Civil Service Leadership Example at Grade 7
A worked STAR example for Leadership at Grade 7 scope, showing strategic ownership of a function and managing through team leaders.
**TL;DR.** At Grade 7, Leadership is about strategic ownership of a function, managing through SEO team leaders, and influencing Directors and senior officials. Assessors expect evidence of substantial scope, multiple teams, and Director-level accountability.
Worked Grade 7 Leadership example (250 words)
*As a Grade 7 leading a commercial strategy function of 18 staff (two SEO team leads, six HEOs, and ten EOs), I was responsible for the department's three-year commercial strategy, reported to the Director of Commercial. In 2025 the Cabinet Office Commercial Function asked departments to implement a new commercial capability framework, which required retraining across my function and two linked professional tracks. I led the change by establishing a programme board chaired by me, with my two SEO team leads and three professional leads from linked departments. I redesigned the team objectives to align with the new framework, commissioned a 12-week training programme for the full function, and held weekly coaching sessions with each SEO team lead to navigate individual team resistance points. The function achieved 100% framework-level accreditation within six months (the Cabinet Office target was 12 months for most departments), and two of my SEO team leads were invited to join the Cabinet Office implementation reference group. This evidences Grade 7 Leadership: strategic ownership of a function, managing through SEO team leaders, and outcomes visible at cross-department level.*
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Frequently asked questions
What does Leadership at Grade 7 look like?
Grade 7 Leadership is strategic ownership of a function — leading multiple teams through SEO team leaders, managing substantial staff and budget responsibility, and influencing Directors and senior officials. Scope typically covers 15–50 staff and a defined strategic area.
Do I need to show cross-government impact to evidence Leadership at Grade 7?
Cross-government impact is valued but not essential at Grade 7. Directorate-level or departmental impact is sufficient. Evidence personal leadership decisions and measurable outcomes attributable to your leadership.