Head of Guidance and Learning: Select Committee Team

Positions   1 Band / Grade   A1 Salary   £68,900 - £81,879 per annum. Contract Type   Fixed Term Contract Length   6 months (possibility of extension or permanence) Working Pattern   Full Time, Full Time/Job Share, Part Time Location   Hybrid (on-site and remote) Leave entitlement   Starting at 30 days per annum, pro-rata Closing Date  

16th February 2025 at 23:55

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Eligibility

This role is open to House of Commons and Joint Departments employees only. 

Introduction 

The Select Committee Team (SCT) supports the work of most of the House’s Select Committees. Select committees are cross-party committees of MPs who examine government policy and spending. You can find out what select committees are and what they do, by following this link.

As Select Committee Team Head of Guidance and Learning you will work in the Scrutiny Unit. The Scrutiny Unit is a team of around 25 people that provides specialist support and staff development to all select committee teams. The Unit has four main work steams: legislation, finance, policy and guidance and learning. You will work with colleagues to lead the guidance and learning stand of the Unit’s work. You can find out more about the Scrutiny Unit on Parlinet.

The Role 

As Head of Guidance and Learning you will deputise for the Director of Select Committee Scrutiny and Analysis on matters relating to the strategic direction, design, implementation and evaluation of learning and development for the Select Committee Team.

You will design and maintain robust processes to ensure institutional knowledge is captured, retained and shared. You will work with the SCT Senior Leadership Team to ensure the development of our people is at the heart of what we do, using consultation, data, and your experience to offer quality learning to SCT staff.

You will also be SCT’s lead for the training offer to select committee Members, including liaising with external providers and the People and Culture Team and advising the Director of Select Committee Scrutiny and Analysis on bids for such training.

Some of the responsibilities for this role include:

• Planning and delivery of specialist enhanced learning provision and programmes as part of implementation of proposals relating to career pathways for the Policy,
• Research and Analysis Community (PRAC), including, but not limited to, the development of external secondment and attachment opportunities and supporting Hubs to develop subject-specific learning programmes.
• Strategic leadership and oversight of training programmes and guidance ensuring complex messaging is presented in an accessible way
• Lead on SCT’s offer of professional development to Members and extending it to their staff where appropriate. Liaise with L&D about how central contracts impact on this work.
• Working on a continual basis on a “core curriculum” for PRAC staff, including developing and implementing proposals for structured and transparent short- term attachments.

Skills and Experience 

To be successful in this role you will demonstrate:

• Managing & Leading People: Able to lead colleagues collaboratively and inclusively in a team or similar setting by motivating colleagues to ensure they operate in a collaborative and effective way. You should also be able to proactively evaluating and improving performance and improving diversity or inclusion outcomes.
• Strategic Direction of SCT Learning & Development: A good understanding of the political and operational context in which staff of the Select Committee Team operate, and the skills needed to deliver high quality, effective select committee scrutiny work. Able to identify, implement, communicate, and evaluate the essential features of a learning and development strategy to support skill development, and to anticipate future challenges for SCT learning and development.
• Analysis & Decision-Making: A high level of analytical skills, able to assess a range of sources and / or precedents alongside priorities, risks and opportunities to devise pragmatic solutions to complex problems.
• Stakeholder Management: Able to build and maintain trusted relationships with key internal and external stakeholders at all levels by using influencing and interpersonal skills to secure support from a variety of stakeholders with differing objective. You should appropriately deliver difficult messages to senior stakeholders.
• Managing Resources & Service Delivery: Able to plan and organise the work of colleagues to deliver high quality services by translating strategic aims into practical objectives, delivering these within available time and being courageous by evaluating outcomes, anticipating future needs and innovating to improve services.

Next Steps and Additional Information

Application Form - If you would like to apply for this role, please submit an application providing evidence against criteria 1, 2 and 3 in the Job Description. 

As part of the selection process, you may be asked to complete a test or prepare a presentation. Further information will be provided to shortlisted candidates.

More information on the role and the full criteria can be found in the Job Description. 

Contact Details

For more information about the role, or for an informal chat, please contact Sophie Nicolaou nicolaou@parliament.uk

Apply