Programme Support Officer Coventry, England
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Location
About the job
Job summary
The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education is working to transform the skills landscape by improving access to high quality apprenticeships and technical education. You will be part of an organisation that works to help people of all ages and backgrounds have the opportunity to maximise their potential, contribute to improving social mobility and the UK’s productivity.
We aim to create a great place to work by offering:
- An environment with flexible working options
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- An employer pension contribution of up to 27%
- A generous annual leave allowance up to 30 days after 5 years of service
- A wide variety of staff support networks including access to a Wellbeing Network, BAME Network, and a Diversity and Inclusion Network.
We are committed to expanding on our diverse workforce and would welcome applications from underrepresented groups and professionals with a range of backgrounds.
IfATE operate a hybrid working model, and there will be an expectation on the successful candidate to attend a place of work at least 2 days per week.
About Us
The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) is working to transform the skills landscape by improving access to high quality apprenticeships and technical education.
In 2021 Department for Education (DfE) set out plans to reform post-16 technical education and training. These reforms aim to support people to develop the skills needed to progress in their chosen careers and to improve national productivity by ensuring people with the right skills are ready for employment.
In April 2022, the Skills and Post-16 Education Act, granted IfATE new powers, with an expanded remit to approve Technical Qualifications at Level 3 and below. From Summer 2023, awarding bodies will submit qualifications for approval to IfATE, this role will sit within the team leading this work.
This role is an exciting opportunity to add to IfATE’s contribution to delivering a key policy objective which will genuinely transform the qualifications landscape.
You will be part of an organisation that works to help people of all ages and backgrounds have the opportunity to maximise their potential, contribute to improving social mobility and the UK's productivity.
Job description
Administration: Lead on administration processes, including scheduling meetings, managing diaries, preparing agendas, taking minutes, ensuring actions are assigned and completed, and highlighting and escalating emerging issues.
Communication: Ensure key milestones are communicated effectively to key stakeholders. Presenting management information to stakeholders when required.
Monitoring and Reporting: Process often complex information quickly and accurately, monitor progress against timelines and communicate findings.
Project monitoring: Support the project management lead and Project Management Office to ensure processes are in place and continuously improved.
Ad- Hoc projects: Lead and support on ad-hoc projects within the team and across IfATE where necessary.
Person specification
As a programme support officer, you will be a part of IFATE’s post-16 qualifications team, who are leading IfATE’s contribution to ensuring technical qualifications meet the needs of learners and employers.
Working across the breadth of its remit, you will assist the team with administration duties, stakeholder communication, data insight and reporting, project monitoring as well as taking on ad-hoc projects as needs arise. Your contribution will add value to the team by ensuring that the workstreams embedded in the overall policy objective are planned, monitored, managed, and delivered effectively.
Essential Criteria
- Excellent ability to multitask and prioritise work activities across a range of workstreams to tight deadline
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, can share ideas and information in an accessible way and accurately identify issues which need escalation or collaboration.
- Excellent ability to analyse and collate information and make judgements on escalation.
- An understanding of programme and project management tools.
- Knowledge of Office 365, including intermediate Microsoft Excel and an ability to work with data.
Desirable Criteria
- An understanding of the Technical Education landscape.
Desirable criteria will only be assessed in the event of a tie between candidates.
Working flexibly is important to the success of the IfATE, and while you will have specific responsibilities as set out above, you will be part of a ‘one team’ approach and may be asked to be involved in a range of other activities. As new areas of work progress, you may be asked to move between teams to deliver the Institute’s key priorities.
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 Institute's transfer / promotion policies.
As a member of the Institute, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, with an average employer contribution of 27%, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your: Experience
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and statement of suitability (max 750 words) set against the essential criteria.
These will be assessed at sift stage. If we receive high volumes of applications, we will sift only on the first essential criteria, so please ensure that the first 150-200 words of your statement are aligned to this criterion.
The interview will involve a discussion around experience based on the adverts’ criteria, your CV, and your statement.
Interviews will take place remotely at a time and date to be confirmed.
Candidates eligible for the Disability Confident Scheme will be invited to interview if they meet the minimum criteria at sift. If there are any questions about the scheme, please contact the recruiting manager whose contact information is detailed in the advert.
Further Information
A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.
Any move to IFATE 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.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
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 Government Recruitment Service via [email protected] 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 you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
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 feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the values in the Civil Service Code and/or if you feel the recruitment has been conducted in such a way that conflicts with the Civil Service Commissioners Recruitment Principles, you may make a complaint, by contacting the Central Recruitment Team at the following address [email protected]
If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint you have the right to complain to the Civil Service Commissioners
