This is a challenging and demanding role but also a rewarding one. It offers a unique and exciting opportunity to operate at the very heart of the Northern Ireland Office, working closely with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, other Ministers and senior officials. You will gain an unrivalled insight into the workings of the wider Department, Whitehall and the operation of devolved government in Northern Ireland.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure that the Secretary of State, Ministers and the NIO Senior Leadership Team (SLT) are supported by a highly effective and resilient Private Office team with outreach across the department.

• Ensure the operational effectiveness and resilience of a Private Office of 20 individuals including an Executive Support Team and Parliamentary Team. This will entail leading a programme of modernisation and digitalisation within our Private Office as well as prioritising supportive management and personal development across this team.

• Lead this team to facilitate continuous and effective two-way communication and service between the Secretary of State, Ministers and officials.

• Work closely with the Permanent Under Secretary and SLT to prioritise and support the delivery of our key departmental objectives, ensuring these are fully aligned with SoS and Ministerial priorities and use of time.

• Provide oversight and assurance of all Private Office processes to support SoSs and Ministerss day to day work and decision making, using data and evidence to monitor and improve these processes.

• Use your judgement to identify and prioritise issues that need to be brought to the attention of SoS Ministers, working closely with SLT and peers/Team Leaders to manage competing interests in the immediate, short and long-term.

• Be resilient, accurate and resourceful in providing urgent guidance on difficult issues, identifying and managing risks and opportunities at pace.

• Have a strong grasp of the priority policies and objectives for the Secretary of State, and the ability to source and use the expertise of policy officials to progress these.

• Know how to work effectively with Special Advisers, facilitating their relationships with the wider department and SoS and Ministers to maximise their impact.

• Have a strong and responsive network with other Ministerial Private Office teams in both Whitehall (including no10 and Cabinet Office) and Northern Ireland departments.

• Build partnerships with key external stakeholders including officials in the Irish government and the US administration, and use these to represent the views of the Secretary of State, Ministers and senior officials credibly and sensitively.