22 December 2020
The Government has today announced the appointment of a new Group Director of Policy sitting in the Department for Strategic Policy, Planning and Performance.
Paul Wylie currently works in the London Mayor’s Office as Director of Strategy responsible for policing, crime and communities. He has considerable experience of policy development for both the Mayor of London and working on strategic reviews for the national UK Government.
Mr Wylie will be responsible for developing effective public policy to achieve Government priorities and improve outcomes for the benefit of Islanders.
Director General for Strategic Policy, Planning and Performance, Tom Walker, said: “This is a key role, and with 17 years’ experience in public service, Paul will add strength to policy formation and delivery as we work to implement the Island’s strategic priorities.”
“Paul brings valuable expertise, which will add to the diversity of talent and expertise across our senior policy specialists. He will join us as we continue to tackle the impacts of COVID-19 and Brexit. It’s a demanding time, but he brings valuable experience of strategic analysis, policy building and operational delivery.”
Paul Wylie said: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to lead and develop public policy for the Government of Jersey at this challenging time.
“My family and I are excited to move here, and I look forward to contributing more to Island life, both professionally and personally.”
His appointment followed the Jersey Appointments Commission code of conduct and was made following a combination of face-to-face interviews and extensive and evidence-based technical and psychometric assessments.
Paul will take up his post in February 2021.
Brief biography
Paul Wylie is currently Director of Strategy in the Mayor of London’s office for policing and crime, with responsibility for all new strategy and policy development. He has spent the last few years working on high profile issues such as the response to Black Lives Matter, tackling violence and embedding neighbourhood policing.
He was also acting Chief Executive during the COVID-19 response, leading the support to the Mayor, the Metropolitan Police and City Hall.
He worked for HM Government in the Home Office for more than 12 years, primarily with responsibility for the delivery of immigration enforcement.
As well as leading various projects to reduce illegal immigration he played a key advisory role to the Home Secretary for nearly four years.
Recruitment process
- The process was overseen by the Jersey Appointments Commission. The recruitment and attraction of candidates was managed by the Government resourcing team and a specialist Executive Search Firm, McLean Partnership.
- The selection panel for the position was:
- Jo Warring Hockley – Chair of the Panel – Jersey Appointments Commission
- Charlie Parker – Chief Executive
- Tom Walker – Director General
- Graeme Smith – CEO of Jersey Business
- Lucy Smith – Director General from the UK Government
- Over 200 prospective on and off-Island candidates were targeted in the initial search for the role, which produced a formal long-list of 14 candidates (ten men and four women) for initial consideration. Seven were taken forward for independent technical assessment.
- Following these assessments, three candidates were shortlisted for final interview (two men and one women).
- In the application procedure, candidates were asked to complete and detail the following:
- current salary package and expectations
- provide an up-to-date CV detailing their career history and achievements
- to provide a supporting statement on how they met the person specification of the role.
- There were seven stages to the recruitment process:
- promotion of the role
- initial assessment of candidates who submitted a formal application. This was conducted by the Government’s central resourcing function and the search consultant from McLean Partnership
- candidate long-listing meeting attended by the full panel
- technical assessment conducted by Mark Hammond, Visiting Professor in Public Policy, Canterbury Christchurch University
- candidate shortlisting meeting attended by the full panel
- full-day assessment centre. Candidates undertook psychometric tests, a strategic written exercise, a leadership role-play exercise, a leadership interview and met informally with the hiring manager Tom Walker
- final panel interviews attended by the full panel
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