Bristol, Darlington, London, Manchester, Wolverhampton

Job Summary

In the Place Engagement Team, we understand the local government sector as well as local places, use local intelligence and knowledge to improve places for the people that live there while also influencing policy making and delivering priorities for Ministers. Our work enables MHCLG to understand the sector and places so that policy is developed with a consideration of, and engagement with, the sector and place from an early stage.

The Business Operations Hub enables the wider team to operate effectively, manage risk, and measure impact. This team collaborates closely with colleagues in Place Teams and the Strategic Engagement Team, acting as the owner of key products and processes. This role is a key part of the team acting as senior officer and supporting the team leader.

Job Description

Support the Business Operations lead to ensure processes are working effectively across the hub as part of a high performing team.
Look for opportunities to further develop the team that will support both PET and the wider department.
Act as line manager for 3 HEO staff within the Business Operations Hub team. Lead on key resources in the Business Operation Hub such as team briefings; develop a policy network across PET and MHCLG to support this.
Ensure resources across the Business Operations Hub are managed effectively across commissions, correspondence and briefings with high quality results.
Support the delivery of core business operations, including governance, inbox management, and resource planning.
Provide surge capacity and flexible support for Place teams in response to emerging priorities, specific pressures or ad-hoc events. Support inductions for new starters and learning & development activities.
Support the Business Operations lead to ensure processes are working effectively across the hub as part of a high performing team.
Look for opportunities to further develop the team that will support both PET and the wider department.
Act as line manager for 3 HEO staff within the Business Operations Hub team. Lead on key resources in the Business Operation Hub such as team briefings; develop a policy network across PET and MHCLG to support this.
Ensure resources across the Business Operations Hub are managed effectively across commissions, correspondence and briefings with high quality results.
Support the delivery of core business operations, including governance, inbox management, and resource planning.
Provide surge capacity and flexible support for Place teams in response to emerging priorities, specific pressures or ad-hoc events. Support inductions for new starters and learning & development activities.

Person specification

Be a proactive and supportive leader in your team, including undertaking line management responsibilities.
Work proactively to balance opportunities to further develop the Business Operation hub whilst ensuring ongoing business.
Be highly organised and able to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Build effective working relationships across the team and the department.
Demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills, producing clear and accurate outputs.
Show initiative and flexibility, adapting to changing priorities as needed.

Alongside your salary of £41,890, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government contributes £12,135 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

At MHCLG we offer many benefits that range from tailored career pathways and flexible working to MyLifestyle Childcare Voucher and Cycle to Work Schemes. For more information, please click here.

Artificial intelligence

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 (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Application and Selection

The application process will be split into 2 stages, testing the following Success Profiles:

Behaviours , Strengths

Stage 1: Sift

Behaviour (Lead Behaviour): Leadership
Behaviour: Seeing the Big Picture
Behaviour: Making Effective Decisions
Behaviour: Managing a Quality Service

There is a 250-word limit per question.

When Writing Your Application, Remember

the assessor won’t be reading your answers sequentially
do not assume that the same assessors will have read all of your answers
if talking about something in your first answer, make sure that you write the second answer as if you had not written the first (and so on!)

Most of our campaigns utilise multiple assessors and so it is possible that each of your answers would be viewed by different assessors.

In the event that we receive a large number of applications, we may conduct an initial sift using the lead behaviour listed in the advert. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to interview.

If you run into any technical problems when applying through Be Applied (for example, trouble logging in or submitting your application), their support team can help. Please contact them at hello@beapplied.com.

Stage 2: Interview

Behaviours: Leadership, Seeing the Big Picture, Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service
Strengths: The strength-based questions will require natural responses from the candidates.

Sift and Interview Dates

Sifting is envisaged to take place the week commencing 2nd March 2026.

Interviews are envisaged to take place the week commencing 16th March 2026 and are currently being held remotely via videocall. This could be subject to change.

How We Recruit

Find out more about our recruitment processes here.

Applying
Sifting
Interview
Interview Results & Feedback
Reserve List
Near Miss
Civil Service Grades
We are a DCS, RIS & GPTWV employer
Reasonable Adjustments

How To Apply

Find out everything you need to know before applying here.

You must review the following information from the MHCLG Career's Site before submitting your application. This step is essential to ensure your eligibility for the role and that your application is completed correctly.

Security Clearance Requirements
Civil Service Nationality Requirements
Right to Work
Artificial Intelligence
Civil Service Code and Recruitment Principles
CV Declaration
Sponsorships
Salary and Grade
Existing Civil Servants
Conflict of Interest
Location and Flexible Working
Fixed Term Contracts
Internal Fraud Database - Internal Fraud Register
Appeals and Complaints
Conflict of Interest

Security Clearance Requirements

National Office: BPSS

London Office: BPSS + CTC

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

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.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

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.

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).

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job Contact

Name : Rosie Jenkins
Email : rosie.jenkins@communities.gov.uk

Recruitment team

Email : recruitment@communities.gov.uk

Further information

About

If you are unsure about any part of the process or require additional information about the post to enable you to progress your application, you should speak to the Resourcing team - recruitment@communities.gov.uk. Candidates can appeal at any stage of the recruitment process if they believe there has been:

a procedural irregularity

an infringement of the Civil Service equal opportunities policy

exceptional circumstances which were not notified to the interview panel which might have affected performance on the day.

It is important to note that these are appeals about the process not the decision. In the first instance, an appeal should be directed to the MHCLG Resourcing Hub at recruitment@communities.gov.uk.

If the MHCLG Resourcing Hub is unable to satisfactorily resolve your complaint, you may contact put your complaint in writing to the Civil Service Commission, Room G8,1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ or by email to: info@csc.gov.uk

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