About the job

Job summary

This is an exciting time to join the Private Rented Sector (PRS) divisions in DLUHC as we complete passage of the Renters (Reform) Bill and begin to implement the biggest changes to the PRS in over 30 years.

This work is challenging and complex – our reforms will change the way tenancies are managed; deliver a new Ombudsman for the sector; apply a Decent Homes Standard to the PRS for the first time; outlaw discrimination against families and people who receive welfare benefits; and introduce a new Private Registered Property Portal. Getting the delivery of this work right will be critical to the lives of everyone who lives and works in the Private Rented Sector.

Following well-deserved promotions, we are looking for two energetic, high performing team members to join our Strategy and Implementation team to help lead this work. You will be part of a friendly and inclusive team with a supportive culture which promotes learning and development, health and wellbeing and a healthy work-life balance.

We particularly welcome candidates from an ethnic minority background and other underrepresented groups to apply, as we work to continually improve our ability to represent the places and communities we support through our work.

Strategy and Affordability Lead

We are looking for an experienced strategy/policy professional with strong stakeholder engagement and people management skills who enjoys working on cross-cutting, high-profile issues. You will lead a small team and work closely with analysts and other strategy and policy leads across housing – drawing on your excellent relationship building skills and ability to see the bigger picture.

Communications, Stakeholder Engagement, Guidance, and Briefing Lead

We are looking for a highly organised and effective communicator who enjoys translating complex ideas into easy-to-understand messaging. You will lead a small team to work closely with policy colleagues, external stakeholders, and communications professionals to develop and deliver a coherent communications and engagement strategy to support Renters (Reform) Bill implementation, including a full refresh of our guidance offer, while leading on briefings and correspondence function.

Job description

Affordability and Strategy Lead - Your responsibilities will include leading a small team to:

• Develop and deliver our policy work on supply and affordability in the Private Rented Sector, working closely with analysts to commission work where appropriate
• Identify policy options and solutions to access barriers in the PRS
• Develop clear narratives on how a strong Private Rented Sector tenure contributes to wider government ambition for the housing sector, and options for further work
• Lead and coordinate work across the two Private Rented Sector divisions and with central strategy and finance colleagues on fiscal events
• Oversee the delivery of a high volume of PQs, correspondence and other ministerial interests on affordability and supply in the PRS
• Support the G6 to maintain a friendly, high performing team culture where everyone is encouraged to contribute and make their voices heard

Communications, Guidance and Briefings lead - Your responsibilities will include leading a small team to:

• Develop and lead a communications campaign in conjunction with communications specialists to prepare the sector for change.
• Oversee all work designed to communicate policy changes to people living and working in the PRS sector, making sure they are prepared for this change and helping them to understand their rights and responsibilities
• Co-ordinate and drive forward a division-wide project to overhaul guidance so that tenants, landlords and local authorities understand the new reforms.
• Manage our contractor relationship with external digital providers and our relationships with Government Digital Service and internal Ecomms colleagues
• Build understanding of the stakeholder landscape, managing relationships with key sector bodies and gathering intelligence to feed into current and future engagement strategies
• Co-ordinate briefing for Ministers and senior officials to support parliamentary activity, conferences, events, meetings and visits
• Oversee the correspondence team to ensure we communicate our policies effectively to MPs and the public and meet deadlines
• Support the G6 to maintain a friendly, High performing team culture where everyone is encouraged to contribute and make their voices heard. 

Person specification

Affordability and Strategy Lead  

 Person Specification

• You are a strategic thinker who enjoys making sense of complex and conflicting evidence to create clear narratives
• You are an effective and persuasive communicator with strong written and presentational skills
• You are comfortable working independently, leading across your programme of work and communicating clearly and persuasively on strategy and policy issues, including to senior colleagues in the team and beyond
• You will be comfortable working at pace and responding flexibly to change, but also able to plan and support the business to deliver regular tasks
• You possess strong organisational skills and the ability to develop medium to longer term thinking and plans.
• You respond positively and quickly to urgent and/or unexpected developments

Communications, Guidance and Briefings lead

Person specification

• You will have experience of leading on stakeholder engagement with a range of diverse stakeholders and experience in developing and successfully implementing stakeholder engagement plans
• You are adept at building open and honest relationships with numerous different stakeholders across the programme, enabling you to challenge and negotiate appropriately whilst maintaining collaborative working
• You are an effective and persuasive communicator with strong written and presentational skills
• You are comfortable working independently, leading across the programme and communicating clearly and persuasively on stakeholder engagement, including to senior colleagues in the team and beyond
• You will be comfortable working at pace and responding flexibly to change, but also able to plan and support the business to deliver regular tasks
• You possess strong organisational skills and the ability to plan for future requirements
• You are able to respond positively and quickly to urgent and/or unexpected developments
• You will have personal impact and the ability to get to grips with complex and sensitive issues

Candidates will be assessed for both roles, but will be asked to confirm their role preference as part of the application process.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £51,934, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities contributes £14,022 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

We are for everyone  

At DLUHC we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce. We promote equality of opportunity in all aspects of employment and a working environment free from discrimination, harassment, bullying and victimisation.  

We would strongly recommend that applicants get in touch with the vacancy manager to find out more information about this role.  

As part of our pre-employment checking process we will be using your CV to confirm your job history. Please note that by providing us with your CV you are consenting to us using the information enclosed as part of the checking process.  

