Chief of Staff  

£50,000-£55,000 (London, with some work in the constituency as required)Post overview

Callum seeks a Chief of Staff to help deliver his priorities for the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency. This is a challenging, fast-paced and dynamic role at the heart of his parliamentary and constituency work.

This post will suit a motivated, articulate and experienced team leader who works well under pressure and thrives in a high-demand political environment. The post-holder will operate across all aspects of Callum’s work in Westminster and the constituency, providing strategic oversight, clear direction and effective co-ordination of activity across two office locations.

The role requires flexibility, sound judgement and effective decision-making. The successful candidate will take a high-level, pragmatic view of priorities, deliverables and risks – working independently using their own initiative while collaborating closely with colleagues – to proactively ensure success and maintain an excellent level of service provision to both Callum and, most importantly, the residents of the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.

Main duties

Leadership and administration

  • Provide effective line management, leadership and direction to the whole team across the Westminster and constituency offices to deliver on Callum’s stated Priorities – fostering a high-performing, collaborative culture focused on delivering an excellent service to constituents.

  • Act as Callum’s gatekeeper to ensure his diary and inbox are well organised by the team.

  • Manage all aspects of the budget, keeping Callum informed of all relevant financial matters and liaising with IPSA on office finance.

  • Lead the ongoing training, and development (and, where necessary, recruitment) of staff for Callum’s office.

  • Deal with security matters, keep abreast of security guidance and liaise with external bodies as appropriate.

  • Ensure the Westminster and constituency office locations are fully equipped with the materials and software they need.‍ ‍

Political and strategic

  • Act as Callum’s principal adviser on all policy, political and communications issues – providing high quality, efficient and effective support to Callum’s parliamentary work (be that in the Chamber, as a Parliamentary Private Secretary and APPGs)

  • Horizon-scan and be Callum’s sounding board for challenges and opportunities, anticipating what advice or action may be required for potential decisions.

  • Hold final sign off on key items for Callum, such as press releases, newsletters, and speeches.

Stakeholder engagement

  • Help Callum maintain good relationships with others in Westminster, Whitehall and beyond (e.g. the Parliamentary Labour Party, Government Ministers, civil servants, Westminster committee clerks, and constituency stakeholders).

  • Help build and maintain the development of Callum’s profile with residents in the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency, as well as local political and media stakeholders.

  • Note and implement actions from high-level meetings, accurately reflecting conversations and the decisions taken.

The post holder will occasionally be asked to undertake additional duties as required and may be expected to work outside normal working hours, including attending events with Callum when needed.

Desired attributes, skills, and experience

  • A strong public service ethos, with a clear commitment to supporting Callum to be a proactive, accessible and visible Member of Parliament.

  • Proven experience of leading and managing teams in demanding environments, with a strong track record of delivering results through others.

  • Highly driven, resilient and able to work at pace under pressure, while maintaining sound judgement and attention to detail.

  • Sympathetic with the aims and values of the Labour Party.

Previous experience working in Westminster, Whitehall, local government, or a regulator – and providing strategic advice to elected public officials – a huge bonus (especially if that is in within a Private Office).

And more generally – possess top-class:

  • Written and oral communication skills.

  • Organisation, planning and prioritisation skills.

  • Relationship building, diplomacy, and negotiating skills.

The role is principally based in Westminster with travel to the constituency as required.

How to apply

1.   Please send your CV (maximum two pages) outlining your career experience, achievements, and skills to callum@callumanderson.uk by 11.59pm, Wednesday 25 March.

2.   Answer the following four questions:

  1. Why do you want to work for Callum? Why now? (Max 100 words)

  2. If appointed, what would be your 100 day strategic plan to align the Westminster and constituency teams behind Callum’s top Priorities (available here: https://www.callumanderson.org.uk/my-priorities-1), and how would you measure success? (Max 200 words)

  3. How would you structure the team’s work to ensure excellent constituent casework performance while also delivering the strategic priorities for the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency? (Max 200 words)

  4. With over 400 Labour MPs, what strategic approach would you take to differentiate Callum in Westminster, secure influence, and help him deliver tangible outcomes for the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency? (Max 200 words)