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Responding to the job description for the new role of the Chief Executive of the Civil Service, Peter Riddell, Director at the Institute for Government, said:

“The job description for the newly created position of chief executive of the Civil Service shows that the new role will not be a chief executive in any sense normally recognized in either the private or public sectors.

"The holder of the new post will not be responsible for either running the Civil Service or line managing Permanent Secretaries. The role, while important, will be more modest—in control of the commercial, supplier management, digital, property, HR, project management and civil service reform functions in the Cabinet Office to help drive forward change in departments across Whitehall. The new post will have multiple masters and accountabilities, to the Cabinet Secretary in support of his role as Head of the Civil Service, as well as, on a day to day basis, to the Minister for the Cabinet Office.

“Moreover, the appointment is being rushed. There is only a fortnight between the closing date for applications and final interviews, and the proposed start is only six weeks later—a far more compressed timetable than would be normal for a senior corporate leader in the private sector.”

http://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/news/latest/ifg-statement-ceocivil-service-job-description