We are for everyone  

CV and Cover Letter Declaration 

We recruit based on your knowledge and skills, and not background, gender or ethnicity - this is called name blind recruitment. 

Please remove references to your: 

• name/title
• educational institutions
• age
• gender
• email address
• postal address
• phone number
• nationality/immigration status

 

You will need to merge your CV and covering letter into one document. When submitting your application Applied will ask you to upload a CV, when doing this you should upload your merged document of your CV and covering letter. 

 

Most of our campaigns utilise multiple assessors and so it is possible that your application would be viewed by different assessors. 

 

At sift, through your CV and covering letter we will be assessing: 

Experience 

Your covering letter should be no more than 750 words referencing in further detail why you believe your skills and experience make you a suitable fit for these roles 

 

The interview will be of a blended nature consisting of  behaviour and strength based questions as listed in the advert. The strength based questions will require natural responses from the candidates.  

Candidates invited to interview will be asked to prepare a five minute presentation as part of the interview process which will test the communicating and influencing behaviour. Further details will be provided following sift stage.

 

In full the campaign will test the below Success Profile Elements: 

Experience: Yes

Strength: Yes 

Behaviours: Seeing The Big Picture, Leadership, Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at pace

 

We do not consider direct CV applications – you must apply for this role via the application link on Civil Service Jobs: 

Please note that near miss offers may be made at the lower grade to candidates who do not meet the grade criteria for this campaign 

Grade 7 salary 

• The salary for this role is £57,091 (London) or £51,934 (National). 
• For existing civil servants, the usual policy on level transfer and promotion will apply and is non-negotiable. If you apply for a role that requires a transfer of location, for example if you are transferring from London to a National location, your salary will be adjusted in accordance with our policy on transfer between HQ pay ranges. 

 
Please note that the average employer pension contribution is based upon the National minimum salary for this role. Should your agreed starting salary for this role be different, the average employer pension contribution will be calculated accordingly. If you are a Secondee, this will not apply as you will remain on your home organisation’s terms and conditions.   

 

BENEFITS: 

Transfers across the Civil Service on or after 4 October 2018: 
Any move to DLUHC 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 

For further information about the benefits available to DLUHC employees, please see the attached Candidate Pack. 

  

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION: 

• Leeds
• Manchester
• London
• Bristol
• Darlington*
• Wolverhampton 

 

There may be opportunities for candidates to work flexibly depending on the business needs. This will be discussed with the vacancy manager on a case-by-case basis if you are successful for the role. 

*Please note: The Darlington Economic Campus (DEC) is a pioneering new cross-government hub which will bring together people across departments and public organisations to play an active role in the most important economic issues of the day. The work of the Campus will make a real difference to people both across the UK and internationally. There will be substantial career opportunities and exciting prospects - a career at the Campus means you will be working at the heart of Government, with access to the benefits and fantastic opportunities offered by the civil service.  

For further information on the DEC, please take a look at the attached DEC candidate pack.  

 

SIFT AND INTERVIEW DATES: 

Sifting is envisaged to take place starting 28/5/2024 with interview dates to be confirmed. All interviews are currently being held remotely via videocall. 

Reserve List 

In the event that we identify more appointable candidates than we currently have posts available, we will hold applicant details in a reserve list for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made. This may include roles at a lower grade. Candidates placed on a reserve list will be informed of this. Those candidates who do not wish to remain on the reserve list should contact recruitment@levellingup.gov.uk to be removed from the reserve list. 

 

CTC (Counter-terrorism Clearance): 

Important note 

 
Successful candidates for roles based in our 2 Marsham Street building must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check and the process can take up to 8 weeks to complete. 
 
Please note that successful candidates will need to pass the CTC security checks – this requires you to have been resident in the UK for the past 3 years. Please refer to the DLUHC Notes on Security Clearance section of our Candidate Pack for further information on Counter Terrorism Clearance (CTC). Thank you. 
 
Candidates should also note that with effect from 1st August 2018 the department will also check all applicants who are successful at interview, against the Internal Fraud Database (IFD) held by the Cabinet Office. In accordance with the Civil Service Internal Fraud Policy, any applicant who is included on the IFD will be refused employment by DLUHC. Please see the Candidate Pack for further information on the Internal Fraud Database. 

Candidate Pack Information 

Please see attached Candidate pack for further information. 

Before starting your application it’s very important to make sure that you are eligible to apply and meet the Civil Service nationality requirements. All candidates are expected to read the information provided in the DLUHC candidate pack regarding nationality requirements and rules 

 

Internal Fraud Database 

The Internal Fraud function of the Fraud, Error, Debt and Grants Function at the Cabinet Office processes details of civil servants who have been dismissed for committing internal fraud, or who would have been dismissed had they not resigned. The Cabinet Office receives the details from participating government organisations of civil servants who have been dismissed, or who would have been dismissed had they not resigned, for internal fraud. In instances such as this, civil servants are then banned for 5 years from further employment in the civil service. The Cabinet Office then processes this data and discloses a limited dataset back to DLUHC as a participating government organisations. DLUHC then carry out the pre employment checks so as to detect instances where known fraudsters are attempting to reapply for roles in the civil service. In this way, the policy is ensured and the repetition of internal fraud is prevented.  

For more information please see- Internal Fraud Register 

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

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). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.