Senior Policy Adviser - Cross-Cutting Reform and Early Interventions

About the Group
The Public Spending Group is a high-profile and rewarding place to work. We help the Chancellor decide what to spend £1.2 trillion a year on and ensure government delivers value for money for the taxpayer. We are responsible for reporting to Parliament and the public on how taxpayers’ money is spent. We drive forward improved outcomes and efficiency in public services and make sure value for money is at the centre of decision-making through better evaluation, data and analysis.
The Group advise on overall government policy on public sector pay and pensions, the biggest single driver of public spending. We collaborate with and directly support departments to deliver the Government Finance Function strategy, building finance, debt and risk capability across government and developing the management information, tools and frameworks to better understand and ensure value for money.
About the Team
The Cross-Cutting Strategy, Insight and Reform (CSIR) team works on some of the most challenging policy issues facing government today.
CSIR exists to improve value for money by working across government to lead change through cross-cutting reform, productivity and efficiency and enabling the centre of government to achieve these aims via excellent spending control.
About the Job
This is an exciting Range E role with significant policy leadership across complex areas and well suited for someone able to operate at a strategic level and identify opportunities to add value and inject pace.
You will lead on identifying and delivering key reform opportunities across the public sector to drive improved productivity and efficiency, in particular by working with departments to enhance the government’s understanding of demand management across public services and systems challenges. As part of this workstream, you will be responsible for coordinating and collating work across stakeholders to identify opportunities for early interventions and preventative spending in order to support better outcomes and alleviate long-term spending pressures. These opportunities will be cross-cutting, involving different parts of government and the public sector: the objective is to lead HMT efforts to enable change through fiscal events and ongoing engagement., 1. Lead the team’s work to identify and support preventative spending interventions at the next Spending Review, working collaboratively across HM Treasury and government more widely.
2. Work with departments to enhance HM Treasury’s understanding of demand management and system challenges across public services, identifying opportunities for streamlining delivery and improving outcomes.
3. Work with analysts to determine and agree an accurate approach to understanding the impact of preventative spending interventions, ensuring the department has the right tools and methodological approach for ascertaining impacts.
4. Build strong partnerships and relationships with officials across government in order to deliver HM Treasury’s objectives in reform policy areas.
5. Provide excellent line management to direct report, including overseeing work on a day to day basis, prioritising wellbeing, and ensuring clear responsibilities while retaining flexibility to respond to events.
A background in or understanding of public spending is desirable, but not essential, for the role.
Candidate Drop-In Session – Microsoft Teams
If this sounds like the role for you, or you have any questions, we would love to hear from you! Please feel free to contact the hiring manager Peter Dorman (peter.dorman@hmtreasury.gov.uk).
The hiring manager will also be running a candidate drop-in session for this role to give you greater insight about the role as well as the chance to learn more about HM Treasury and ask any questions you may have. If you would like to join us, then use the link below to join the call at the right time.
Friday 24th May at 13:00: Join the meeting now

Person specification
We are looking for the below skills, experience and behaviours and we will ask you to demonstrate these in your application form. Please review the Candidate FAQ document that is attached to the advert for guidance on how to complete your application form.
1. Making Effective Decisions: able to present reasonable conclusions from a wide range of complex and sometimes incomplete evidence to inform approach.
2. Seeing the Big Picture: ability to navigate a complex policy and political landscape and set direction, demonstrating strong strategic thinking skills.
3. Working Together: actively able to work collaboratively with a network of colleagues and contacts to achieve progress on shared objectives.
The lead criterion is: Making Effective Decisions: able to present reasonable conclusions from a wide range of complex and sometimes incomplete evidence to inform approach.
If we receive large volumes of applications, we will conduct an initial sift on the lead criterion only.
Candidate Guidance Support Session – Microsoft Teams
We will be running an overview of Success Profiles and the STAR approach including top tips for the application and interview process and an opportunity to ask general questions around our recruitment practices. Please note that this session is not role specific, so we will be unable to answer specific questions about roles we are advertising. If you would like to join us, please use the link below to join the call at the right time.
Wednesday 5th June at 12:30: Join the meeting now

Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Making Effective Decisions
+ Seeing the Big Picture
+ Working Together, Shortlisting: Until w/c 10 June
Interviews: From w/c 17 June
This timeline is indicative and may be subject to change. We will inform you if there is a substantial change to the recruitment timeline.
If your contact details change at any time during the selection process, please ensure you update your Civil Service Jobs Profile.
Please note that only applications submitted through Civil Service Jobs will be accepted.
Eligibility Statement
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role in the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government. Checks will be performed as part of pre-employment checks in line with this. Please refer to the Candidate FAQ document attached to the advert for more information.
Individuals appointed to the Treasury Group will be subject to National Security Vetting. To allow for meaningful checks to be carried out applicants will normally need to have lived in the UK for at least 3 out of the past 5 years. A lack of UK residency in itself is not always a bar to security clearance but the Department will need to consider eligibility on a case by case basis using all information that can be obtained following a successful application.
Everyone working with government assets must complete Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks.
For many roles, security clearance is also required. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements of the role before they can be appointed. The level of security clearance required for this role is Counter Terrorist Check (CTC)
Please read the Vetting Charter for information on what to expect during the vetting process and what will be expected from you.
Many areas of your life may be explored during your vetting journey, and it is important that every individual, regardless of their background and experiences, should feel comfortable going through this personal process, whilst having confidence that it is fair, proportionate, and inclusive.
These short videos address common concerns and preconceptions which applicants may have about national security vetting.
If you have questions relating to security clearances, please contact HMTSecurityVetting@hmtreasury.gov.uk
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

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) (opens in a new window)
+ 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
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion
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 (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

About HM Treasury
If you’re interested in making a difference to people’s lives, the Treasury can offer you an exciting opportunity to influence decision making that affects the whole of the UK. Working at the heart of government, we collaborate across government to promote responsible public spending and drive strong and sustainable economic growth.
Our work ranges from protecting customers through the regulation of the financial sector, helping to reduce carbon emissions and creating a greener economy, to promoting British trade around the world and supporting people across the country on jobs, growth and more.
We are part of the Darlington Economic Campus, a pioneering new cross-government hub which brings people together to play an active role in the most important issues of the day whilst working closer to the communities we serve. The campus provides the opportunity for people from all over the UK to help shape the future of the country, and our flexible working practices ensure you can collaborate effectively with our partners. It’s central government, made more accessible to you!, At HM Treasury we have an incredibly broad remit; our work touches every citizen of the country. So, it’s important our employees come from the widest possible range of backgrounds, bringing us the widest possible range of perspectives and ways of thinking. We are committed to ensuring that all staff can realize their potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance.
HM Treasury operates an office based working approach across all Treasury sites - Darlington, London, and Norwich, and along with the rest of the Civil Service, has an expectation of a minimum of 60% attendance in the office, along with working remotely. This blended working approach allows you to work collaboratively, meet stakeholders face to face, support others and promotes a healthy work life balance (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review. All our offices have been recently modernised and designed to collaborate and connect with colleagues as well as desk and quiet space to allow a range of ways to work.

Alongside your salary of £52,960, HM Treasury contributes £14,299 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
+ 25 days’ annual leave (rising to 30 after 5 years), plus 8 public holidays and the King's birthday (unless you have a legacy arrangement as an existing Civil Servant)
+ Flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours)
+ Generous parental and adoption leave package.
+ A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and average employer contributions of 27%
+ Onsite restaurant and coffee bar. The London office also offers a gym, showers and prayer room
+ Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme, season ticket advances and payroll giving
+ Access to a retail discounts and cashback site
+ A Rental Deposit Advance Scheme to help meet the total costs of deposits for privately rented homes
+ A range of active staff networks, based around interests (e.g. analysts, music society, sports and social club) and diversity (e.g. women in the Treasury, ethnic minority network, LGBT

• network, faith and belief network)

Flexible Working Arrangements