Head of CEO Office and Governance

Job DescriptionJob Title: Head of CEO Office and GovernanceBand: 6Salary: £72,771 - £80,776Location: Liverpool/Norwich/Birmingham/NewportTerm: PermanentClearance Required: SCHours: Full TimeClosing Date: 06/11/25This role is only available to current Civil Servants.Insight into CCS - WebinarDon't miss out on gaining valuable insight into CCS and our recruitment process!Join us on Monday 27th October at 17:30 PM. Please use this link to register your attendance for this session or any of our upcoming sessions.Are you motivated by solving complex problems and driving continuous improvement? Job SummaryThis is a critical role at the heart of the Crown Commercial Service, supporting the CEO and ExCo in leading the organisation, sourcing and providing advice, acting as a "fixer" and working with senior officials and Minister’s offices to ensure CCS meets its obligations and delivers its strategic ambitions.Directorate OverviewThe Strategy Policy and Governance (SPG) directorate plays a key role at the heart of the Crown Commercial Service supporting the Chief Executive in establishing CCS’s strategy, managing the CEO office and the executive and non-executive governance of the organisation, leading on key aspects of the relationship between CCS and the Cabinet Office, while also taking responsibility for ensuring the implementation of government commercial policy and effective application of procurement regulations across CCS activities.Team SummaryThe CEO office and Governance team consists of 7 FTE and takes responsibility for ensuring the business of the CEO is well managed and she is supported across her priorities and engagements both inside and outside CCS. It is also responsible for overseeing the executive and non executive governance of the organisation, and making sure CCS maintains an effective relationship with its parent department and sponsor and for meeting CCS’s responsibilities on parliamentary questions, correspondence and FOI.Key AccountabilitiesThe post holder will be responsible for:Leading and guiding team members, managing performance to ensure a high-performing team, and aiding staff development through regular feedbackLeading the CEO office team and ensuring it functions effectively, managing the CEO’s inbox and diaryPreparing advice as required by the CEO to assist her engagements with Ministers and other senior officialsSupporting the CEO in her review of board and exco papers, providing comments and challenge as requiredSupporting the CEO in her line management accountabilities and in coordinating and engaging exco and other colleagues on the CEO’s priorities.Overseeing the work of the CEO office team in managing Parliamentary, correspondence and FOI requirements and engaging with external reviews.Leading the governance team in their management of the non executive governance of the organisation, ensuring the regular cadence of governance meetings is maintained and supported and managing and providing support to non-executives as required.Leading the governance team in their management of the executive governance, ensuring coherence between the executive committee meetings and the other executive governance in the organisationTaking accountability for key projects and initiatives as required by the CEOWorking closely with the director SPG to shape and inform the organisation strategyParticipate in the leadership of the SPG directorate ensuring close alignment between the CEO’s priorities, the organisation strategy and the implementation of policy.Essential Criteria (to Be Assessed At Application Stage)Ability to work at paceEvidence of the ability to resolve complex issues and take defensible decisions.Can demonstrate personal impact, negotiation and influencing skills and be an outstanding communicator; who can build and maintain strong relationships with colleagues at all gradesHighly proactive, with a positive, ‘can do’ attitude and the proven ability to lead and motivate a team to deliverDesirable CriteriaKnowledge of the public sector commercial environmentIn the event of a high number of applications, the desirable criteria will be used as a second sift.Assessment If you are shortlisted, you will be asked to take part in an Alternative Leadership Assessment (ALA). The assessments will not result in a pass or fail decision. Rather, they are designed to support the panel's decision making and highlight areas for the panel to explore further at interview.BehavioursSuccess Profiles (to be assessed at interview):Communicating and influencingWorking togetherMaking effective decisionsTechnicalPublic procurement and commercial practice(A link to the Civil Service Success Profiles Framework is provided below)Success Profiles FrameworkWhat we will offer you, here are some of the benefits you can expect:Competitive salary Generous pension schemeA discretionary non-contractual performance related bonus Working remotely in addition to working in advertised office locationFlexi time scheme (available for B1-B6)Minimum 25 days annual leave to a maximum service related 30 days excluding bank holidaysExplore fully how we will reward your work.Want to make a difference? Find out more about the rewarding work that we do in our candidate pack.The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil ServiceD&I Strategy.We want to make our recruitment process accessible to everyone, so if there is any way that we can support you, please contact recruitment@crowncommercial.gov.ukWorking flexibly, delivering outcomesCCS is a flexible business with a smarter working model where our colleagues benefit from a mix of home and office working. Successful candidates are expected to work from one of the office locations listed. Our current office attendance approach requires a minimum of 26 days per quarter (approx 2 days per week, which may be subject to change) in CCS office locations or off site meetings with suppliers, customers, partners, networking / industry events. This is pro rata for those who work part time. Our smarter working principles mean that our people have the advantage of both office and offsite based collaboration and learning, as well as working from home. This way of working allows us to honour our commitment to being a responsible business, offer flexibility and better work life balance as well as ensuring we deliver our business with confidence and in accordance with our CCS values.Selection ProcessCandidates who are successful at sift will be contacted as soon as possible following the closing date and advised of the interview process in more detail. The sift will commence on 7th November and interviews will be held WC 1st December either at one of our offices or via video with interview times and dates to be confirmed. (Subject to change)To find out more about our recruitment process please click herePlease note: Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months, which the Civil Service may use to fill future suitably similar vacancies across government for candidates who are considered appointable following interview. Should you be placed on a reserve list and want to be removed please contact recruitment@crowncommercial.gov.uk.Complaints procedureOur recruitment processes are underpinned by the principle of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles details of which can be found at http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.ukIf you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact recruitment@crowncommercial.gov.uk in the first instance.If you remain unsatisfied with the response you receive you can then contact the Civil Service Commission at info@csc.gov.ukWorking for the Civil ServiceThe Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.Complaints ProcedureOur recruitment processes are underpinned by the principle of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles details of which can be found at https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/recruitment-principles/If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact recruitment@crowncommercial.gov.uk in the first instance.If you remain unsatisfied with the response you receive you can then contact the Civil Service Commission at info@csc.gov.ukInternal candidates should apply using their Workday account. Please use the careers hub for your application.