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Job Description for a Team Member (Band B2)

About the Strategy Unit

The PMSU has three main roles:

• to carry out strategy reviews and provide policy advice in accordance with the Prime Minister's policy priorities;
• to support Government Departments in developing effective strategies and policies - including helping them to build their strategic capability; and.
• to identify and effectively disseminate thinking on emerging issues and challenges facing the UK e.g. through occasional strategic audits

The PMSU works closely, and often jointly, with other government departments and external stakeholders on a broad range of domestic policy. Many projects culminate in a published output such as a White or Green Paper. Other projects influence the direction of government policy rather than leading directly to published reports. And while some work is one-off, other work on issues such as public service reform, home affairs and welfare reform tends to be more ongoing. The Unit reports ultimately to the Prime Minister.

Post holders will be members of small teams set up to address issues where innovative approaches and fresh thinking are necessary to ensure the achievement of the Government's objectives. Teams will be drawn from both inside and outside the Civil Service and work intensively on an issue, for periods ranging from 3-4 weeks to 3-4 months or longer depending on the task.

Main duties of the post

1. To take a fresh evidence-based look at a range of domestic policy issues
2. To undertake analysis and research to build an understanding of problems and their causal drivers
3. To analyse form first principles the rationale for government intervention and develop policy options and delivery mechanisms
4. To work closely with No 10, other government departments and other stakeholders as necessary
5. To identify innovative solutions to problems, improve Government policy and help deliver Government objectives
6. To deliver high quality outputs with challenging deadlines

The B2 role may include project management, stakeholder management, analytical work, data modelling, research and writing some of the final report, chairing team and stakeholder meetings and presenting analysis to senior officials. The exact nature of the role will depend on the skills and background of the post-holder and the needs of each project or piece of work.

Person Specification - competences/skills required

Leadership

To be successful for Band B2 Civil Service jobs, you need to demonstrate that you can:

1. promote the corporate vision and direction
2. be flexible about working on new tasks
3. take action to promote a positive team climate

Essential competences for the SU

Strategic Thinking

1. Knowledge and understanding of government priorities
2. Knowledge of the wider policy environment, including political or institutional restraints

Analysis and Use of Evidence

1. Uses a variety of tools in collecting and analysing evidence
2. Ability to understand complex statistical data
3. Provides well researched options, using precedents, guidance, legislation and weighing and balancing complex information
4. Lateral thinking - can provide creative solutions to problems

People Management

1. Encourages staff to develop and improve their performance
2. Able to give good feedback that people can act on

Programme and Project Management

1. Contributes to the development of a project plan
2. Takes responsibility for their own actions and contributions
3. Manages and monitors programme/project risks

Specialist Professional Skills

Essential

1. Good quality qualifications or training in economics, social policy, operational research or similar
2. Excellent quantitative and qualitative analytical skills
3. Excellent communication and presentation skills, both written and oral
4. Sector knowledge - an understanding of social policy is an advantage

Desirable

1. Experience of working in a think-tank or high profile management consultancy role or policy or analytical arm of a government department.
2. Experience or Excel modelling and project management

Desirable/not essential skills

Financial management