About the Head of Public Service role

Head of Public Service

Responsible to: HE The Governor
Responsible for: Financial Secretary, Deputy Chief Secretary, Portfolio Directors, Head of Strategic Policy, Head of Programme Management Office, Executive Assistant

The opportunity

The Island has entered an exciting phase in its development. To help us achieve the Government’s Agenda we are seeking an experienced, inspirational and highly motivated C-level executive to lead the St Helena Public Service during this time of change and development.

This is a unique and exciting position, which will provide you with the opportunity to make a lasting positive impact on the Island community. Vital to success, is your commitment to providing outstanding leadership, utilizing modern management methodologies to build confidence and ensure that the Public Service can deliver on the Government’s agenda. Ensuring the local community is well informed will drive your communications strategy.

Officers employed through this ‘Technical Co-operation (TC) Programme’ are expected to share their knowledge and skills beyond the workplace to ensure their time on St Helena has the broadest benefit. It is important that you have the right values and attitude and that you are motivated by wanting to make a difference by contributing to our small island community. You will need to be adaptable, be sensitive to the local context and challenges, and able to take joy from the simple things in life. This is an excellent opportunity to support and contribute to the island whilst also enjoying the unique lifestyle opportunities the island can offer you.

Please note a local salary would apply for applicants on island

Job Purpose

In accordance with the policies of the Government as determined by the Executive Council, provide strategic leadership and management of the Public Service. Ensure the Public Service maintains its capability to respond effectively to changing circumstances and developments/shifts in Government policy as they occur. Under the St Helena Constitution the Public Service is a responsibility of the Governor which is formally delegated to the Head of the Public Service.

The Head of the Public Service should be aware of best practice and be able to provide leadership and advice on policy formulation, including policy management and implementation.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Advice and support to HE the Governor and the Honourable Chief Minister

Provide sound and impartial policy advice to the Governor and Chief Minister on St Helena Government responsibilities. (The Head of the Governor’s Office advises the Governor on reserved matters such as external relations, defence and security including the police).
Provide a progressive, confident and, as appropriate, high profile leadership for the Public Service on behalf of the Governor and the Chief Minister. This will include setting the strategic direction for the Service in the context of established Government policy, objectives and priorities, and articulating a motivating vision, clear sense of purpose and direction underpinned by a performance oriented culture and a strong public service ethic.

Strategic Leadership and Direction

Lead and drive improvements in the Public Service as its formal head including matters of recruitment, organisational structure and performance management and have line management of Portfolio Directors.
Ensure, as far as practicable, that the Public Service maintains and further enhances its operational effectiveness and its capability to respond to changing circumstances and developments/shifts in Government policy, objectives and priorities, as they arise.
Influence, and contribute to, the ongoing development of human resource policy, strategies and frameworks of good practice for the Public Service.

The Senior Leadership Team

The Head of the Public Service will, as Chair of the Senior Leadership Team, lead, influence and contribute to the development and effectiveness of the Team in accordance with its terms of reference and operating protocols and in the context of the ongoing development of its role. Key to this will be the efficient implementation of government policy, ensuring planning, delivery and performance management within the Public Service meet value for money expectations.

The Head of the Public Service, with the support of the Financial Secretary, will resolve competing claims across departments to arrive at the appropriate prioritisation of resources in accordance with the policies of the Government. This will entail the following:

Ensure existing policies, strategy and priorities are kept under review and provide collective advice as required on all policy related considerations to Executive Council.
Ensure well presented, comprehensive and coordinated advice to Executive Council and Legislative Council to support effective decision making and legislative developments.
Lead, manage and further develop corporate planning processes and ensure compliance with Government’s corporate planning requirements.
Ensure the implementation of directorate strategic plans, including appropriate ongoing monitoring of performance and follow-up actions.
Facilitate improved corporate and cross-portfolio working in support of Government’s overarching strategic objectives and priorities and ways of working.
Manage overall operational performance and effectiveness across Government and report to Governor and Chief Minister in respect of the Government Strategic Plan, Risk Management and Corporate Performance.

