The Office for Veterans’ Affairs – Regional & Devolved Area Manager

The Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA), based in the Cabinet Office, was created in 2019 to lead the cross-government delivery of the Strategy for our Veterans, to develop future iterations of that strategy, and to provide leadership, advocacy and improved coordination of veterans’ issues across government. The aim of the OVA is to realise the Government’s ambitious strategic vision, to make the UK the best country in the world to be a veteran.

There are around 2 million veterans in the UK and 15,000 people leaving the Armed Forces every year. The government wants to ensure that every single veteran has the opportunity to move successfully into civilian life and can access the help they need to do so. The community of veterans and their families is diverse and varied in the support people need, with the work of the OVA spanning issues including housing, health and well being, employment, diversity and inclusion, historical legacy issues, finance, criminal justice and societal recognition of the value of service in the Armed Forces.

How would you like to be part of a new and growing team based at the heart of Government that makes a real and tangible difference to our veteran community? You will play a part in the ambitious Government mission to make the UK the best place in the world to be a veteran. This is an exciting opportunity to join the Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA), which sits within the Cabinet Office, as it increases its outreach and engagement activities. You can expect to manage high profile engagement relationships with a wide range of senior stakeholders, including the Minister for Veterans Affairs’ Private Office, across UK Government, Devolved Administrations, Regional and Local Authorities and including both the Private and Charity sectors.

You will be a pivotal and influential member of a small team, helping shape a collaborative approach in ensuring that veterans have access to the essential support services they require. The OVA’s ambitious agenda will help bring the very best out of you and enable you to demonstrate your capabilities. This is a fast paced, varied role, which will involve working in an environment of senior relationship building and with a high degree of autonomy. There will be a requirement for travel throughout the UK.

• Establish a visible, engaged and collaborative OVA presence at the Governmental, Devolved and Regional level. Build, manage and maintain high profile engagement relationships with veterans’ stakeholders, at every level.
• Maximise opportunities to promote the value of veterans in society and improve access to and awareness of veterans’ welfare services. Communicating and listening to veterans and all stakeholders and being able to manage stakeholders’ expectations.
• Monitor, analyse and report on local policy developments, initiatives and welfare trends, working closely with OVA policy, strategy, research, data and communications colleagues, as well as officials in government departments.
• Support the coordination of statutory support at the local level and develop plans that deliver high quality local solutions aligned with the Veterans Strategy Action Plan and Ministerial interests and priorities.
• Develop links with veterans and veteran groups, help build an evidence based lived experience database, which can support wider OVA activity, especially in respect of policy development.
• Shape, disseminate and deliver tool kits for local authorities, to help them improve understanding of their veteran communities and take steps to improve policy outcomes.
• Work closely with other colleagues in the OVA, including the policy team; strategy, research and data; and communications and engagement, to maximise opportunities to promote the role of veterans in society, improve access to and awareness or services for veterans and support Ministerial interests and priorities.

• You will be a self-starter with excellent interpersonal skills and be confident in engaging and working with external stakeholders to build meaningful relationships.
• A strategic thinker, you will enjoy problem solving and you will compile, assimilate, distil, interpret and present evidence and options, drawing upon experts as appropriate.
• You will be a strong communicator, both written and orally and be confident writing for a variety of audiences, preparing briefs, and papers for colleagues and seniors, including Ministers, and presenting your ideas to colleagues. You will present to a high standard and be able to summarise key messages for different audiences.
• You will have a strong interest in and focus on continuous learning and be open to innovation and keeping knowledge and skills set current and evolving.
• You will be personally resilient, flexible and a highly articulate team player, who is able to bring people together to form a motivated network and can also empower others and create the right environment for positive policy outcomes.

Find out more and apply here.