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Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
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About the job
Job summary
We encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates
At DfE, we are proud of the commitment we make to diversity and inclusion and of the progress we have made. We have active & vibrant staff networks, special leave policies and workplace adjustments put in place for those who need them. We are continuing to build a diverse DfE, in an inclusive environment which nurtures and realises potential in all, at all levels.
Equality and Diversity – Department for Education
These are exciting times at the Department for Education. In 2023, we will continue to build services for all our users spanning all citizens in England.
Our diverse and inclusive culture reflects the society we live in. This helps us to achieve better outcomes for all our users. We work in multi-disciplinary teams using Agile methods to innovate and radically improve services that:
- Level up education standards so that children and young people in every part of the country are prepared with the knowledge, skills, and qualifications they need.
- Support the most disadvantaged and vulnerable children and young people through high-quality local services so that no one is left behind.
- Provide the best start in life through high-quality early education and childcare to raise standards and help parents to work.
You can read more about our strategy on the DfE digital and technology blog, by visiting our LinkedIn page, or by following us on Twitter @DfE_DigitalTech .
Job description
We are looking for a Lead User Researcher to join the Vulnerable Children and Families digital portfolio, supporting policy delivery across Family Hubs, Childrens Social Care and Early Years.
This involves leading and supporting teams that work across a range of products and services; enabling families to find support in their areas, providing online training services for the early years workforce and services that support the career development of child and family social workers. Our services continue to expand following recent government announcements.
We work closely with policy and strategy teams to research, design and build services that help every child have the best start in life, every family to access the support theyre entitled to, and those that work with Children and Families be set up for success.
As a Lead User Researcher, you will be an expert practitioner, leading and aligning user research activities across a portfolio of teams, and setting the strategic direction for research in your business area. You will:
- Provide user research expertise and consultancy to your business area, and hands-on support as required
- Ensure that teams take a user-centred, evidence-based approach to service design and delivery
- Develop and assure good user research practice across your portfolio
- Be part of the portfolios leadership team
- Be part of the user research profession leadership team, working with the head of user research to develop DfEs user research practice
- Lead the recruitment and allocation of user researchers in the portfolio
- Build and lead a team of user researchers, providing performance feedback, and support their learning and development goals.
- Take a leading role in the DfE user research community
Person specification
Essential Criteria:
It is essential that you can demonstrate the following experience in your application and at interview:
- Research methods and planning. Ability to advise on the application of appropriate user research methods, as well as extensive hands-on experience in applying these methods
- Research leadership. Understanding organisational strategy and objectives, setting direction, and aligning user research activity to this across multiple teams
- Analysis and synthesis. Ability to analyse and synthesise complex quantitative and qualitative data, involving teams and stakeholders, and presenting clear and actionable findings
- Inclusive research. Experience of researching with and advocating for a wide range of users, including users with additional needs and other hard-to-reach groups
- Ethics and safeguarding. A high level of understanding of research ethics and safeguarding, and the ability to advise researchers and teams on best practice
- Coaching, mentoring and supervising. Developing the skills of team members, supporting their professional development, and advising and assuring the work of others
Desirable skills:
- Agile working. Experience of delivering user research in agile digital delivery/product teams
- Government Service Standard. Experience of assessing services against the Government Service Standard
We encourage applications from those that do not meet the desirable criteria, as this will only be used in the event of a tie break situation at interview stage and to make an informed decision.
Benefits
£16,885 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Departments transfer / promotion policies.
As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK.
You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years service. In addition, all staff receive the King’s Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days bank and public holidays.
We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
Most DfE employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending at least 60% of their time in an office or work setting. Changes to these working arrangements are available in exceptional circumstances but must be agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role.
Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DfE, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.
As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Please note that all communications will be electronic therefore it is vitally important that you check your Civil Service Jobs account regularly, as well as your spam/junk email folder.
Key Dates:
- Vacancy Close 18 August 2023 at 23.55.
- Sift likely to take place from w/c 28 August
- Interviews likely to take place from w/c 4 September
Application
If you would like to apply for this position, please complete the Civil Service Jobs application form by clicking the “apply now” button at the top or bottom of this advert.
You will be required to provide details of:
- Your CV Set out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role.
- Your Statement of Suitability In no more than 1,000 words, provide examples to explain how your personal skills, qualities and experience demonstrate your suitability for the role. You should refer to the essential criteria listed in the advert.
Please note, CV details must be contained within the template on the application form. Any CV or Statement of Suitability that has been emailed to our team will not be considered.
Sift
At sift stage, your application will be assessed on how your CV and Statement of Suitability align to the essential criteria listed in the advert. The CV and statement will be assessed against the essential criteria detailed in the advert.
Candidates successful at sift stage will be invited to an interview.
We receive many applications, and unfortunately, were not able to provide feedback for candidates who arent shortlisted.
Interview
The interview will be a 2-part process:
Part 1: Completion of a task which we will send to you prior to the interview and require you to give a 10-minute presentation on.
Part 2: A series of questions about your experience to demonstrate, using examples, how you meet the essential criteria listed in the advert.
Interviews will be conducted via Microsoft Teams. If you are invited to interview, please ensure that you have access to this software and that you have your video turned on. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.
As a Disability Confident Leader, it is important that we are able to make appropriate arrangements or adjustments where necessary in order to create a full and equal participation in the selection process. If you require any reasonable adjustments, please contact the recruitment team to see how we can meet your needs.
Other Information
We reserve the right to raise the minimum pass mark in the event of a high volume or strong field of candidates.
Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK from the location options provided and not from overseas.
The government is committed to supporting apprenticeships, enabling people to learn and progress in a role whilst earning. We want to monitor the number of people who have completed apprenticeships who are now applying to progress further in their career and are asking this question to all candidates, on all vacancies. You will be asked a question as part of the application process about any previous apprenticeships you have completed. Your response to this question will not affect your application and it is not a requirement of the role to have completed a previous apprenticeship.
DfE cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. DfE holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe 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 circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Department of Education of your intention by emailing Pre-Employment.Checks.DFE@education.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Department for Education do not cover the cost of travel to your interview/assessment unless otherwise stated.
A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.
Candidates will be posted in merit order based upon location preference. Where more than one location is advertised you will be asked to state your preferred location.
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.
Terms and conditions of candidates transferring from ALBs and NDPBs
Bodies that are not accredited by the Civil Service Commission and are not able to advertise at Across Government on Civil Service jobs will be treated as external new starters and will come into DfE on modernised terms and conditions with a salary at the band minimum.
Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission but do not have civil service status will be offered modernised terms and will not have continuous service recognised for leave or sickness benefits. Salaries should be offered at band minimum, but there is some flexibility where this would cause a detriment to the individual.
Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission and do have Civil Service status will be treated as OGD transfers. Staff appointed on lateral transfer will move on to pre-modernised DfE terms (unless they were on modernised terms in their previous organisation). Staff appointed on promotion will move on to modernised DfE terms. Staff will transfer over on their existing salary (on lateral transfer) and any pay above the DfE pay band maximum will be paid as a mark time allowance. Staff moving on promotion will have their salaries calculated using the principles set out in the attached OGD transfer supplementary information.
Reasonable adjustment
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 Department of Education via centralrecruitment.operations@education.gov.uk 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.
Any move to Department for Education (DfE) will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming 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/
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
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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).
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Sue O’Hara
- Email : sue.ohara@education.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : AdvertsRecruitment.DFE@education.gov.uk
Further information
