Senior Private Secretary, No.10 North

The Prime Ministers Office enables the Prime Minister to deliver the Governments overall priorities and to communicate the Governments policies to Parliament, the public and international audiences. From the Policy Unit, Press Office, Switchboard and Custodians to the Events & Visits team and the Private Office support; the diverse No.10 team draws on varied expertise from across the Civil Service and beyond. The teams come together to deliver excellent service to the Prime Minister while also making No.10 a great place to work.

No.10 North is focused on delivering good growth in every postcode and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to thrive, no matter where they live. No.10 North is the Prime Ministers centre for devolution, place and local growth. Based in Manchester and working across the United Kingdom, it connects places directly to the centre of government. It brings together local leaders, HM Treasury and other government departments to resolve problems that no single organisation can solve alone.

The Strategy and PMO team provides the leadership, governance and coordination backbone of No.10 North. The team supports senior leaders, drives strategic planning, oversees programme delivery and ensures the organisation remains focused on its priorities. Working across governance, performance, business management, people and private office functions, the team coordinates activity across No.10 North and the wider Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, helping to turn ambitious priorities into effective delivery.

We are seeking an outstanding Senior Private Secretary to lead the provision of Private Office support to No.10 Norths Director General and Deputy Chief of Staff. This is a high-profile leadership role at the heart of No.10 North. You will lead the office, ensuring that their time, attention, and decisions are focused on the organisations most important priorities. You will act as a trusted adviser to your principal, providing advice on priorities, handling, and the effective use of their time. You will oversee the flow of business through the office, ensure that the principal receives timely and decision-ready advice, and maintain oversight of their decisions, commitments, and priorities.

You will work closely with the other Senior Private Secretary and the Head of Private Office to ensure effective coordination between the Director General and Deputy Chief of Staff and a coherent approach across the wider Private Office.

Responsibilities will include:

• Leading the Private Office support provided to either the Director General or Deputy Chief of Staff.
• Acting as a trusted adviser to the principal on priorities, handling, stakeholder relationships, and the effective use of their time.
• Maintaining a strategic overview of the principals portfolio and ensuring that important decisions, risks, and emerging issues are identified early.
• Overseeing the flow of business to the principal and resolving competing demands on their attention.
• Ensuring that advice is concise, evidence-based, and clear about the decision required, available options, and the implications.
• Overseeing the commissioning and quality assurance of briefing, submissions, correspondence, and meeting materials.
• Ensuring that important meetings, visits, and engagements have clear objectives, appropriate preparation, and effective follow-up.
• Tracking the principals decisions, commitments, and actions, holding teams to account and escalating risks or delays.
• Leading and developing the staff supporting the principal and ensuring clear allocation of portfolios and responsibilities.
• Building strong relationships across No.10 North, No.10, the wider Office of the Prime Minister, and Cabinet, HM Treasury, government departments, and external partners.
• Working closely with the other Senior Private Secretary to coordinate shared and cross-cutting business.
• Supporting the Head of Private Office to establish consistent standards and effective ways of working across the Private Office.
• Deputising for the Head of Private Office when required.

Essential skills and experience:

• Excellent strategic judgement and the ability to understand a senior leaders priorities and translate them into an effective programme of business.
• Significant experience of operating in a complex, fast-paced and high-profile environment.
• Experience of leading or working in a Private Office supporting a Minister, Permanent Secretary, Director General, or equivalent senior leader.
• The ability to provide clear, candid, and trusted advice to senior decision makers.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, including the ability to improve and quality-assure complex advice.
• A strong record of building influential relationships and coordinating activity across organisational boundaries.
• Strong leadership and people-management skills.
• The ability to anticipate emerging issues, make connections across a broad portfolio and intervene early to address risks.
• Excellent organisation and prioritisation skills, combined with resilience and calmness under pressure.
• A high level of political awareness, discretion, and integrity.

Desirable skills and experience:

• Experience of working at the centre of government or on a significant cross government priority.
• An understanding of central government policy, fiscal and decision-making processes.
• Knowledge of devolution, local government, economic growth, or place-based policy.

Additional information:

Office for the Prime Minister 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.