Job summary The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is recruiting for the role of Diary Manager. This is an integral role in Private Office, and we are looking for people who will help us deliver exceptional results in a unique business.
The Department for Work and Pensions is responsible forsocial security, labour market, pensions, and child maintenance policy. As the UKs biggest public service department, we administer the State Pension and a range of working age, disability, and ill health benefits to around 20 million claimants and customers. What we do matters to millions of people every day.
Private Office is crucial to providing effective support and advice to Ministers and Special Advisers across all aspects of Departmental business, acting as the key interface between the Department and Ministers to deliver DWPs critical agenda.
Job description Private Office is a high-performing, dynamic, supportive and inclusive team. This is a demanding but rewarding role for someone interested in working closely with Ministers, Special Advisers and senior officials.
This postholder will:
- Work with the Minister, private office and a variety of senior stakeholders to resolve logistical issues
- Be responsible for the Ministers diary, including prioritisation of meetings, events and invitations
- Manage the Minister's inbox, correspondence and Parliamentary Questions
- Plan and arrange the Ministers visits to DWP sites and external engagements, including travel & logistics
- Work with officials across the Department to ensure timely and high-quality briefing are received for Ministerial meetings
Person specification We are looking for an organised, resilient and flexible person with excellent communication skills to work effectively with Ministers, Special Advisers and senior officials.
The successful candidate will manage a heavy workload, prioritise effectively and enjoy working in a fast-moving environment.
Given the heavy workload and fast-paced nature of the role, you will also need to demonstrate attention-to-detail, personal resilience, sound judgement and political awareness.
Essential Criteria Successful candidates can expect to be involved in a range of the following:
- Excellent organisational, prioritisation and communication skills. (Lead Criteria)
- Confidence in working with colleagues at all levels in an organisation, communicating and influencing with credibility, knowledge and tact.
- Oversee the teams administration functions including parliamentary correspondence and diary management.
- Supporting the Head of Office to lead the relationship with the Minister's constituency office.
- Proficiency in using customer service management systems and Microsoft Office tools.
- You will need to demonstrate attention-to-detail, personal resilience, sound judgement and political awareness.
The successful candidate will be based in the office (Caxton House, London) and is full time or job share.
Due to nature of the role, it may be necessary to work long hours, especially when Parliament is sitting, for which overtime will be payable.
Experience of working with Ministers or senior leaders is desirable but not essential.
Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
- Delivering at Pace
Benefits
Alongside your salary of 37,664, Department for Work and Pensions contributes 10,911 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).
DWP have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:
- Working patterns to support work/life balance such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
- Generous annual leave at least 23 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (prorata for part time employees), plus 9 days public and privilege leave.
- Support for financial wellbeing, including interest-free season ticket loans for travel, a cycle to work scheme and an employee discount scheme.
- Health and wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme for specialist advice and counselling and the opportunity to join HASSRA a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly).
- Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after 1 years continuous service.
- Funded learning and development to support progress in your role and career. This includes industry recognised qualifications and accreditations, coaching, mentoring and talent development programmes.
- An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join professional and interpersonal networks including Womens Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more.
Things you need to know
Artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) , and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and Personal Statement (750 word max) to demonstrate how you meet the person specification and the essential criteria.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Selection will be by a written sift and shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an face-to-face interview (Caxton House), London
CV The CV is an on-line tool accessed through the Civil Service Jobsite and there is no requirement to upload your personal CV. Our CV element is short, and allows an initial check of eligibility and will not be individually scored ,so please put the main content of your evidence and skills in your Personal Statement.
Personal Statement When completing your personal statement, please read and understand the Essential Criteria thoroughly as this is what your written evidence will be assessed against.
Your layout is entirely your preference; you may choose narrative, bullets, etc. You may choose to address each criteria separately, however, one narrative example may cover and evidence several essential criteria.
You may not be able to meet all the key criteria, but please ensure you evidence: the key personal requirements and what have you done that relates to the requirements. You dont have to explain the whole process, just what you have done and the skills and experience you have used.
Share with us what makes you suited to this role and why, what you can do and the skills you have that are transferable to the key requirements, and the life experience or passion you have that are linked to this role.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead criteria:
- Excellent organisational, prioritisation and communication skills. (Lead Criteria)
Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to interview.
The sift will be carried out in November 2026
Interview Stage Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an interview at Caxton House, London and will be assessed on their answers to interview questions on Behaviours and Strengths. The interview aims to be more of a conversation exploring the candidates capability for the role.
This will consist of a face-to-face blended interview, which should take approximately between 30-45 minutes.
Candidates may be asked to undertake a short-written assessment or presentation as part of the interview. Details of which will be provided to those invited for interview.
Blended Interview You will be asked a mixture of Behaviour and Strength questions.
A blended interview aims to be more of a conversation at interview offering a more inclusive approach.
The Behaviour and Strength based questioning explores what the candidate can and has done, but also their potential.
The behaviours being assessed are:
- Communicating and Influencing: Communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity and enthusiasm. Respect the needs, responses and opinions of others
- Working Together: Form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources and support.
- Delivering at Pace:Take responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.
It may help to use one or more examples of a piece of work you have completed or a situation you have been in, and use the WHO or STAR model to explain:
Whatwas the task,
Howyou approached the work/situation and what the . click apply for full job details
