direction for teams working on these policies; and working with the Cabinet Office to drive forward the Prime Minister’s agenda. These are hugely varied brief and require individuals who can manage multiple projects, have a clear sense of prioritisation, and remain calm under pressure.
• The day to day includes setting strategic direction for teams working across Whitehall on these issues, critically analysing information and evidence at pace to come to sound policy judgements, and advising the PM and senior political team. High quality and concise written and oral communication are key.
• To do this effectively, individuals must create trusted and influential relationships and work together with relevant senior officials in departments, relevant CO teams, other impacted Whitehall departments, Special Advisers, and stakeholders.
• As well as playing the leading role in No10 on the brief, the individual should also take on a corporate leadership role across the Policy Unit and No10.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE CRITERIA

• Experience working on, or understanding of, relevant policy areas.
• Proven experience of delivering results at pace, including experience of driving major policy development in a complex and fast-moving environment.
• Outstanding judgement and communication skills – with the ability to distil and synthesise complex information and come to reasoned judgements.
• Strong political awareness and an ability to build credibility and trust with senior ministers and officials at the highest levels of government.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills – with the ability to build credibility and trust with the most senior stakeholders.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills – with the ability to break down complex problems and use analytical techniques to identify solutions.

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

Key responsibilities will include:

• Leading on the HM Treasury, infrastructure, welfare or business and trade briefs in the Policy Unit. This includes working across the house to ensure effective decision-making and advice to the Prime Minister; setting strategic direction for teams working on these policies; and working with the Cabinet Office to drive forward the Prime Minister’s agenda. These are hugely varied brief and require individuals who can manage multiple projects, have a clear sense of prioritisation, and remain calm under pressure.
• The day to day includes setting strategic direction for teams working across Whitehall on these issues, critically analysing information and evidence at pace to come to sound policy judgements, and advising the PM and senior political team. High quality and concise written and oral communication are key.
• To do this effectively, individuals must create trusted and influential relationships and work together with relevant senior officials in departments, relevant CO teams, other impacted Whitehall departments, Special Advisers, and stakeholders.
• As well as playing the leading role in No10 on the brief, the individual should also take on a corporate leadership role across the Policy Unit and No10