Key Stakeholder Relationships

Support the Governor and his/her office by ensuring that they are fully informed and appropriately involved, particularly with regard to the Governor’s special responsibilities for the public service and good governance.
Support the Chief Minister and the Ministerial team by ensuring they are enabled by the Public Service to provide advice to the Governor on Government policy and to propose legislation to Legislative Council.
Support the relationship with FCDO, the Island’s key partner in HMG, and be accountable within the boundaries of the applicable MOU’s and agreements for the appropriate use of HMG aid funding to St Helena (this includes but is not limited to FCDO recurrent, capital and Technical Co-operation funds).
Establish and continue effective working relationships between the Public Service and Government, politicians, officials, members of NGOs and the private sector.

Overseas Specific Vacancy Information

Special Conditions

There are no special conditions associated with this role.

This job profile is not an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities. There may be other ad hoc duties that fall within the remit of the role that the job holder may need to complete. In addition, the job holder will be required to carry out any other reasonable duties as requested which are commensurate with the grading and level of responsibility for the role.

View our Organisational Structure

Person specification

Key objectives

The overall objectives of the post during the contractual period are as follows:

Consistent with government policy, support proper and effective government decision-making through the organisation and provision of timely advice to Executive Council.
Advising the Governor and Chief Minister on policy, process and propriety.
Support effective implementation of the Government’s policies and priorities, ensuring they are properly reflected across Portfolio priorities and business plans and are implemented with pace and rigour.
Ensuring that all parts of the Public Service are working together in the most effective way to implement these priorities; and ensuring that the Public Service has the capability and leadership it needs to implement them.
Maintain an effective and politically impartial Public Service that commands the confidence of Ministers and Elected Members, ensuring the Public Service Code of Management remains relevant; ensuring that the Public Service supports the Government in developing and implementing Ministers’ policies and priorities.

Capacity Development

A key objective for all the roles funded through the TC Programme is Capacity Development. Capacity Development is defined by the Public Service as:

Developing specific job-related technical skills and knowledge in an individual or across teams or groups.
Enhancing knowledge, skills and abilities of individuals, teams and the Public Service as a whole.
Supporting the improvement of overall Public Service performance.
Enhancing knowledge, skills and abilities of individuals within the private sector and wider community.
Supporting the development of the island (including voluntary work) which may be unrelated to your substantive role.

You will be directly involved in succession planning and will be required to:

Participate in the performance management process and identify solutions for filling skill/capacity gaps.
Facilitate continuing professional development for direct reports and the wider team as necessary.
Develop succession plans, or contribute to succession planning for staff.

You can contribute to the development of the workforce even if you don’t have direct reports or a designate or successor for your role. You can also add value and support a range of projects through other activities including volunteering.

It is important that officers funded by the TC Programme collect and report on what they are doing to develop the workforce, in their section, in their Portfolio, across the Public Service and in some cases wider into the Private Sector. It is also important that the Public Service can report on the added value officers bring to the Island through supporting projects or volunteering.

Capturing the added value and capacity development that officers funded by the TC Programme undertake, as well as the collective impact these officers make to St Helena, is imperative as the Public Service relies on UK Government funding for these roles.

Throughout your employment you will be required to complete a Capacity Development Record to help the Public Service capture all of this information. Thinking about all you can do to support the development of people, services and St Helena should be an integral part of your time here.

Outputs, Timing and Reporting

The Head of the Public Service shall provide to the Governor a regular report on public service matters in support of agreed performance objectives. These reports should cover the key performance indicators agreed with the Governor. The objectives should be agreed no later than three months after assuming the role.
A Capacity Development Record should be kept by the postholder for the duration of their contract. This will be reviewed as part of the six-month probation review, annually as part of the appraisal process and at the end of contract review.
The post will be for four years. Performance will be measured with respect to the Portfolios’ overall performance in service delivery and increases in operational effectiveness and efficiency. The Capacity Development Record will be a key document for measuring performance. A probationary period of 6 months will apply.
The Head of the Public Service will report directly to the Governor.
The Head of the Public Service will keep the Chief Minister informed regularly on the progress being made in relation to fulfilling the Government’s Vision.
The Head of the Public Service shall have a structured engagement the Ministerial Cabinet.