Ministerial Diary Manager

Job summary

Do you want a career where you can make a real difference? Do you want to have an impact on the UK and beyond? If yes, then a career at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) could be for you.

Here at DESNZ we are delivering our mission to make the UK a clean energy superpower, with clean electricity by 2030 and accelerating the UK’s journey to net zero.

Our work is helping ensure clean energy for all, keep bills down and seize the opportunities to lead the world in new green industries, taking back control of our energy with Great British Energy and encouraging greater energy efficiency across the UK. The work of the department has never been more timely or relevant, and by joining us you will be part of making that difference.

Our work is varied, interesting and most importantly it's impactful. Our DESNZ Values are interwoven into everything we do; we are bold, we are collaborative, we are inclusive, and we learn. As a department we are committed to these values to build a culture where everyone can thrive.

We work in an agile way. This means that, as our priorities evolve, your work may adapt to meet emerging needs and help us deliver our mission. This approach offers opportunities to develop your skills, gain new experiences, and contribute where you can make the greatest impact. This relates to the nature of the work rather than contractual terms, such as location or working pattern.

We offer great working benefits including a world-class pension, flexible working options and a career where your learning and development is taken seriously. We are enormously proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We support candidates with adjustments throughout our recruitment process. Information about disability confidence and just some examples of the adjustments that you can request can be found in the reasonable adjustment section below.

Find Out More

You can also follow our LinkedIn Careers Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/desnz-careers/

Job description

This is a crucial role at the heart of our Private Offices (the teams providing day to day support to Ministers and senior officials). As a diary manager, you will have the opportunity to work closely with Ministers and senior officials as well as a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.

You will be responsible for the Minister's diary and travel arrangements, as well as playing a role in inbox management and supporting private office / ministerial priorities. In summary, you will be pivotal in getting the Minister where they need to be, and working with the wider Private Office team to ensure the Minister has everything they need once they get there. In doing so you will have the opportunity to build your understanding of parliamentary procedure and gain an insight into a broad range of policy issues.

To be successful in this role you will need strong organisational skills, an eye for detail and the ability to juggle competing pressures effectively. You will need excellent communications skills and the confidence to engage with Ministers and senior stakeholders.

This role will provide a unique opportunity to work with a wide range of Private Offices and teams across the Department, and develop an understanding of how the Department and Civil Service functions. The role will suit someone who is looking to explore a career in the Civil Service, expand their current experience or take on a new challenge.

While Private Office roles tend to be busy, you will work as part of a motivated and friendly team who will support you when needed. Learning and development is a key priority for us, and you will have the opportunity to undertake training and develop new skills to ensure you have the tools you need to succeed.

Person specification

Your key responsibility will be to ensure a high quality and efficient service to Ministers. That can include:

• Diary management: a well organised diary is critical to a Minister's success. You will be responsible for the Minister's day to day movements, working closely with your immediate team, other private offices and external stakeholders to arrange meetings and events.
  
• Organising travel: Ministers travel regularly within the UK and overseas. You will work closely with your team to coordinate travel arrangements, helping organise transport and accommodation while ensuring cost effectiveness and compliance with relevant departmental policies.
  
• Office processes: you will take responsibility for a set of core office processes, likely to include coordinating invites, correspondence and transparency returns. This will involve working across the team to ensure accurate and timely responses.
  
• Cross team work: we operate as one private office team, so as part of your role you will work collaboratively with colleagues across the different Ministerial and senior official offices on joint priorities. You will also have the opportunity to cover in other offices to broaden your experience and support colleagues.

Essential Criteria

Previous experience in Private Office is desirable but not required. We would love to hear from you if you have:

• The ability to plan, organise and work well under pressure – managing conflicting demands effectively.
  
• Demonstrate excellent attention to detail.
  
• Effective and confident communication skills – an ability to liaise with staff at all levels effectively and communicate with clarity and confidence.
  
• The ability to build and maintain good working relationships with colleagues and stakeholders.
  
• Experience of working both independently and as part of a team to achieve your goals.
  
• Securing SC is a requirement for this role. Candidates who do not yet hold a national security vetting are welcome to apply but should be aware they will be required to start an SC clearance application prior to appointment. If the application for SC clearance is refused, this will result in the applicant being moved into a different role.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience providing business support or diary management for senior leaders.

Behaviours

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

• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £34,835, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero contributes £10,091 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero offers a competitive mix of benefits including:

• A culture of flexible working, such as job sharing, homeworking and compressed hours.
• Automatic enrolment into the Civil Service Pension Scheme, with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.
• An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities, which all staff are actively encouraged to pursue.<