The Cabinet Office has launched a recruitment campaign to find a new principal private secretary for prime minister Keir Starmer – just over a month after Nin Pandit was appointed to the role.
Pandit was named as the replacement for former PPS Elizabeth Perelman as part of the same Downing Street reshuffle that saw Sue Gray exit as Starmer's chief of staff at the beginning of last month. But a new advertisement on the Civil Service Jobs website is seeking applicants for the No.10 PPS role with a window that is open until the beginning of December.
Civil Service World understands that Pandit, who is a former NHS Digital executive and a past director of the No.10 Policy Unit, is technically on secondment in the PPS role – and that the recruitment campaign is seen as representing an open competition for the post.
The Cabinet Office's advertisement offers a salary range of £128,000-£149,000 for the permanent PPS, who will be responsible for leading the 300-strong No.10 team and ensuring the PM recieves "the highest quality advice" to inform decision-making.
"The successful candidate will be directly supporting the prime minister and his top team to deliver his priorities for the country, including implementing mission-driven government across the civil service, and leading No.10 to ensure that he receives quality advice and service," it says.
"The challenge and stretch of the role at a vital time for the United Kingdom are obvious and the personal rewards of working in this critical post are huge.
"The role will involve working closely with the prime minister’s senior political advisers and cabinet secretary as well as other ministers, senior officials and advisers from across government."
The applicant pack for the job says the successful candidate should have "highly developed policy and strategic analysis skills", "strong political judgment" and "a track record of operating with credibility at the most senior levels in government".
The SCS Pay Band 3 role is open to applications until 11:55pm on December 1.
Shortlisting and interviews – with panel members including cabinet secretary Simon Case and Cabinet Office permanent secretary Cat Little – are expected within the first two weeks of December.