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About the job
Job summary
The Strategic Projects Unit and the Policy Exploration Team both sit at the heart of Policy Group in the Strategy, Governance and International Directorate. They deliver critical cross-cutting support to policy teams, providing additional support and leadership in policy development and strategic thinking.
SPU offer specialist, strategic thinking project capability. They aim to consider gaps in strategic policymaking (particularly cross cutting, high priority, and longer-term topics).
PEx offer practical advice and help to guide policy development. They aim to tackle knotty problems, develop ideas, bring in stakeholders, users and business perspectives, often using design principles, tools, and techniques (projects and ad-hoc advice akin to in-house consultancy).
Job description
A Grade 6 leader is required to direct and lead the SPU and PEx functions for policy group, providing people and capability leadership to the immediate teams, and to work closely with senior leaders and teams across Policy Group to identify areas where the teams can add maximum value to support policy-makers and manage a fluid portfolio of work matching the skills of team members to address strategic and policy gaps in the Department.
The key tasks for the post-holders will include:
- Providing leadership, support and development for the teams, comprising of several Grade 7s along with SEOs and HEOs.
- Identify gaps in policy development and strategic thinking where the units can add value, innovating and building a strong understanding of the Departments priorities to identify opportunities for the unit to improve the capability and policy thinking within Policy Group
- Building strong networks across policy group and DWP more widely to identify how the unit can support teams, and ensure projects undertaken add value to policy-makers.
Person specification
Experience Key Criteria
- Ability to provide strong, supportive leadership to teams and across the organisation (Lead Criteria)
- Ability to innovate and spot opportunities to improve policy-making and strategic thinking
- Ability to build effective, collaborative stakeholder networks
- Ability to strengthen the capability of your own team and stakeholders across the Department
Experience of applying design principles, analysing problems and managing portfolios of projects would be desirable
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Benefits
- An employer pension contribution of up to 27%
- Generous annual leave entitlement of 25 days for new entrants rising up to 30 days, (based on your working pattern)
- Family friendly flexible working arrangements, such as hybrid working, job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours
- Learning and development tailored to your role this could include industry recognised qualifications, coaching and mentoring
- An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join staff networks including: Womens Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more
- Professional development, coaching, mentoring and career progression opportunities
- Time off volunteering and charitable giving
- Discounts and savings on shopping, fun days out and more
- Interest-free loans to buy a bike or a season ticket
Location
Applicants should apply for suitable posts where they can travel to and from their home office location daily within a reasonable time.
Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas. Relocation costs will not be reimbursed
Hybrid Working
This job role may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in their DWP office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and your office will be your contractual place of work. The number of days that anyone will be able to work at home will be determined primarily by business need but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be taken into account. If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working, including whether a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for you, will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
1. Application & Sift
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and Personal Statement (max 1000 words). The CV is for reference only and will not be scored. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
A sift will be carried out using your 1000 word Personal Statement.
Your personal statement needs to set out evidence of how your experience meets all the Experience Key Criteria set out below and not the published behaviours listed in this advert.
We are not looking at how much time you have spent in a job, but rather how you have performed. Your Personal Statement must show demonstrable evidence of what you did, how you did it, and what outcome was achieved. This should include the impact of your approach and evidence of your ability to take forward different approaches in different circumstances.
The standards detailed in the Experience Key Criteria are the minimum expectations for the role and only candidates with the strongest evidence will be invited to interview. In the event of a large number of applications, meeting the pass standard for the lead criteria “Ability to provide strong, supportive leadership to teams and across the organisation” will determine if the other criteria are scored. Candidates will have to meet the standard for all criteria to progress to interview.
Your statement must not exceed 1000 words and you are advised to take advantage of the full word count.
The closing date for applications is 10/01/2024, late submissions will not be accepted.
2. Interview Stage
If you are successful at the sift you will be invited to an interview. The interview will comprise of Behaviour-Based questions. The guidance on Success Profiles explains these selection tools. The Behaviours being assessed are detailed in the job advert.
Behaviours:
- Leadership
- Changing & Improving
- Working Together
- Developing Self & Others
Note that the Behaviours will be assessed at interview stage only.
When applying for these roles, you will be required to state in preference order which of the three Policy Group Hub locations you can work from, Sheffield, Leeds, and London. Please be aware these roles can only be carried out in the UK, not overseas, and your office base must be one of the three Policy Group Hubs. Appointments may be made to candidates in merit order based on location preferences and geographical requirements
By indicating your preferred Policy Group hub location(s) in your application you are stating that you are willing to accept a post in any of your chosen hub location(s).
- Quarry House, Leeds, LS2 7UA
- Caxton House, Tothill St, London, SW1H 9NA
- Kings Court, Hanover Way, Sheffield, S3 7UF
The Department is committed to promoting flexible ways of working, whilst enabling the business to operate at maximum efficiency and will expect colleagues to work from a blend of locations, including some time working at home, as required
Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
Further Information
Find out more about Working for DWP
A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.
Any move to DWP from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.
However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicants details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. Applications will be screened and if evidence of plagiarism or copying examples/answers from other sources is found, your application will be withdrawn. Internal DWP candidates may also face disciplinary action.
Before applying for this vacancy, current employees of DWP should check whether a successful application would result in changes to their terms & conditions of employment, e.g. mobility, pay, allowances. Civil Servants that would transfer into DWP from other government organisations, following successful application, will assume DWP’s terms & conditions of employment current on the day they are posted, unless DWP has stated otherwise in writing.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
Reasonable Adjustment
At DWP we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce.
We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
Contact Government Recruitment Service via DWPrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the Reasonable Adjustments section in the Additional requirements page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if youre deaf, a Language Service Professional.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
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Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Apply and further information
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Matthew Russell
- Email : matthew.russell3@dwp.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : dwprecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission. Click here to visit the Civil Service Commission.
