Job summary
We are recruiting two policy delivery advisors to join the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST) team responsible for delivering the Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme (HCRS).
The Post Office is a key national asset at the heart of communities across the country. Government owns Post Office Limited; BIST is responsible for setting the strategic direction for the company and works with UK Government Investments (UKGI) to oversee the company?s performance.
The Post Office has been at the centre of the Horizon scandal, where postmasters were accused of taking money and were forced to pay back alleged shortfalls in the Horizon accounting system ? with many prosecuted by Post Office and sent to prison. The scandal is widely regarded as one of the most widespread miscarriages of justice in British history and continues to attract sustained media and Parliamentary attention. Putting this injustice right is central to our work.
Many of those affected have since had their convictions overturned through the courts or by mass exoneration legislation. BIST administers Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme, which provides financial redress to eligible postmasters whose convictions have been overturned. These roles sit in the team delivering this scheme.
They offer the opportunity to contribute to work of significant public importance, engage closely with senior colleagues and operate in a high-profile environment attracting sustained media, public, Parliamentary and Ministerial interest. You will join a supportive and friendly team that places a high value on personal wellbeing.
Job description
These roles sit in the casework and policy delivery team. Our overarching aim is to deliver swift, full and fair financial redress to victims of the Horizon scandal. Candidates in these roles will lead policy delivery on complex and sensitive issues, working closely with policy, legal and finance colleagues, as well as our external delivery partners. All roles require strong decision-making capability, excellent stakeholder management, and the ability to deliver high-quality advice at pace in a fast-moving environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Advising seniors on the amount of financial redress due to individuals. This involves interpreting legal advice from external lawyers, scheme policy and principles and the evidence put forward in the claim in order to make robust recommendations
- Using sound judgement where information or guidance is ambiguous to identify and recommend solutions, with clear rationale
- Managing their own caseload, with support from their line manager, meeting deadlines, prioritising work, and identifying and mitigating blockers
- Following operational processes with diligence to ensure case progress is logged accurately, and data and documentation is properly filed for audit
- Establishing strong relationships across stakeholders in BIST legal, finance and analysis, as well as BIST?s external legal advisers. Using relevant stakeholder expertise to strengthen recommendations
- Communicating clearly both verbally and in writing at all levels, anticipating and addressing the needs of different stakeholders.
Person specification
Essential criteria:
The below criteria are essential and will be assessed at application stage;
Excellent judgement skills. Working with imperfect information and using sound judgement to make clear, well-reasoned recommendations. Applying and interpreting policy and guidance to make decisions.
Strong analytical skills and confidence working with numerical/financial information with the ability to interpret complex information and evidence.
Excellent written and verbal communications skills, with an ability to present complex information clearly and concisely.
Stakeholder management and relationship-building skills, including the ability to influence senior stakeholders. Good judgement on when to bring expert stakeholders in and awareness and anticipation of their interests.
Good strategic awareness and an understanding of the wider policy environment and government priorities.
Ability to develop positive working relationships with external stakeholders, including vulnerable claimants. Confidence to handle sensitive topics with care and strong personal resilience.
Experience of policy delivery
Desirable criteria:
The below criteria are desirable only. These will not be assessed throughout the recruitment process, but will be used in the event of tied scores between candidates;
Experience working on a government redress scheme or similar major delivery programme
Knowledge of Post Office redress schemes
Experience of close working with lawyers
Behaviours
- We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Delivering at Pace
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £44,913, Department for Business and Trade contributes £13,011 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides .
Learning and development tailored to your role
An environment with flexible working options
A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
Things you need to know
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.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
Interviews for this vacancy will be conducted virtually. We will, however, consider in-person interviews by exception.
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
UK nationals
nationals of the Republic of Ireland
nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service