Job summary

The Office of the Parliamentary Counsel is a team within the civil service of some 50 lawyers and 8 support staff. We draft Government Bills for introduction into Parliament and handle related Parliamentary business.

Our work ranges over a wide variety of subjects – everything for which the Government legislates, from the hugely politically significant and topical to the niche, specialised and technical. For example, in the last 12 months we have drafted Bills on a wide variety of subjects from energy and online safety, through procurement, data protection, financial services and public order to shark fins, trophy hunting and mobile homes. So, we may need to deal with legislation affecting any aspect of modern life.

Our task is to deliver the legislative priorities of the Government as a whole. Accordingly, we are part of the Cabinet Office, at the very centre of Government.  Our drafting projects are often complex, novel, politically sensitive and fast-moving. The work is stretching and at times demanding, but it offers a unique insight into the process of turning policy into law.

Job description

As a Team Leader you will provide leadership for 10 - 12 Counsel and, as a member of OPC’s leadership team, for OPC as a whole. The role will involve some drafting work, but the focus is on leadership and management and development of others.

You will be a member of OPC’s senior leadership team, taking an active part in the collective leadership of OPC’s strategic priorities, and you will support the First Parliamentary Counsel and work with the other team leaders to plan and deliver the legislative programme.

You will allocate and oversee your team’s work, having regard to the need to deliver effective legislation in a timely and cost-effective way and to promote the development of all members of the team. You will identify where it is appropriate for you to take the lead in drafting or advising.

You will be responsible for actively managing the relationship with departments, and supporting them in growing their legislative capabilities.

Person specification

Please refer to the Candidate Information Pack attached below for more information.

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

Things you need to know Selection process details

Please refer to the Candidate Information Pack attached below for more information.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants Job contact :

• Name :We would like to offer potential applicants the opportunity of a conversation about the role with one of our current Team Leaders. Please contact John Healy if you wish to take advantage of this.
• Email :john.healy@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
• Recruitment team
• Email :nazia.tully@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
• Attachments Candidate Information Pack - Director General Parliamentary Counsel Team Leader Opens in new window(docx, 302kB)