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About the job
Job summary
Corporate Support and Development (CSD) Division provides a pivotal role to enable people in DWP Policy Group to do their job in the most effective way by ensuring we help recruit the right people, providing them the right training and tools to effectively carry out policy roles.
The team provides corporate services working closely with a range of stakeholders and provides a pivotal role in enabling over 1,400 colleagues across Policy Group to translate Ministerial and the Executive Team steers and decisions into effective policies and services, carrying out a wide range of activities developing and delivering. The team delivers essential work across a range of corporate functions including: Business Planning & Support, Capability, Communication, Digital, Freedom of Information, Future Thinking, Governance & Assurance, Risk Management, Recruitment and Workforce Planning.
In the recruitment and workforce planning team, we are looking for someone who has strong communication skills and can work collaboratively with a wide range of people of all levels. Good customer services skills are essential, with an eye for detail and the ability to plan and organise work activities.
Job description
Workforce Planning:
We ensure Policy Group can manage and plan its workforce confidently. You will work in partnership with recruitment and other key stakeholders to provide future forecasts and planning for the Group resources. This role ensures the Group has accurate workforce information as well as effective control through recruitment approvals. It involves maintaining and interpreting data on grade, location and workforce numbers so that we deliver affordably, effectively and efficiently. You will administer the approvals process, engaging with vacancy holders and obtain decisions on recruitment from key senior HR and Finance partners and other Senior Leaders. You will lead the forecasting activities for the group’s Strategic Workforce Plans which is key to informing all our recruitment and headcount strategies. As part of the Government’s levelling up agenda you will be responsible for supplying the data for Places for Growth as well as leading discussions and providing assurance for our Finance and Risk senior leadership group.
Recruitment
We are responsible for ensuring that Policy Group is resourced effectively, delivering a first-class recruitment and on-boarding function to provide the Group with the right people, in the right roles, at the right time. You will be involved in the delivery and development of recruitment campaigns, working with senior stakeholders, vacancy holders and external recruitment providers. You will deal with all aspects of recruitment, adhering to standards in line with Civil Service Commission rules, organising sifting and interview panels and engaging with candidates. You will have the opportunity to develop your leadership skills, improve capability, and work across departmental boundaries.
The roles will require:
- Effective prioritisation of workloads
- Collaborative working with a diverse range of partners
- Taking ownership for delivering a service and outcomes
- Communicating effectively
- Leading People
- Data collection for analysis and evaluation of our service
- Competency in key Microsoft packages - particularly Excel
We particularly welcome people from ethnic minority backgrounds and disabilities applying as they are under-represented groups in DWP.
To understand more about DWP and Policy Group – and full information on applying for this vacancy - you must read the attached Candidate Pack.
Person specification
The standards detailed in the Experience Key Criteria (below) are the minimum expectations for the role and only candidates with the strongest evidence will be invited to interview and this may include raising the passing score rate above the minimum pass rate of 4. In the event of a large number of applications you will need to meet the pass standard for the lead criteria Prioritising to determine if the other criteria are scored. Candidates will have to meet the standard for all criteria to progress to interview.
- Lead Experience Criteria - Prioritising - You will need to provide evidence of your ability to multi-task, manage conflicting priorities and work under pressure, including how you planned and delivered to meet key deadlines.
- Analyse Data - Give an example that demonstrates your ability to collate and interpret data or information which was used to clarify and inform a decision or improvement to a process or activity.
- Collaborative Working - We need people who are able to work in partnership with others. We are looking for evidence of how you have developed strong relationships, your statement should demonstrate your ability to build these relationships and work collaboratively with your team and a wide range of stakeholders.
- Communicating - We are looking for good communicators with strong written and verbal communication skills. Your statement should give an example of when you have presented information in a logical and persuasive way to influence senior people.
- Delivering Outcomes - You need to demonstrate how you proactively take ownership and accountability for ensuring delivery of outcomes and decisions, providing visible leadership across the team.
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Stage 1 Personal Statement
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Your personal statement needs to set out evidence of how your experience meets all the Experience Key Criteria detailed in the 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.
Your statement must not exceed 1250 words and you are advised to take advantage of the full word count.
Stage 2 Interview
If you are successful at Stage 1 then you will be invited to an interview. The interview will be based on the Experience Key Criteria detailed in the advert and you will need to provide evidence of how you meet each criterion. The guidance on Success Profiles explains these selection tools.
Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
Please note that interviews will be conducted via video link using MS Teams. Full details will be provided for those applicants invited to book an interview.
We aim to release interview results around mid-May 2023.
The evidence you provide in your application must relate to your own experiences. If evidence of plagiarism is found your application will be withdrawn.
Additional Location Information:
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. Please be aware these roles can only be worked in the UK and not overseas and your office base must be one of the three Policy Group Hubs:
- Quarry House, Leeds, LS2 7UA
- Caxton House, 1-11 Tothill St, London, SW1H 9NA
- King’s 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.
Certain job roles 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.
The corporate hub location will be the designated place of work and any remote or home working arrangement does not constitute a change to your designated place of work or contractual Terms.
Further Information
Find out more about Working for DWP
A reserve list may be held for a period o 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 [email protected] stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
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.
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.
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 [email protected] 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 you’re 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.
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).
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
Recruitment team :
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.