Job Description Details of a current vacancy in the . To apply for this post, please ensure you complete all sections of our online application form found at http://www.parliament.uk/about/working/jobs/

Job Description Job title Reference number Lord ’s Events and Outreach 1139 Officer Office Grade Lord Speaker’s Office HL5

Starting Salary £26,450

Term This post is permanent.

Scope of the job Background The primary role of the Lord Speaker is to preside over proceedings in the Chamber, and to represent the House of Lords both at ceremonial events and as a non-political spokesperson for the House at home and abroad. He is Chairman of the House of Lords Commission, a member of the Procedure Committee, and has political responsibility for security in the Lords part of the Parliamentary estate. The Lord Speaker represents the House of Lords at international Speakers’ conferences and also entertains visiting Speakers, parliamentarians from abroad and others. In addition, he has frequent meetings with members of the House, officials and people working outside parliament.

The Lord Speaker’s Office comprises a Private Secretary, an Assistant Private Secretary, a Diary Manager and an Administrative Officer. This post is a new post and follows a reallocation of duties in the Office and a renewed focus on the Lord Speaker’s events and outreach work. Although the Reading Clerk has general oversight of the Office (which forms part of the Office), the head of the office for day to day purposes is the Private Secretary. The postholder will be managed by the Assistant Private Secretary. When the Lord Speaker is present, the Office is fully operational between 9.30am and 6.30pm. On sitting days, the Lord Speaker is usually present until at least 7pm, frequently later. Main objective The key objective of the role is to provide a first-class service to the Lord Speaker by delivering high-quality events and an engaging outreach programme. Key internal and external relationships Other staff in the Private Office

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Members of the House Staff of both Houses Members’ staff

Main responsibilities Line management and budgetary responsibilities • This post has no line management or formal budgetary responsibilities.

Other responsibilities of the post • Leading on delivering the Lord Speaker’s Lectures approximately six times a year, including ticketing, advertising and leading on the practical arrangements; • Acting as the main point of contact for the Lord Speaker’s Outreach programmes including Peers in Schools, Lords Live and Member visits to the Education Centre, working with the Education Service as necessary; • Co-ordinating River Room bookings and events, conducting recces where necessary, attending events where necessary and maintaining and uploading events logs to the Lord Speaker’s website; • Leading on the delivery of occasional events hosted by the Lord Speaker and taking responsibility for the Lord Speaker’s entertainment arrangements; • Acting as Secretary to the Filming Steering Group; and • As a member of the Lord Speaker’s Private Office, assisting with general Private Office tasks as required, providing Office support under roster arrangements and undertaking other duties appropriate to the grade.

Person specification The qualifications required for the post are: A minimum of 5 GCSEs at grades A-C, or equivalent.

The knowledge, skills and experience required for the post are outlined below. Each element will be assessed in the examples you provide in your application form. Should you be shortlisted these areas will be assessed in more depth at interview and, if appropriate, in a test. Competencies: Please list the core competences required to deliver this role successfully (Maximum of 6) • Collaboration and Teamwork - Effective team working skills, with an ability to share best practice and to show flexibility towards covering the work of the Private Office; • Building Working Relationships - Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build and maintain good working relationships with a broad range of people at all levels within the House of Lords, the House of Commons, the Parliamentary Education Service, PDS and members of the public; • Professionalism, Tact and Discretion - Excellent judgement and the ability to use tact and discretion at all times; • Problem Solving - Experience of using initiative to solve problems; • Prioritisation and Delivering at Pace – The ability to prioritise own workload and experience of working in a busy team delivering high- profile events to tight deadlines; and • Communication Skills - Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

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Desirable • Experience of co-ordinating a wide variety of events with high profile individuals

Terms and conditions

Salary and allowances The post is paid in accordance with House of Lords grade HL5 (£26,450 starting salary per annum). Pay increases usually depend on performance as assessed in annual performance reviews. Salary is paid monthly by bank transfer.

Probation There is a probationary period of nine months.

Term and hours The post is permanent and is for 41 hours per week (including break-time).

Consideration will be given to candidates expressing a wish to perform the role on a flexible working arrangement such as those set out below: • Part-time working • Job-share • Compressed hours • Home working (1-2 days a week)

Benefits As an employee of the House, you will be entitled to our benefits such as a season ticket loan, a Parliamentary Health and Wellbeing Service, including access to a dedicated Employee Assistance Programme and many more. Full details can be found on our Employee Benefits page.

Pension The House of Lords participates in the Civil Service Pension Schemes. As an employee of the House, you will be entitled to join one of these highly competitive pension scheme arrangements.

Annual leave Annual leave entitlement is 30 days (increasing to 35 days after one year's service) plus public and bank holidays. In most offices annual leave may be taken only during periods when the House is in recess and must always be agreed in advance with the line manager and Head of Office.

Inclusion and Diversity The House of Lords Administration is committed to increasing diversity & maintaining an inclusive workplace culture. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of their ethnicity, race, gender, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, age, marital status or whether or not they have a disability. The Administration will also consider flexible working arrangements and reasonable adjustments.

We particularly welcome applications from sections of the which are currently underrepresented within the team, including applicants who identify as Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME).

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Pre-appointment checks For external candidates, appointment depends on satisfactory references, health and security checks and where necessary proof of qualifications.

Successful candidates’ publically open social media profiles will also be checked under this stage of the process and information obtained may be used to review suitability for the job role.

Baseline Security Standard The House of Lords (along with all government departments) has to comply with a Baseline Security Standard. The standard requires that we ascertain the identity of the applicant, their right to work in the UK, their employment or academic history over the last three years, and their address history over the last three years.

Successful candidates will be required to complete pre-employment checks. This includes security vetting to Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) level unless otherwise specified. All successful candidates are required to pass these checks before an offer can be confirmed.

Applicants should be aware that if they have resided outside of the UK for a total of more than two of the last five years, they are not eligible for vetting. Please see the National Security Vetting booklet for further information. In addition, applicants are required to give a reasonable account of any significant recent periods of time (more than six months) spent abroad.

Applicants who have been unemployed or self-employed for over six months in the last three years (whose last three years’ employment/academic history are not covered by references) will be asked to provide further documentation to prove their history.

Returning your completed application Please complete your online application by 23.55 on Wednesday 26 February 2020.

Telephone enquiries

If you wish to find out more information about this post please contact Patrick Milner, Private Secretary to the Lord Speaker on 020 7219 6644.

No recruitment agencies please.

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