Assistant Private Secretary to the Advocate General
This vacancy is only available to existing Civil Servant employees and employees of accredited non\-departmental public bodies (NDPBs). Please review the "Eligibility" section before you apply.
General Information
Salary
The national salary range is £35,335 \- £37,847, London salary range is £40,014 \- £42,859\. Your salary will be dependent on your base location
Working Pattern
Full Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
Cross Government
Location
Edinburgh, London
Region
London, Scotland
Closing Date
12\-Jul\-2026
Post Type
Detached Duty, Loan
Civil Service Grade
HEO
Number of jobs available
2
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
19214
Descriptions \& requirements
Job description
General information
Salary: £35,335\-£37,847 (Edinburgh) or £40,014\-42,859 (London) plus Private Office allowance of £5,799 per year
Civil Service Grade: Higher Executive Officer
Location: London or Edinburgh
Post Type: Loan (two years plus one year possible extension)
Working Pattern: Full time
Number of jobs available: 2
Vacancy approach: Cross Government, open to Higher Executive Officers and Executive Officers on temporary promotion
The Department
The Advocate General is a UK Government Minister and Law Officer. She provides legal advice to Government departments on a wide range of issues, including human rights and constitutional matters. She is the Government’s principal legal adviser on Scots law and the Scottish devolution settlement. She is also a member of a Cabinet committee and undertakes parliamentary work on behalf of Government. The Advocate General is based in Edinburgh, with regular visits to London.
In addition to supporting the Advocate General, the Office of the Advocate General (OAG) is the UK Government’s Scottish legal team. It has staff based in Dover House in Whitehall and Queen Elizabeth House in Edinburgh.
Private Office is an energetic and busy team with exposure to a wide variety of the most high\-profile and interesting matters within Government. It is the interface between the Minister and her department, wider Government and external stakeholders. Private Office currently comprises a Senior Private Secretary and Assistant Private Secretary based in Whitehall, and an Assistant Private Secretary based in Edinburgh.
The Role
We are looking for two highly\-organised individuals with enthusiasm for their work, who have a keen eye for detail and are able to work independently. You will work ly with the Minister, with the ability to identify and implement improved ways of working. You will be a team player who will be able to balance competing priorities and a fast\-paced workload. You will have the ability to horizon scan by building a sophisticated understanding of the relevant contacts and organisations relevant to the work of the Advocate General allowing you to anticipate and respond quickly to emerging issues. You will build strong relationships and effectively communicate with the Minister and senior officials across Government, including No.10, and a range of external stakeholders.
The key responsibilities of the roles include:
- Contribute to the delivery of a professional and high\-quality private office service to the Minister: leading on logistics for meetings and engagements; timely provision of information and briefings; support for meetings and engagements; making travel arrangements; effective and strategic diary management, including leading regular meetings with minister to coordinate the diary.
- Develop and maintain strong relationships across the department, wider Government, and external stakeholders, being assertive and confident in advocating and driving forward the Minister’s priorities as well as protecting and promoting her interests.
- Engage with the wider office and other departments to secure the timely provision of effective advice and support to the Minister.
- Lead on various portfolio areas in Private Office.
- Contribute to delivery of the wider responsibilities of Private Office as appropriate, including cover for the Senior Private Secretary.
- Some travel to Edinburgh if based in London or vice\-versa, and occasional travel accompanying the Advocate General on visits to other parts of the UK or abroad;
- Some evening and weekend working, with a team rota for weekend duty;
- In person working when business needs require and in accordance with in office attendance policy.
The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate skills and experience against the following essential criteria:
- Excellent team player, who is able to both collaborate effectively and work independently.
- A great communicator, with strong interpersonal and team working skills, and experience of building strong working relationships with Ministers and/or senior officials.
- An effective decision maker, strong organisational skills and detail orientated, with capacity to absorb large volumes of information and possessing sound judgment under pressure.
- Experience of delivering a high\-quality service, driving forward multiple priorities simultaneously, and ability to identify and implement improved ways of working.
This role is open Cross Government to Higher Executive Officers and Executive Officers on temporary promotion.
Additional Information
The Office of the Advocate General (OAG) is not an employer in its own right. On appointment, the post holders will be employees of the Ministry of Justice, which provides employment services on behalf of OAG, but this is not a role in the Ministry of Justice.
The vacancies will be filled on loan for an initial period of two years, with the possibility of a one\-year extension by mutual agreement. If the incumbent is applying on temporary promotion, they will revert to their previous substantive grade and salary after the loan.
The transfer would be considered voluntary and so would not attract excess fares, travel costs or relocation costs.
It is envisaged that the successful candidates will take up the role in August or September.
Candidates should discuss the loan with management at their home department prior to application. Upon acceptance of the role, we will require confirmation that management in the home department are content to release the successful candidate.
Working Arrangements \& Further Information
The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements w business need allows. This is an informal, non\-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.
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.
For nationally advertised roles: All successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale. This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) – See Map. All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity).
For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its location’s respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).
Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.
MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.
All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.
Flexible working hours
The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ welcomes part\-time, flexible and job\-sharing working patterns, w they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part\-time, flexible and job\-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.
Benefits
The MoJ offers a range of benefits:
Annual Leave
Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.
T is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part\-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro\-rata basis.
Pension
The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.
Training
The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.
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