Job Introduction

Job Introduction:

Please kindly note that this is a senior Private Secretary level role, not an Executive Assistant position. We are seeking an individual with proven experience operating at a high strategic level, providing executive support. The postholder will act as a trusted adviser and key partner to the Director General, managing high-profile and sensitive issues, shaping engagements, navigating complex stakeholder landscapes, and ensuring the DG is fully briefed, prepared, and positioned to deliver organisational priorities.

This role requires someone who has already demonstrated sound political judgement, the ability to handle complex information with discretion, and the confidence to influence senior leaders. We are looking for candidates who can hit the ground running, bringing experience in a comparable senior support, Private Secretary, or high-level advisory environment rather than those whose background is solely in EA or PA work.

When people go to work, they shouldn’t have to leave their ambition at the door. If you’re ready to take on a high‑impact role in a fast‑paced, high‑performing environment, the Senior Support Executive position offers a strong platform to drive results and influence leadership at the highest level.

This role offers the momentum of fresh challenges, new strategic relationships, and the opportunity to shape how the Director General engages with the organisation and external partners. You will work closely with the Chief of Staff and provide direct line management to the Executive Assistant, ensuring focused, effective, and reliable executive support.

As Senior Support Executive, you will operate at the centre of the IOPC, gaining clear insight into strategic priorities while providing confident, informed advice that enables the Director General to perform at their peak. Your work will be integral to the strength and efficiency of the DG’s office and to the successful delivery of the organisation’s transformation agenda.

Drawing on your background as a private secretary or similar, you will produce sharp, influential reports, briefs, and speeches that support clear decision‑making and represent the Director General’s voice with precision. You will build strong, purposeful relationships across senior teams, working closely with the Senior Leadership Team and Deputy Director General’s Office to ensure seamless coordination.

Your leadership will set high expectations and drive performance, while your analytical mindset will support you to navigate complex priorities and deliver results in a dynamic environment. With professionalism and sound judgement at the core of how you operate, you will manage sensitive information with discretion and lead cross‑directorate initiatives to successful completion.

Additional Information

There is an expectation that this is primarily an office based role, with an expectation to support the Director General wherever they travel on occasion. The postholder must be able to spend the majority (60 – 80%) of their contractual hours working in-person due to nature of the job role.
The postholder must be able to work flexibly to meet the demands of the job role. This means at times longer days including early starts and late finish.
The postholder must be able and willing to travel to all IOPC locations as and when required. This usually required weekly travel.

We'll assess you against these Senior Executive Officer (SEO) Level behaviours during the selection process:

Communicating and Influencing
Delivering at Pace

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, to find out more, please click here.

Throughout the recruitment process we will also assess your Experience, Strengths, Technical Skills and Values.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete three application interviews based on the essential criteria.

Anticipated timeframes for the assessment are as follows:

W/C 23 February: All applications will be reviewed
W/C 2 March: Candidates will be updated on the outcome of application. Successful candidates will be invited to assessment.
W/C 9 March: Assessments take place. Anticipated assessment and interview dates are estimated to take place on Friday 13th March 2026.

The formality of the assessment will consist of a Success Profiles Interview and Technical Assessment. The top scoring 3 candidates from this stage will then be invited to attend a final stage interview with our Director General on Wednesday 18th March and successful candidate offered/appointed on Thursday 19th March 2026.

Main Responsibility

To act as the point of contact to the Director General and support in all related matters pertaining to the business.
Assisting in the development and implementation of business strategies, providing insights, and facilitating strategic meetings.
Ensuring the Director General is fully prepared for meetings, providing briefings, action updates and stakeholder information to ensure they can achieve the meeting objectives. Attending meetings with the Director General and ensuring meetings are actioned and delivered effectively and efficiently.
With the guidance of the Chief of Staff preparing speeches, speaking notes and briefings using authentic application of voice and tone of the speaker.
To draft reports, briefings and communication material on behalf of the Director General (for both internal and external stakeholders).

Please refer to the Job Description for full role responsibilities.

The Ideal Candidate

Knowledge of the work of the IOPC and the wider public sector environment.
Previous experience of providing private secretary support to a senior leader.
Experience of preparing high level professional reports and documents for both internal and external senior audiences.
Experience of drafting speaking notes and speeches with authentic application of voice and tone of the speaker.
Experience of working with diverse groups, networking and building professional productive relationships.
Line management experience, focused on delivering high performance and quality.
Proven track record of delivery, demonstrating an analytical approach to making judgements and decisions in a fast moving and fluctuating working environment.
Experience of project managing cross directorate/ organisational initiatives.
Evidence of having acted with discretion to deal appropriately with confidential matters.

