24467 - Parliamentary Officer

Do you enjoy being in the spotlight? Have you always wanted to work with Parliament? Do you want to be involved in briefing a Minister on a complicated issue moments before they have to speak in Parliament? Can you send a clear message under pressure?

If these challenges sound rather exciting – please apply now to be a Parliamentary Officer. You are exactly what we’re looking for.

The Ministry of Justice’s Parliament and Legislation Team are looking to fill one immediate Parliamentary Officer post in this high-profile team. There will be more exciting opportunities in the coming months, so this recruitment is offered as a merits pools for other candidates that pass the interview.

You’ll be on the front line of government and take a hands-on approach working between Ministers, their private offices and the rest of the Department – as well as the rest of Whitehall! You’ll be part of a team which manages daily parliamentary business including new legislation, parliamentary questions, debates and parliamentary handling.

Parliamentary Officer - Parliamentary Branch

This team manages the Department's parliamentary business including legislation, written and oral parliamentary questions, select committee liaison, debates, statements and briefing for No.10 and the Leader of the House. It supports Ministers and departmental colleagues to ensure all responsibilities to Parliament are fulfilled and that Ministers are well briefed and prepared for Parliamentary appearances. There are two roles within the team:

Legislation and Select Committee Team - Key responsibilities:

• Working with and advising policy officials on statutory instruments (SIs) and overseeing the registration, laying and publication of all SIs.
• Tabling Written Ministerial Statement titles and subsequent issuing in both Houses.
• Working with Parliamentary Officials and Clerks to Committees on scrutiny and debating of SIs.

PQ and Briefing Team - Key responsibilities:

• Identifying and allocating Parliamentary Questions (PQs) to relevant Officials across the Department and managing the approval process.
• Overseeing the commissioning, monitoring and preparing PQs for answer in Parliament.
• Commissioning briefing for MoJ Oral Questions and Parliamentary debates.
• Coordinating briefing for Prime Minister’s and Business Questions on MoJ topics.

Parliamentary Officer - Bill Team

The Department currently has three Bills making their way through Parliament, the Civil Liability Bill, a Court and Tribunals (Judiciary and functions of Staff) Bill and the Voyeurism Bill. This role is all about providing support to the Bill managers on preparing briefing material for Ministers, planning for parliamentary stages of the Bills and liaising and supporting the wider Department on Bill related work.

Key responsibilities:

• Support the Bill Manager in various activities – such as ensuring Bill products are produced on time and to quality, and the department is kept aware of developments.
• Monitor sources of intelligence including press and social media to compile reports on the themes of opinion and arguments from stakeholders, to inform our engagement and handling strategy.
• Track relevant correspondence that give rise to potential handling issues or support.
• Maintain the information pack for Ministers containing relevant publications and correspondence.

Parliamentary Officer – Strategy and Planning Team

The Parliamentary strategy and planning team offer a unique service to Ministers and the Department, providing advice on parliamentary strategy, intelligence and handling. Given the current parliamentary context, and the departmental need for delivering through Parliament, this team is vital in landing the MoJ’s policies successfully in Parliament.

Key responsibilities:

• Monitoring and identifying relevant parliamentary business and trends.
• Developing and maintaining a parliamentary database capturing key information that relates to the department’s business.
• Using this information to provide parliamentary handling advice to Ministers and departmental colleagues.

Essential Criteria:

• Written and oral communication: The post-holders will need to have excellent written communications skills and the ability to draft effectively under time pressure. 
• Stakeholder management: The post-holders will need to build strong working relationships with a wide range of colleagues across the MoJ, other departments, and Parliament.
• Programme and Project Management: The post-holders will need excellent organisational skills and be able to work across a number of different competing priorities to keep on track for delivery.
• Intelligence gathering: The post-holders will need to utilise a number of platforms including social media, parliamentary activity, press, and industry media to keep informed of commentary across a range of stakeholders on the Bills, to inform engagement and handling activities.
• Working at Pace: The post-holder will need to be comfortable working to considerably tight deadlines, and during high pressured periods.

Desirable Criteria:

• Previous parliamentary or Private Office experience; and
• Understanding of government and parliamentary process

Competencies

Delivering at Pace

• Work in an organised manner using own knowledge and expertise to deliver on time and to standard.
• Work with energy and pace to get the job done.
• Take responsibility for the quality of own work and keep manager informed of how the work is progressing.

Changing and Improving

• Help colleagues, customers and corporate partners to understand changes and why they have been introduced.
• Consider and suggest ideas for improvements, sharing this feedback with others in a constructive manner.
• Identify, resolve or escalate the positive and negative effects that change may have on own role / team.

Collaborating and Partnering

• Demonstrate interest in others and develop a range of contacts outside own team to help get the job done.
• Change ways of working to facilitate collaboration for the benefit of the Team’s work.
• Proactively seek information, resources and support from others outside own immediate team in order to help achieve results.

Managing a Quality Service

• Work with team to set priorities, create clear plans and manage all work to meet the needs of the customer and the business.
• Ensure that levels of service are maintained – flag up risks or concerns in order to meet customer requirements.
• Identify common problems or weaknesses in policy or procedures that affect service and escalate these.

If we receive a lot of applications, we may sift on the lead competency of delivering at pace.

Additional Information

The jobs may on occasion working extended hours during the Parliamentary session to ensure the Department can fulfil its parliamentary requirements. Flexi time can be accrued. No weekend working is required.

As we are also recruiting to a merits pool, there is also opportunity for successful candidates to be considered to other equivalent posts.

Closing Date: 1st March 2019 at 23.55 hours

If you require any assistance please call 0845 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@sscl.gse.gov.uk Please quote the job reference.