Seeing the Big Picture: Civil Service Behaviour Examples
What Seeing the Big Picture means in the Civil Service Success Profiles framework, what assessors look for, and a worked STAR example at HEO and Grade 7 level.
**TL;DR.** Seeing the Big Picture is one of the 9 Civil Service behaviours defined in the Success Profiles framework. Assessors look for evidence that you understand how your work connects to wider organisational, cross-government, or public policy objectives. Strong examples show you making decisions informed by strategic context, not just immediate task requirements.
What Seeing the Big Picture assesses
This behaviour assesses whether you understand the broader context of your work — the organisation's strategic direction, cross-government priorities, political sensitivities, and long-term implications. At junior grades, this is about understanding how your team's work fits the directorate. At senior grades, it is about shaping strategic direction by anticipating cross-cutting impacts.
Worked HEO example (250 words)
*As an HEO in a transport policy team I noticed that our regional investment proposals repeatedly failed to link to the department's net zero objectives. When I was tasked with drafting the next proposal, I started by reading the department's published net zero strategy and the Treasury Green Book guidance on valuing emissions. I identified that our three proposed projects would have different carbon implications over a 25-year horizon — one positive, one neutral, one net-negative. I redesigned the investment proposal to include carbon impact analysis for each project and a recommendation to re-sequence the investments to maximise net zero alignment. I shared the draft with the net zero policy lead before submitting to the SEO for sign-off. The revised proposal was approved and became the template for the next three investment cycles. This evidences my awareness of departmental strategic objectives and my willingness to connect tactical work to broader policy commitments.*
Worked Grade 7 example (250 words)
*As a Grade 7 strategy lead I was asked to review whether our regional investment programme was meeting the cross-government commitment to net zero by 2050. The programme had been designed around three regional priorities set in 2018. I started by mapping every project against the UK net zero carbon budget framework and identified that 40% of the spend would lock in carbon emissions for a decade or more. I drafted a strategic recommendation paper presenting three options: continue as planned, retrofit existing projects with carbon mitigations, or rebalance the programme. The recommendation built on trade-offs between regional political commitments, net-zero targets, and Treasury value-for-money rules. The Director adopted the rebalance option and the programme cut projected lifetime emissions by 22% while protecting the regional spending envelope.*
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Frequently asked questions
What is Seeing the Big Picture in the Civil Service?
Seeing the Big Picture is one of the 9 Civil Service behaviours defined in the Success Profiles framework. It assesses whether candidates understand the broader context of their work — the organisation's strategic direction, cross-government priorities, political sensitivities, and long-term implications.
How do I evidence Seeing the Big Picture in a Civil Service application?
Describe a specific moment where strategic context changed the way you approached a piece of work. Name the broader objective (departmental strategy, cross-government commitment, Treasury rules), describe how you identified the connection, and describe the decision or recommendation you made as a result.
What is the difference between Seeing the Big Picture at HEO and Grade 7?
At HEO, Seeing the Big Picture is about connecting your own work to directorate or departmental objectives. At Grade 7 and above, it is about shaping strategic direction by anticipating cross-cutting impacts and making recommendations that influence departmental or cross-government policy.