Civil. Society and Youth - 1. Policy Advisor - National Citizen Service & 2. Policy Advisor - Youth Stakeholders & International Manchester, England
Job description
Details
Reference number
Salary
Job grade
Senior Executive Officer
Contract type
Loan
Secondment
Length of employment
Business area
Type of role
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
About the job
Benefits
Things you need to know
Apply and further information
Location
About the job
Job summary
Whilst DCMS is advertising this vacancy, the successful candidate(s) may ultimately be appointed to the newly created Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
We are recruiting two policy roles within the Youth team.
The Youth team is an innovative team, within the high profile Civil Society and Youth Directorate, that has responsibility for a range of cross cutting and high profile policy areas, including delivering the National Youth Guarantee (by 2025, every young person will have access to regular clubs and activities, adventures away from home and opportunities to volunteer), supporting youth sector workforce, engaging with the youth sector, and ensuring the impactful delivery of the National Citizen Service (NCS).
The Youth team is a driven, friendly unit with a vision to ensure the programmes we deliver and the engagements we lead have the greatest impact for young people and their communities.
We are firmly committed to our people, and this is reflected in our values. We work hard to build an environment that is diverse and inclusive, as well as warm, friendly and collaborative; where each member of staff can flourish, feel comfortable being themselves at work, develop their skills and move their career forward.
Job description
1. National Citizen Service
This role is a sponsorship role for the National Citizen Service (NCS) Trust, which delivers a programme for 16-17 year olds to help them become work-ready and world-ready. The NCS Trust is going through a period of transformation and is transitioning towards a new strategy and new delivery model from January 2023 onwards. This makes it an exciting time to join the team with opportunities to explore new projects and new collaborative opportunities across government and the youth sector.
The post holder will be expected to support effective sponsorship of the NCS Trust, build relationships with key stakeholders in the NCS Trust, as well as colleagues across DCMS and wider government, and manage day-to-day business to ensure impactful and successful delivery of the programme. It is a role that is highly varied, high-profile, and hugely rewarding.
Responsibilities
The following is an indicative list of some of the responsibilities the successful candidate for this role should expect to have:
- Supporting NCS Trust during a pivotal phase, maintaining good governance and overseeing successful selection, management, and delivery of NCS experiences.
- Working collaboratively across specialist teams in DCMS to ensure effective transition and robust evaluation.
- Managing NCS Parliamentary and Ministerial business.
- Overseeing the communication and publication requirements of NCS Trust.
- Identifying new opportunities for collaboration across Whitehall to make best use of the programme in line with government priorities.
- Inputting into policy proposals on NCS development, including diversification of income sources and position within the youth sector.
- Developing effective working relationships with a variety of internal and external senior stakeholders.
2. Youth Stakeholders & International
This role sits within the Youth Strategy Team which focuses on a number of cross-cutting issues in youth, as well as managing a number of funds, our relationships with other government departments and external stakeholders.
This role will work across a range of youth policy areas. We try to tailor roles to each member of the team, to suit different skill sets, development needs and business priorities. Current priorities include developing a new cross-government Youth Board, delivering a youth sector engagement strategy as well as international work, such as coordinating international events/meetings such as the UN, Commonwealth and EU, as well as the 4 nations across the UK. All Band Bs in the team also support on correspondence, briefing and other ad-hoc commissions.
Responsibilities
The following is an indicative list of some of the responsibilities the successful candidate for this role should expect to have:
- Coordinating key Government engagement with senior stakeholders within youth sector
- Engaging across other government departments on youth policy and potentially supporting a new cross-government Youth Board
- Leading on youth-focused international engagements and the Devolved Administrations
- Keeping up to date on developments in the youth sector and provide updates to the wider youth team
- Drafting briefings, answers to parliamentary questions, correspondence and other parliamentary business
- The opportunity to develop grant management skills across a range of youth funding.
