Head of Fiscal Policy

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.

Inclusion and diversity

The Northern Ireland Office is committed to being an inclusive employer with a diverse workforce. We encourage applications from people from the widest possible diversity of backgrounds, cultures and experiences.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates, as they are under-represented within the NIO at this level.

The Northern Ireland Office strives to be an inclusive employer and is recognised by its staff and externally as being an employer where Diversity and Inclusion are valued.

We hold a Diversity & Inclusion Charter Mark and are an accredited Disability Confident Leader organisation.

In March 2018 we won the award for Best Employer for Diversity & Equality in Northern Ireland (small employer category) in a Gala Award ceremony hosted by Legal-Island, a multi-award winning workplace compliance company based in Northern Ireland.

We have an active D&I network supporting colleagues through D&I Advocates, championed by our Directors.

We want all our people to feel valued for who they are and we are confident that you will find the NIO a warm, welcoming and inclusive place to work.

What we do

Background

The Northern Ireland Office represents Northern Ireland interests at a UK Government level and UK Government interests in Northern Ireland. We have a wide range of responsibilities, including: underpinning political stability in Northern Ireland; overseeing the Northern Ireland devolution settlement; leading on national security policy in Northern Ireland; addressing the legacy of Northern Ireland’s past; delivering elections and constitutional reform in Northern Ireland; playing a key role in rebalancing the NI economy; representing NI interests, including on the border with Ireland, as the UK exits the EU. Our small size and diverse portfolio create a stimulating, fast-paced and challenging working environment, with regular engagement with a range of Ministers and senior officials. We support flexible working and have a modern, flexible IT system which helps enable this.

About the Role:

This is an exciting opportunity to join the NIO’s Economy Group, which is working to make Northern Ireland more prosperous. We are recruiting a Grade 7 to join a dynamic team, working on a varied policy portfolio to develop and implement the UK Government’s economic priorities in Northern Ireland.

The Economy Group works with a range of Civil Service departments and the Northern Ireland Executive to strengthen the economy, boost innovation, drive investment and promote Northern Ireland as a place to do business. This work contributes to the Government’s levelling up agenda. The Economy Group is led by a Deputy Director and consists of four teams, managing economic strategy & analysis, fiscal policy, UK-wide funds and delivering Northern Ireland-specific funds.

The postholder will lead the Fiscal Policy team, supporting the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to make best use of the spending levers at his disposal to achieve the UK Government’s strategic objectives in Northern Ireland and to work with the Northern Ireland Executive to secure the best value for NI citizens from public funds.

This post will require close working with Special Advisers and Ministers. As such there will be regular opportunities to lead in advising ministers and in shaping ministerial engagements. The successful candidate will be required to work independently, owning high-profile policy areas in order to drive forward a number of strategically important programmes for the department.

Key areas of work include:

Delivery of the £2bn New Decade, New Approach financial package Leading the NIO’s role in driving forward the £617m City and Growth Deals programme.Working closely with HM Treasury and the Northern Ireland Department of Finance to promote growth and deliver long term fiscal sustainability;Influencing the allocation of investment in Northern Ireland through fiscal events.Communicating UK Government support and investment to NI businesses and wider stakeholders.

Duties and Responsibilities:

You will lead a small team to develop and implement the department’s policy on public spending and taxation in Northern Ireland and drive forward the delivery of the City & Growth Deals programme.

As part of this, you will be responsible for:

Advising ministers on public expenditure, taxation and City & Growth Deals in Northern Ireland;Influencing partners to drive forward the NI City & Growth Deals programme;Leading the department’s engagement with stakeholders on fiscal policy matters, including across both Whitehall and the Northern Ireland governance landscape as well as with sectoral representatives;Leading the department’s engagement with HM Treasury and the NI Department of Finance on Northern Ireland policy issues;Leading the department to develop credible spending proposals and provide the best possible advice to ministers on policy matters.You will be expected to monitor relevant developments in Northern Ireland, including activities of the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly concerning your policy areas and take political developments into account.

Essential Criteria:

This recruitment is open to all candidates who can demonstrate the following essential criteria:

Good experience of using evidence to develop policy, and/or make recommendations to senior decision-makers, on complex issues in a changing environment;Strong political awareness, with the ability to understand the wider implications of your work and that of others;Excellent communication skills, with the ability to distil complex information into clear advice;A track record of working independently to deliver significant projects or departmental priorities; andGood experience of working collaboratively with a range of stakeholders to develop and deliver solutions to shared problems.

Desirable Criteria:

An understanding of Northern Ireland political, fiscal and economic issues.Project Management experience.

Please upload a suitability statement of no more than 250 words setting out how you meet the essential/desirable criteria.

Selection Process

The selection and interview process will consist of two stages:

Sift

You will assessed on evidence provided in your suitability statement. Please note in the event of a large number of applications, we may run an initial sift on the desirable criteria only.

Interview

The interview will be conducted in person where possible and will be of a blended nature, exploring your strengths and experience, as well as the following success profiles behaviours:

Making Effective DecisionsWorking TogetherSeeing the Big PictureCommunicating and Influencing

More information on Behaviours and Success Profiles can be found here.

Security Clearance: Security clearance to SC level will be required for this post.

Eligibility Sift: An eligibility sift will be carried out on the basis of the information contained in the application form. It is therefore important that all applicants demonstrate in their application how and to what extent their behaviours are relevant to the above criteria. Those candidates who do not clearly demonstrate that they meet the experience and behaviours will not be invited to interview.

Pay and Allowances: The successful candidate will adopt the terms and conditions of the NIO for the length of their appointment.

Neither Detached Duty terms nor relocation costs will apply to this post.

Further Information: Further information about the post may be obtained from Eamon Graham on telephone number 07557139190 or e-mail to eamon.graham@nio.gov.uk

Applications: You can apply for this post through the Civil Service website at civilservice.gov.uk. Once logged onto the site go to the civil service jobs page and then search for jobs in the Northern Ireland Office where the application form can be found.

Additional information received after the closing date will not be considered. Failure to provide sufficient information in support of an application prior to the closing date will not be considered as grounds for an appeal if an applicant is not shortlisted for interview.

Home Civil Service applicants who, because of disability, need assistance in completing the application form should contact MoJ Shared Services on 0845 010 3512.

All applications for employment are considered strictly on the basis of merit.

This job description should not be taken as constituting conditions of employment.

Please note that due to the high interest in NIO opportunities, feedback cannot be given if you are unsuccessful at sift stage. Feedback is available on request if unsuccessful following interview.

Additional Information

Further information about us

We are a small and friendly department of approximately 185 staff. Due to our size we are able to offer staff more exposure to ministers and the opportunity to work on a far wider portfolio of responsibilities than might be the case in a larger department. This creates an interesting, though often challenging, work environment.

Other Benefits

The NIO offers a pleasant, modern work environment which allows consideration of a range of flexible working arrangements which support a good work/ life balance. These include flexible/ alternative working patterns, part-time and job-share options.

Benefits include:

interest-free season ticket and bicycle loansReward & Recognition scheme

Guaranteed Interview Scheme

The Northern Ireland Office operates the Guaranteed Interview Scheme, details of which are attached to the application form for this post.

In the event that we identify more appointable candidates than we currently have posts available, we will hold applicant details on a reserve list for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made. This may include roles at a lower grade. Candidates placed on a reserve list will be informed of this. Those candidates who do not wish to remain on the reserve list should contact MoJ-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com to be removed from the reserve list.

Further information on civil service careers can be found at www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles.

Please contact SSCL (Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@sscl.gse.gov.uk) in the first instance.

If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages:

http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitment/complaints/

https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/code/