Senior Adviser, Secretary of State's Policy and Strategy Unit

We are MHCLG

We are recruiting a Grade 7 Senior Adviser to join the department’s Policy Unit. The Policy Unit works with ministers, special advisers and senior officials across the department on ministerial priorities. This is an exciting time to join the team, as we look to drive rapid progress in support of the government’s central missions of sharing power, driving growth and giving people breathing room. It will demand creative policy thinking, sound judgement and an ambitious approach.

The successful candidate will join a friendly and high-performing team, that works closely with ministers, special advisers and the Executive Team, as well as officials across the department and outside. The role will suit a self-starting individual who can operate confidently with experts and senior decision-makers, spot and solve complex problems, collaborate across a wide range of stakeholders and think creatively across their work. You will need to be able to get quickly to the substance of an issue, make clear recommendations and help secure tangible results that make a real difference to peoples’ lives.

• Leading bespoke priority projects on behalf of the Ministerial and Executive Teams, bringing structure and momentum to emerging or urgent policy priorities and taking personal responsibility for high-quality outcomes.
• Providing trusted advice to ministers, special advisers and senior officials on challenging, fast-moving issues, often where there are difficult trade-offs.
• Representing the department on cross-government policy issues with an MHCLG interest.
• Using evidence, judgement and an understanding of the wider political and delivery context to identify what matters, explain choices clearly and recommend a practical way forward.
• Maintaining excellent relationships with experts inside and outside government.
• Providing insight across the whole department’s work to ministers, special advisers and the Executive Team, joining up issues so that problems are addressed holistically.
• Producing clear, concise and persuasive written and spoken advice, distilling complex material and being prepared to confront difficult choices where needed.
• Working on departmental strategy, finances, and legislation where necessary.

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Application and Selection

The application process will be split into 2 stages, testing the following Success Profiles:

Experience , Strengths

Please ensure your CV does not contain any personally identifiable information.

Note: We do not consider direct CV applications. All applications must be submitted via the provided application link.

Important: Your CV and Cover Letter must be merged into a single document before uploading.

Stage 1: Sift (CV & Cover Letter)

Experience: CV & cover letter (of no more than 750 words): how you meet the essential criteria for the role/reason for your interest in the role.

Stage 2: Interview

• Experience: Experience questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description.
• Strengths: The strength-based questions will require natural responses from the candidates.

Sift and Interview Dates

Sifting is envisaged to take place starting 19/11/2026.

Interviews are currently being held remotely via videocall. This could be subject to change.

Disability Confident Scheme (DCS)

We are a Disability Confident employer.

We apply a fair and proportionate interview process for all candidates. In line with our commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS), we aim to progress candidates who apply under the Disability Confident Scheme and meet the required minimum selection criteria.

However, where high application volumes are received, progression to interview may be limited to those who best meet the role criteria. In these circumstances, the benchmark required to proceed to interview may be raised for all candidates.

How We Recruit

Find out more about our recruitment processes here.

• Applying
• Sifting
• Interview
• Interview Results & Feedback
• Reserve List
• Near Miss
• Civil Service Grades
• We are a DCS, RIS & GPTWV employer
• Reasonable Adjustments

How to Apply

Find out everything you need to know before applying here.

You must review the following information from the MHCLG Career's Site before submitting your application. This step is essential to ensure your eligibility for the role and that your application is completed correctly.

• Security Clearance Requirements
• Civil Service Nationality Requirements
• Right to Work
• Civil Service Code and Recruitment Principles
• CV Declaration
• Sponsorships
• Salary and Grade
• Existing Civil Servants
• Conflict of Interest
• Location and Flexible Working
• Internal Fraud Database
• Appeals and Complaints
• Fixed Term Appointments for:
• External Candidates
• Existing Civil Servants (Including Loans)
• Secondments
• MHCLG employees

Security Clearance Requirements

National Office: BPSS + CTC

London Office: BPSS + CTC

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.