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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
We are looking for an experienced and self-motivated Systems Manager and User Support Lead to join the Commercial Intelligence Team within the Commercial Group.
The role is pivotal in developing and embedding commercial systems and processes within the commercial directorate. Ever evolving in response to business need, the current suite includes the Jaggaer Source to Contract e procurement system and the AWARD strategic evaluation tool which enable the lifecycle of commercial activity to be managed to consistent standards and supports a single version of commercial information to promote accuracy in commercial data and reporting.
The Department for Education is responsible for education, childrens services, higher and further education policy, apprenticeships and wider skills in England, and equalities. We work to achieve a highly educated society in which opportunity is equal for all, no matter what their background or family circumstances.
Operations Directorate is responsible for the main corporate functions of the department including analysis, commercial, data, estates and security, finance, human resources, international education, operations and delivery, technology and the governance and relationship standards with the DfE’s public bodies. Its role is to support the business to deliver ministerial priorities by ensuring that:
- the department is sufficiently resourced (people, data / information, finance, IT) and organised right to deliver its business objectives; and
- efficient and effective systems and processes, driven by customer needs, underpin our services.
Commercial Group: The purpose of the commercial function within the Department for Education is to:
- Ensure that all commercial and procurement activity supports the Departments priorities and delivers outstanding value for money. It also exists to proactively develop commercial solutions for the wider education sector that reduce waste in procurement and release funds for the front line.
- The commercial function manages a large and diverse set of activities across the department with many high profile and complex contracts and grants as well as running a highly successful Risk Protection Arrangement for academies and a school buying strategy.
- Commercial Group is currently engaged in an exciting growth and transformation programme, with the aim of becoming one of the best commercial teams in Government.
Job description
As the Systems Manager and User Support Lead within the Commercial Intelligence Team (CIT), you will need to be proactive, innovative, and ready to lead a diverse range of activities running concurrently against demanding timescales.
You must have excellent organisational and interpersonal skills with the ability to set out proposals and solutions in a non-technical manner. In addition, we are looking for a candidate who is tenacious, able to manage evolving priorities and who seeks out opportunities to simplify and improve system processes and data collection requirements through integration and automation.
You will be expected to develop expertise in the operation of the commercial systems quickly and lead on the development and execution of strategies to ensure the commercial systems are designed, maintained, and fit for purpose in meeting the needs of the commercial operating model.
Working closely with the Head of Commercial Systems and wider CIT, you will be responsible for the Service Operating Model which supports the commercial Systems, including but not limited to, management of the help desk portal, change management procedures and monitoring service level agreements.
You will be responsible for ensuring a robust training and support offer is in place for a wide user base with activities including the delivery of user training and development of training content. You will be required to provide hands on support to end users across the business and initiate improvements to support the user experience, promote best practice, and break down barriers to system adoption.
You will need to develop a robust understanding of the Departments wider corporate systems and of their inter dependencies with commercial systems and ensure the Corporate Systems Group have early sight of any changes, implementations or events relating to the commercial systems that may have a wider impact.
You will be responsible for providing effective task management to the Systems Administrator and User Support Officer and ensure the timely delivery of any project related priorities alongside the efficient running of BAU activities.
Activities will also include working closely with the Commercial Intelligence Data Insights Team to support the development of internal and external reporting needs.
This is an opportunity to join a highly capable, friendly, and supportive team in a challenging but rewarding role. The role would suit someone who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment and is comfortable with the technical operation of software platforms alongside engagement with key stakeholders to ensure the optimisation of the commercial systems.
Responsibilities
- To lead system changes through established governance procedures.
- To apply functional updates and administer configuration changes directly within the systems.
- To ensure the effective daily operation of the service desk.
- To deliver a robust training and support offer.
- To develop strong working relationships with a range of stakeholders.
- To lead effective planning and communications to support the smooth deployment of changes and improvements.
- To lead the integration and adoption of new functionality and onboarding of new business areas as they are introduced.
- To ensure all work products, processes and outputs are documented in an organised manor and maintained according to CIT procedures.
Person specification
Essential criteria:
- Experienced in leading and embedding change to established ways of working.
- Effective in engaging a wide range of stakeholders to establish needs and implement requirements.
- Experienced in the functional development of software applications to meet bespoke requirements.
- Experience of delivering a high-quality training and support offer to end users of systems or software applications.
Desirable criteria:
- Practical experience of e-sourcing or source to contract platforms.
- Knowledge of public sector procurement process and source to contract lifecycle.
Desirable criteria will only be assessed in the event of a tie break situation to make an informed decision.
Additional Info:
The role will require some travel to our other departmental sites.
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Technical skills
We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Experienced in the functional development of commercial systems (or similar software applications).
- Experience of delivering a high-quality support offer to end users of systems or software applications.
- Ability to deliver a diverse range of priorities running concurrently against demanding timescales.
Benefits
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, with an average employer contribution of 27%.
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 Kings 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
Stage 1 Application & Sift
The first selection stage will be a paper sift of your CV and Personal Statement. You will be assessed based on your demonstration of the essential criteria for this role.
Your CV should cover details of education and professional qualifications, employment history, as well as giving details of relevant skills and experience.
Your Personal Statement (maximum 1,000 words) should include details of how you meet the essential criteria as detailed in the person specification. This is outlined in the Person specification section of the advert, please including examples of evidence.
In cases where there are a high number of applications the sift pass mark may be adjusted and candidates will be invited to interview in merit order, i.e. those scoring the highest. We may also conduct a Short sift on 3 Key criteria as outlined below.
- Effective in engaging a wide range of customers stakeholders to understand needs and implement requirements and improvements.
- Experienced in the functional development of commercial systems (or similar software applications) to meet bespoke requirements.
- Experience of delivering a high-quality training and support offer to end users of systems or software applications.
Stage 2 – Interview
Candidates that successfully pass the sift will be invited to interview. At interview, you will be assessed using the following Success Profile Elements:
Behaviours
Technical
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 : Commercial Recruitment Team
- Email : recruitment.commercial@education.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : AdvertsRecruitment.DFE@education.gov.uk
Further information
