Business Manager to Director of Capability and People Services

• Provide strategic and operational support to the Director of Capability and People Services, managing workflow, triaging competing priorities and protecting Director capacity for the highest-value activity.
• Act as a key operational problem-solver across the directorate, coordinating responses to complex resourcing, HR, pay, data protection and organisational issues and providing assurance on resolution.
• Lead and coordinate day-to-day Business Management Team operations and directly line manage, coach and develop the Business Support Officer.
• Own and coordinate senior governance and information flow, including SLT/LT agendas, town halls, central commissions and quality assurance of high-level outputs.
• Draft, refine and quality-assure submissions and briefings for the Government Chief Commercial Officer, Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Chief Commercial Officers and Commercial Directors.
• Coordinate workforce planning and headcount reporting, and guide leadership through resourcing approvals.
• Lead delivery of the Capability Employee Experience Strategy and associated working group, using data and stakeholder insight to drive improvements in organisational culture.
• Support delivery of the People strand of the GCF Commercial Strategy 2026-29 and the development and implementation of the GCF People Plan.
• Support the Director's wider corporate responsibilities, including Cabinet Office Race Champion and Head of Place South West activity.
• Support organisational transformation and the Capability directorate's integration into the Government Commercial Agency.

Essential:

• Experience managing upwards and providing strategic and operational support to senior officials (SCS2+).
• Excellent judgement, organisation and prioritisation in a fast-paced environment with multiple competing demands.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to resolve complex operational blockers while balancing policy, risk and stakeholder needs.
• Ability to build credible, collaborative relationships with senior stakeholders across government and external organisations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, including distilling complex information into clear, persuasive submissions, briefings and senior communications.
• Experience of leading/coordinating team delivery and line managing, coaching or mentoring others.
• Ability to design and improve processes, governance and ways of working.
• Strong IT capability across Microsoft Office and/or Google Workspace.

Experience:

• Managing upwards for senior officials (SCS2+).
• Delivering in fast-paced business environments, including engagement with Ministerial Private Offices.
• Drafting high-quality submissions and briefings for senior leadership.

Additional information:

Cabinet Office policy is that a minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. For some roles, due to their nature and the business need, this may be up to 100%. Requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.