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Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
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Digital
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About the job
Job summary
The GCS operates a single sign-on (SSO) platform called GCS Connect to provide members access to multiple GCS products and services using the OpenID Connect authentication protocol. Members can access exclusive resources, a directory and professional development opportunities using GCS Connect. It has been developed using the Laravel framework.
You will ensure GCS Connect and connected products/services are developed and maintained properly. You will develop new features on GCS Connect in agreement with the Head of Member Strategy and Services, monitor website traffic, troubleshoot problems when they arise, and update websites as necessary.
Were seeking a highly skilled full-stack developer delivering a wide range of online products onto GCS Connect. Youll need strong web development skills and an ability to produce high-quality and secured digital products. A solid working knowledge of current best practice issues such as accessibility and usability is essential, and written and oral communication skills would be an advantage.
Job description
Main responsibilities:
- Build and maintain the GCS Connect platform: developing new functionality, including Targeted Online Notifications, Groups/Forums and GCS Content Libraries and other features.
- Engage with customers (member comms team) to understand their requirements.
- Advise on and develop UI and UX design and ensure any product meets the latest accessibility standards.
- Work with the stakeholders and other customers to produce finished features.
- Design and develop functional and appealing digital applications/services mainly using open-source technologies, applying agile development approaches.
- Participate in full lifecycle implementation from specification and design requirements analysis, platform selection and architecture design to application design, development, testing and deployment. Make continual improvements to the product development lifecycle, the release and deployment management process and quality assurance and testing
- Ensure that technical decisions support our standards and quality, performance and reliability goals, scalability and availability, security and data protection.
- Support project planning and management and identify opportunities, challenges and risks.
- Provide ongoing technical support. Troubleshoot and resolve application-related issues throughout the product life cycle, including out-of-hours support for incident resolution.
- Website-related administrative duties, e.g. backups, upgrades, SSL and DNS management.
- Direct and support team members to maintain an understanding of good practices and Government Service Standards.
- Share knowledge of tools and techniques with the wider team, both developers and non-developers.
Person specification
Essential experience and skills
For this role you must have:
- Understanding and experience of full-stack web development, and knowledge of various programming concepts.
- Proficiency in HTML, CSS/SCSS, JavaScript, PHP, and ideally Python, or otherwise the desire to learn.
- Experience in developing with Laravel and WordPress, as well as client-side frameworks.
- Experience with appropriate software development practices such as version control, test-driven development and automated testing platforms.
- Understanding of the web and common security issues.
- Working knowledge of cloud-based solutions such as Amazon Web Services.
- Experience with cloud APIs, and a good understanding of API building and microservices.
- Experience with relational (preferably MySQL) and non-relational databases, including a sound understanding of database design, querying, stored procedures, views, joins and functions.
- Good working knowledge of Unix/Linux-based systems and shell scripting and familiarity with web server configuration, including Apache and Nginx.
- An active interest in new trends and technologies, best practices in development and emerging engineering practices such as LLM, data engineering.
Desirable experience and skills:
- A degree in computer science or demonstrable full-stack coding experience.
- Experience with UI Component Libraries, JavaScript & CSS scaffolding tools such as Vite and Webpack
- Familiar with Government Design System and Service Standards, including accessibility requirements.
- Knowhow of continuous deployment systems, e.g. Jenkins and Docker container technology
- Experience with various testing strategies, such as load-testing and pen-testing
- Experience with any of the following: Elasticsearch/Cloudsearch, Composer, Vagrant
- Experience in leveraging new tech capabilities like AI/LLM and Chatbot
- Experience with data extraction, migration, transformation, and loading
- A portfolio of work on Bitbucket/GitHub is also desirable.
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Benefits
£10,272 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
- Learning and development tailored to your role.
- An environment with flexible working options.
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
- A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and average employer contributions of 27%.
- A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application process
As part of the application process you will be asked to submit a CV, and 250-word personal statement, also assessing the behaviours Changing and Improving, Working Together, Managing a Quality Service and Delivering at Pace
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Please outline any work history, experience and qualifications that make you suitable for this role within your Personal Statement.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the lead Behaviour, Changing and Improving.
Selection process
We will be assessing at the interview stage on CV (Employment history and experience), behaviours and strengths.
Expected timeline (subject to change)
Expected sift date tbc
Expected interview date/s tbc
Interview location – in-person where possible. 35 Great Smith Street.
Reasonable adjustments
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
Contact Government Recruitment Service via cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the Assistance required 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.
Further information
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘contact point for applicants’ section.
Please note that this role requires CTC clearance, which would normally need 3 years UK residency in the past 5 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.
Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter
Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
Any move to Cabinet Office 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.
A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.
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 /Disclosure Scotland 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.
For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
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.
This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
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 : Mizan Syed
- Email : mizan.syed@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and wish to make a complaint, then in the first instance you should contact Government Recruitment Service at: cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: info@csc.gov.uk.
For further information on the Recruitment Principles, and bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk.
