Deputy Principal Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

The Department for Work and Pensions is recruiting for the role of the Deputy Principal Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

DWP is the UK’s biggest public service department, and administers the state pension, a range of working age, disability, and ill health benefits to around 22 million claimants and customers. What we do matters to millions of people every day.

DWP Private Office is a critical link between the Secretary of State, Ministers, the Permanent Secretary, the Executive Team, the wider department and cross-government, including Number 10, Cabinet Office and HM Treasury. This is a unique, exciting, and dynamic role that provides oversight of the Secretary of State's private office and the offices of the ministerial team. 

The post-holder will directly support the Secretary of State to progress their priorities and regularly interact with Ministers, Special Advisers and senior officials.

The post-holder will also be a key part of the Private Office senior leadership team, reporting to, and deputising for, the Principal Private Secretary.

This is a fast-moving, dynamic and, at times, challenging environment in which to navigate complex issues at the highest level. The post-holder will be an excellent leader; demonstrate a high degree of political acumen and judgement; and an outstanding communicator.

The post-holder will also need to anticipate risks and use their initiative to handle sensitive issues and offer solutions to the Secretary of State, Special Advisers and the Principal Private Secretary.

In this role, the Deputy Principal Private Secretary is responsible for:

• Overseeing the finance portfolio for the Secretary of State and a number of cross-cutting policy and operational areas.
• Leading, managing and developing a large team including a combination of the Secretary of State’s office, the Junior Ministerial Offices, the Special Advisers’ office, as well as the Ministerial Correspondence Team the Ministerial Briefing Team and the Parliamentary Relations Unit
• Planning and overseeing the Ministerial Team’s forward work programme with the department’s strategy and implementation team.
• Ensuring the Secretary of State's views and priorities are communicated clearly to other ministerial offices, the wider Department and across Whitehall.
• Working closely with Press Office on media/communications, including internal communications.
• As a member of the Private Office Group senior leadership team (SLT), supporting the Principal Private Secretary in the wider leadership and management of Private Office Group.  The post holder will be expected to take a lead on cross-cutting corporate projects to support diversity and inclusion, wellbeing, resilience and outreach across Private Office and the wider department.

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