Senior policy Adviser – Covid Strategy and Inquiry

If you’re interested in making a difference to people’s lives, the Treasury can offer you an exciting opportunity to influence decision making that affects the whole of the UK. Working at the heart of government, we collaborate across government to promote responsible public spending and drive strong and sustainable economic growth.

About the Team

The Treasury played a central role during the Covid 19 pandemic, and the team sits at the heart of the department leading the Treasury’s response to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry and providing support to high-profile witnesses including senior politicians and officials. The team also advises ministers and HMT’s Executive Management Board (EMB) on the reports and recommendations from the Inquiry and works with other government departments to ensure that key lessons are learnt, enabling the government to be better prepared for future crises.

We are a friendly, fun, and supportive team of 14 led by a Deputy Director and two E2s (grade 6s). We have a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion – welcoming colleagues from different backgrounds and with different working patterns.

The team also works extremely closely with legal colleagues including the Government Legal Department, Treasury Legal Advisers, and our external legal team.

About the Job

In this role, you will:

• Leading and overseeing HMT’s response to the Economic Response Inquiry module (Module 9) – HMT led decision making and overall strategy for the economic response to Covid, including totemic measures such as furlough. As such, HMT are likely to be the key material provider for this module. You would provide direction and oversee the cross-departmental effort to:
• Respond to detailed questions from the Inquiry in written corporate statements, ensuring these statements give a clear, comprehensive, and compelling account of HMT actions and decision making, supported by documentary evidence. You would lead the team in developing statements with our legal team and seeking input and clearance from the Second Permanent Secretary and current and former senior officials;
• Support HMT witnesses including past and current senior officials and former ministers, working with them and our legal team to develop their evidence and help prepare them for giving evidence in oral hearings;
• Oversee HMT’s input to public hearings including opening and closing statements and the team’s hearing monitoring and communication plans;
• Reflect on the key lessons learnt for HMT in this area and provide timely and robust advice to EMB and ministers on the Inquiry’s recommendations;
• Work with colleagues from other core departments to respond to the Inquiry’s report and oversee the implementation of recommendations in HMT and across the government.
• Overseeing HMT’s response to the Inquiry’s reports and recommendations on other modules – The Inquiry published its first report, on Module 1 (Preparedness and Resilience) in July 2024 and the government has committed to responding by mid-January 2025. Further reports will follow through to at least 2027. Oversight of the response on each module will be shared between the two E2s, with the split to be agreed upon appointment. You would bring policy leadership and oversight to HMT’s response, including:
• Preparations for Inquiry reports, including oversight of the response to any warning letters received by HMT in relation to proposed criticisms.
• Acting as the lead official in HMT in cross-government discussions to develop government’s response to the Inquiry’s reports. You will liaise with teams across HMT to develop consensus positions on key policy decisions, effectively balancing a complex set of objectives.
• Providing quality advice to ministers and EMB on key developments in the cross-government effort to respond to the report, where their interventions are needed and seek their clearance at the appropriate time.
• Working with relevant HMT teams to develop and deliver robust procedures for implementing recommendations from the Inquiry, many of which involve complex organisational culture change, to help the department be better prepared for future crises.

As a key member of the Covid Strategy and Inquiry Senior Leadership Team and working with the other E2, you will support the Deputy Director in ensuring strong leadership of the team, maintaining a supportive and proactive team culture, deputising and providing leadership resilience. You may lead on discrete corporate priorities within the Covid Team, and potentially also the wider Strategy Planning and Budget Group.

About You

Responding to the Covid Inquiry is one of EMB’s top priorities and a Labour Manifesto commitment, so you should expect to have significant exposure to EMB and ministers. You will need to be a credible and sensitive communicator, develop a strong grip on HMT’s role during the pandemic, and bring sound strategic judgment to the implications of the Inquiry’s work for HMT now. You will need to build trusted relationships with very senior HMT officials and Ministers (both current and former) as well as with other Government departments and our legal team. The nature of the role will shift as the Inquiry moves through its work, and you will need to be proactive in identifying emerging challenges and opportunities for HMT and adapting your and the team’s role accordingly. Experience working on a public inquiry or other processes requiring a strong understanding of legal concepts (such as legislation or Judicial Reviews) is not required but would be beneficial, as well as experience leading complex change within a large organisation.

Some of the Benefits our people love!

• 25 days annual leave (rising to 30 after 5 years), plus 8 public holidays and the King’s birthday (unless you have a legacy arrangement as an existing Civil Servant). Additionally, we operate flexitime systems, allowing employees to take up to an additional 2 days off each month.
• Flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours).
• Generous parental and adoption leave packages.
• Access to a generous Defined Benefit pension scheme with employer contributions of 28.97%. Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme and season ticket advances.
• A range of active staff networks, based around interests (e.g. analysts, music society, sports and social club) and diversity.
• For more information about the role and how to apply, please follow the apply link.

If you need any reasonable adjustments to take part in the selection process, please tell us about this in your online application form, or speak to the recruitment team at hrrecruitment@hmtreasury.gov.uk.