Head of Executive Office - Driver

Job summary

Can you build positive working relationships and communicate effectively with people at all levels, adapting your style to different audiences and backgrounds?

Have you worked in an executive support, administrative or office management role where attention to detail and discretion were essential?

Are you highly organised, with the ability to plan, prioritise and coordinate a varied workload in a fast-paced environment?

If so, we’d love to hear from you!

Supporting senior leadership and business operations, this team plays a key role in ensuring the smooth and efficient running of a busy function. Working in a collaborative and fast-paced environment, the team provides high-quality coordination, support and continuous improvement across a range of activities. It offers the opportunity to work closely with colleagues across the organisation, contribute to strategic objectives, and make a real impact on the delivery of business priorities.

Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays a privilege day for the King’s birthday.
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Read more in the Benefits section below!

Find out more about what it's like working at DVSA.

Job description

Join the Driver Services Executive Office as Head of Executive Office, supporting the Director of Driver Services and senior leaders at the heart of a busy operational environment. This varied role provides high-quality business support, coordinating executive office activities, preparing briefings, managing correspondence and delivering secretariat support. Working closely with colleagues across Driver Services, you will build strong relationships, manage competing priorities and help ensure the smooth running of key programmes and day-to-day operations.

Your responsibilities will include, but aren’t limited to:

• Supporting the Director of Driver Services through delivery of an effective and efficient Executive Office, including support for meetings, drafting briefings, drafting high quality correspondence responses, supporting communications, and ensuring the Director’s priorities are taken forward.
• Manage the day-to-day operation of the Driver Services Executive Office, coordinating agendas, briefings, correspondence and action tracking.
• Support the preparation of ministerial correspondence, parliamentary questions and senior leadership communications.
• Develop high-quality briefing materials and key messages for meetings, events and stakeholder engagements.
• Coordinate and facilitate stakeholder meetings, ensuring actions are recorded, monitored and progressed.
• Act as a key point of contact between senior leaders, internal teams and external partners.
• Build and maintain strong relationships across DVSA, DfT and wider government organisations.
• Support leadership activities by promoting continuous improvement, coordinating business information and compiling data for corporate and parliamentary reporting requirements.

For further information on the role, please read the role profilePlease note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.

You can be based at any of the locations, however if your chosen location is Yeading/Uxbridge please note:

This role is being advertised in Uxbridge, however the contractual base will be Yeading.

While estates work is being carried out in Yeading all posts are being temporarily based at Uxbridge. Successful applicants will start with us at our Uxbridge location.

Please be aware that all employees will be required to work from the Yeading site once it reopens in 2028.

Employees based at Uxbridge will receive a London Weighting allowance of £4,000. This allowance will continue when the location moves to Yeading.

Person specification

To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:

• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage effectively with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Strong organisational and administrative capability, able to manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality support in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficient in Microsoft applications and strategic thinking, with executive support experience and an understanding of how work contributes to wider organisational objectives.

Additional Information

Working hours, office attendance and travel requirements

Full time roles consist of 37 hours per week.

Whilst we welcome applications from those looking to work with us on a part time basis, there is a business requirement for the successful candidate to be able to work at least 30 hours per week.

This role is suitable for hybrid working, which is a non-contractual arrangement where a combination of workplace and home-based working can be accommodated subject to business requirements.

The expectation at present is a minimum of 60% of your working time a month will be spent at either your designated workplace (one of the locations cited in the advert) or, when required for business reasons, in another office/work location/visiting stakeholders. Your designated workplace will be your contractual place of work. There may be occasions where you are required to attend above the minimum expectation.

Occasional travel to other offices will be required, which may involve overnight stays.

If you have a question about hybrid working, part time/job share hours, flexible working, travelling for work, or require a reasonable adjustment, please contact the Vacancy Holder during the recruitment process to avoid possible disappointment later in the process should your working arrangements not be compatible with the requirements of the role (see below for contact details).

Visa Sponsorship

Please note that we do not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker Licence sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship. Candidates must ensure they have the appropriate rights to work in the UK before application.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,241, Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency contributes £12,816 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).

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read