Skills and Abilities

Demonstrable ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with experience in building relationships with a diverse and challenging group of stakeholders.
Proficiency in the use of ICT, including MS Office, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint and MS Teams.
Task management - ability to manage a fluctuating workload and adapt to fast moving demands.
Trouble shooter with ability to quickly understand an issue and apply a fix.
Demonstrable ability to quickly grasp new/complex concepts and assimilate information quickly.
Comfortable taking decisions within a clear framework of delegation.

We believe that diverse perspectives contribute to a more innovative and dynamic workplace. We actively encourage applications from individuals who are typically under-represented or disadvantaged in society. This includes women, people from ethnically diverse backgrounds, parents and carers, and disabled candidates, including neurodiverse candidates.

We are committed to providing equal opportunities for all applicants and creating an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are valued and supported.

Security Clearance: The role requires clearance to SC level. You will need to have been a continuous resident within the UK for the past 5 years. This is an essential criterion for the role.

National security vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Political Restriction

Please note that this is a politically restricted role and will be subject to limitations set out in the IOPC code of conduct, a relevant extract from which is set out below. This post has been identified as politically restricted because:

The post holder will act as “spokesperson” for the organisation, or have a significant degree of face-to-face contact with stakeholders, pressure groups, or other bodies or individuals who are seeking to influence the IOPC 
It would appear to the public that the post holder had some influence over the outcome of the organisation’s decisions.

If a post is politically restricted, this means that you should discuss with your line manager before taking on any political activities. Permissions will not be unreasonably withheld but consideration will need to be given to the scope and remit of the role and how this may be perceived in the context of your IOPC position. You should discuss with your line manager if you are considering becoming politically active, for example:

Campaigning for a political party.
Holding a political office.
Occupying party political posts.
Holding a particularly sensitive or high-profile unpaid roles in a political party.

Positive Action

Positive action as detailed in the Equality Act 2010, allows us to use measures designed to help improve equality in the workplace, and create a level playing field for all, whilst still employing everyone based on merit. Our workforce profile data shows that people who identify as black, Asian and minority ethnic are under-represented at the IOPC.

For this role – should we have a situation where multiple candidates have achieved the highest score and one identifies as black, Asian or minority ethnic, by using positive action, we can select that candidate for the role, therefore improving this area of under-representation at the IOPC. We will only use positive action in this way where the highest scoring candidates have all scored equally, at the final assessment stage, and above our required threshold.

Reasonable Adjustments:

The IOPC is a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we want to help you demonstrate your full potential whatever type of assessment is used. We are open to providing you with the tools you need to succeed. Whilst this list is not exhaustive, please see potential reasonable adjustments below that we can provide:

Extra time for presentations or interview questions
Formatting changes such as colours for text or background on written assignments
Questions presented in writing during interviews

If you require any reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process, please email recruitment@policeconduct.gov.uk

Package Description

What we Offer:

27.5 days paid annual leave (increasing with service to 32.5 days)
Options to carry over, buy or sell annual leave
Voluntary Health Cash Plan provided by BHSF
Civil Service pension
Civil Service maternity leave package
PAM employee assistance programme
Access to Civil Service Sports Council (CSSC) membership
Cycle to work scheme
Opportunity to enjoy the latest home and electronics in a more affordable way provided by Vivup
Car Leasing Scheme
Staff Networks focussed on each of the protected characteristics - run for staff, by staff: Enable Network, Age Network, Welsh Network, Pride and LGBTQ+ Network, Sex and Family Network, Race, Religion and Belief Network
Learning and development tailored to your role.
An environment with flexible working options
A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity

Additional Information:

Any move to the Independent Office for Police Conduct from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may, however, be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Emotional Consideration:

In performing this role, you may have occasional exposure to distressing material which will likely be impactful, traumatic and challenging. Given the nature of the work, it is also possible that you will have contact with individuals who are experiencing extreme distress. The IOPC recognises this and offers all staff a range of wellbeing provisions, including TRiM (Trauma Risk Management), peer-to-peer support, a dedicated Wellbeing Advisor, and access to free confidential counselling. All staff are strongly encouraged to proactively access and engage with the support available. If you would like to speak about this element of the role with somebody already doing similar work at the IOPC please contact recruitment@policeconduct.gov.uk and this can be arranged.

Rydym yn croesawu ymgeiswyr i ymgeisio am rolau trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg fel eu dewis iaith.

#IND

About the Company

Be yourself:

The IOPC is committed to promoting equality and valuing diversity in everything we do. Our vision is to be, and to be seen as, a leader in inclusive employment and services, demonstrating this ethos in everything that we do.

We are pleased to share that we are a signatory of the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter. The Charter is composed of five calls to action for leaders and organisations across all sectors.
Being a Disability Confident employer, the IOPC is dedicating to removing the barriers for disabled people to thrive in the workplace.
Our Staff Networks are constantly working to make the IOPC the leaders of inclusive employment, from our Allyship Programme to Welsh Language Standards and our Know the Line Policy, we are constantly seeking new ways to create an environment for all to develop and thrive.

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