Person specification
The ideal candidate would have the following key skills and experience
Essential Requirements
- Effective stakeholder management skills, with the ability to collaborate with internal and external partners
- Great written and verbal communication skills, with the confidence to deliver complex and/or difficult messages to a variety of audiences.
- A tenacious approach to finding solutions or key pieces of information.
- Confidence working at pace as part of a team, with the ability to juggle competing priorities and deadlines to deliver results at speed.
- An interest in youth policy, particularly as it relates to the civil society and youth sectors.
Desirable Skills
- Experience of working in or with the youth sector
- Experience of strategy and policy development, particularly as it relates to youth policy
For the NCS role:
- Experience of sponsorship or operational delivery
For the Stakeholders and International role:
- Experience of strategy or communications
- Experience proving a secretariat function
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Working Together
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Making Effective Decisions
Benefits
DCMS values its staff and offers a wide range of benefits to everyone who works here. We’re committed to developing talent, and supporting colleagues to have great careers in our department. To support with that, some of the benefits we offer include:
- Flexible working arrangements and hybrid working - DCMS staff work on a flexible basis with time spent in offices, and time spent working from home.
- 26.5 days annual leave on entry, increasing to 31.5 days after 5 years’ service.
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
- 3 days of paid volunteering leave.
- Up to 9 months maternity leave on full pay + generous paternity and adoption leave.
- Staff reward and recognition bonuses that operate throughout the year.
- Occupational sick pay.
- Active and engaged staff networks to join including the LGBT+, Ethnic Diversity, Mental Health and Wellbeing and Gender Equality Networks.
- Exceptional learning and development opportunities that you can explore alongside your day to day work.
- Season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme and much more!
Terms and conditions at SCS grades will vary. Those applying for SCS roles should refer to the candidate information pack for more information on terms and conditions.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
To apply for these posts, please send us the following documents by 23:55 - Monday 27th February via the CS Jobs portal:
- A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years. Please refer to the essential requirements.
- A Statement of Suitability (max 500 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for one or both of the roles in reference to the essential requirements highlighted.
- A behaviour statement of 250 words on Making Effective Decisions.
In the event of a large number of applicants, an initial sift will be conducted on the lead behaviour (Making Effective Decisions). Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Interview
The interview process will assess behaviours and strengths.
The behaviours to be tested at interview are:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Working together
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at pace
You will not be made aware of the strengths being assessed prior to your interview.
As part of your interview, you will be asked to deliver a short oral presentation. Full details of this, including the topic, and whether or not you will need to use visual aids, will be sent to you prior to your interview.
In most cases interviews will take place remotely via Google Meet video call. However please refer to the Candidate Information Pack to confirm the interview approach.
For indicative sift and interview dates please refer to the attached Candidate Information Pack.
Further Information
A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.
Any move to DCMS 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 /Access NI 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 [email protected] stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
For further information on the Access NI confidential checking service telephone: the Access NI Helpline on 0300 200 7888 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email [email protected]
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 applicant’s 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.
DCMS has a London and a National pay scale. For more information on this, including the circumstances in which each pay scale will apply, please see the ‘Information for Applicants’ document.
If you choose to join on a loan basis, prior agreement to be released on loan must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.
Location
This role can be based in Manchester, Darlington, Belfast or Loughborough. The hub locations are displayed on the job advert. Not all hub locations have confirmed office space yet - successful applicants will be expected to work remotely until this becomes available.
Reasonable Adjustment
We are committed to supporting candidates so they can perform at their best throughout the recruitment process. This includes making reasonable adjustments to our process.
In order to request an adjustment, please:
Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section on 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 a verbal test rather than a written one.
Alternatively, contact the Government Recruitment Service via [email protected] as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Accessibility
If you are experiencing accessibility difficulties with any of the attachments, please contact us. Contact details can be found in the 'contact point for applicants' section of the job advert.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
- certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
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
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
Recruitment team :
Further information
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact ([email protected]) in the first instance.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/civilservicerecruitmentcomplaints/
