Private Secretary

As the living, growing home of our national story, The National Archives is a special place to work. We’re an institution nearly 200 years old with a collection spanning 1,000 years of history. We’ve set ourselves the challenge of becoming the 21st Century national archive - a different kind of cultural and heritage institution:
Inclusive, Entrepreneurial, Disruptive. We won’t become this overnight. It will take time, focus, effort and daring. That’s where you come in. Because we can’t do this without you.

Job Overview Salary: £45,000 - £51,255 per annum Contract type: permanent Band: F / SEO Closing date:
Sunday 18th October at midnight

The Private Secretary sits within the Chief Executive’s Office team, who provide private office support and a governance function for the organisation. This high impact role requires navigating a wide range of complex issues and working closely with senior officials. Working to the Head of Chief Executive’s Office and alongside another Private Secretary, the Private Secretary is responsible for articulating The National Archives’ aims, activities and interests across government, the archives sector and beyond.

They are a key player in managing day-to-day interactions with ministerial private offices, responding to ministerial correspondence and parliamentary questions, and providing expert advice to the rest of the organisation on government-facing issues. The Private Secretary also works closely with The National Archives’ Policy and Government Services teams to provide oversight and expert analysis of key policy, legislative and business initiatives across government and within The National Archives, particularly in relation to data and digital information policy.

The Private Secretary also collaborates with colleagues in the Archives Sector Leadership team, ensuring that the Chief Executive is well briefed on issues impacting the archives sector. The Private Secretary prepares briefings for the Chief Executive and writes speeches and speaking notes for his external engagements, working closely with the Media and wider Public Engagement teams. This is a full time post.

However, requests for part-time working, flexible working and job share will be considered, taking into account at all times the operational needs of the Department. A combination of onsite and home working is available and applicants should be able to regularly travel to our Kew site for a minimum of 60% of their work time.

• Build strong relationships and strategic partnerships with government departments (including ministerial offices and sponsors within the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport), and with external stakeholders
• Produce high-quality written briefings for the Chief Executive, and draft submissions for ministers on behalf of The National Archives
• Respond effectively and promptly to parliamentary questions, and ministerial and non‑ministerial correspondence
• Position The National Archives as a key player in data and digital information management, and associated policy areas, across HM Government, and represent The National Archives at meetings or events with other government departments and external (including archives sector) stakeholders as appropriate
• Support the delivery of high‑profile events, visits, and stakeholder engagements, providing briefing and (when required) speaking notes or presentations
• Develop strong relationships and a good understanding of the work of different teams around the organisation, to support the delivery of policies/projects/programmes across multiple teams and to inform advice and briefing for the Chief Executive
• Provide expert advice to colleagues on government‑facing, policy and…