About the job

Job summary

The Government Commercial Function Assessment and Development Manager is central to the programme of work to improve commercial and contract management capability across government and the wider public sector. The Assessment and Development Centre (ADC) is used by a range of customer organisations to benchmark commercial and contract management capability against a framework. ADC outcomes can influence hiring decisions and support talent development activities, as well as a range of other objectives.

We are looking for an Assessment and Development Manager who will not only take the lead on successful delivery of the ADC day and subsequent completion of post-ADC activities, but will also work on a number of initiatives and projects to drive continuous improvement of the programme. The ADC is digital by default and delivered using a video conferencing platform. Whilst the ADC structure and mode of delivery is well established, there will be the opportunity to get involved in a range of continuous improvement projects and activities.

Job description

Key Accountabilities: 

• Oversee the ADC day to ensure assessors are following best practice and to ensure candidates have a positive experience.  
• Manage the effective running of the moderation meeting at the end of each ADC day, to bolster accurate results and good quality feedback reports. 
• Ensuring that the feedback reports are an accurate reflection of performance, are of high quality and are produced in a timely manner (within specific SLAs). 
• Liaising with stakeholders including participants, line managers, hiring managers to provide additional context and insight into the process, outcome and feedback report. 
• Work on a range of initiatives and projects to drive the continuous improvement of the ADC.
• Assist in a number of ad hoc events, participant briefings and masterclasses for  participants due to attend the ADC or those undertaking a resit. 
• Support with the delivery of training and provide guidance to new assessors joining the programme. 
• Supporting participants to prepare for panel reviews as and when required.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Detailed knowledge and experience of assessment.
• Experience of effectively designing assessment processes and delivering assessment and development centres.
• Ability to flex communications style, proving constructive feedback to participants and assessors at different levels and at different stages of their career, 
• Being self-assured yet empathetic when dealing with customers, holding robust conversations where necessary. 
• Working with senior stakeholders - being able to use assessment knowledge and experience to influence effectively. 
• Excellent attention to detail in both team environments and in written reports and communication. 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £53,400, Cabinet Office contributes £14,418 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

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a personal statement and behavioural statements. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Please use your personal statement (in no more than 550 words) to explain how you meet the essential criteria experience listed under the person specification.

Applications will be sifted on the CV, behavioural statements and the personal statement.

In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on cv, personal statement and lead behaviour of Changing & Improving. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

The interview will consist of behaviour questions.

Interviewees will also be asked to conduct a role play exercise; further details will be provided nearer the time.

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift outcome date – 17th December
Expected interview date/s – Week of 7th January
Interview location - Virtual

Reasonable adjustments

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 cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk 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 an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Further information

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'contact point for applicants' section.

Please note that this role requires CTC clearance, which would normally need 3 years’ UK residency in the past 3 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter 

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

Any move to Cabinet Office 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.

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.

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 /Disclosure Scotland 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 Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

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.

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.