About the job

Job summary

In DHSC, we are proud of our purpose – to enable everyone to live more independent, healthier lives for longer. To achieve this, and create a great place to work, we have four values: we are inclusive, we constantly improve, we challenge, and we are agile. If this sounds like an environment you’d like to work in, we’d love to hear from you.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) helps people live more independent, healthier lives for longer. We lead, shape and fund health and social care in England, making sure people have the support, care, and treatment they need, with the compassion, respect, and dignity they deserve. 

Workspace, Information, Security & Technology (WIST) Directorate sits within DHSC Finance and Group Operations, responsible for ensuring the department manages its money efficiently, including the funding of the NHS.

WIST is an evolving Directorate in DHSC. We provide high-quality workplaces, efficient and innovative technology solutions, and effective information risk management, to enable people to work safely and securely.

WIST works to ensure information and data are used effectively and lawfully, records and information are kept safe and secure, information and data is shared responsibly, technology is fit for purpose enabling collaboration and productivity, work locations are suitable to maximise productivity and are a safe place for staff to work.

Job description

The Business Management Lead is a pivotal role within WIST and requires an individual who is flexible and can adapt quickly to change. You will be responsible for providing business management services, such as governance processes, budget-setting, reporting, secretariat, communications, planning, recruitment, and resource management.

This is a senior position within the directorate and will involve regular engagement with our Director and Deputy Directors and key stakeholders across the department. WIST’s Business Management Lead has the responsibility for informing, driving, and supporting IRMAs business delivery through our technical teams to deliver world class information and risk management support services to teams across the Department of Health and Social Care, its ALBs and EAs.

In addition to business and management planning, you will oversee monitoring of WISTs progress against key performance indicators. You will have oversight and reporting responsibility of WISTs risk register. You will be a role model for governance, culture behaviours and encourage the team to work proactively as a group, whilst bringing your project skills and experience to ensure co-ordination of all WIST activities. You’ll enjoy complexity and challenge whilst appreciating working with data as well as engaging a wide range of stakeholders.

Person specification

The role includes:

Owning and delivering co-ordination of management and business information across the directorate providing key insights, updates and analysis for all teams within the directorate for DHSC on Workspace, Information, Security & Technology Directorate

Leading delivery and regular tracking of WISTs strategic management reporting and accompanying information sets including:

WISTs strategic risk register, tracking and mitigations,

WISTs and wider departmental procedures, standards, notices, and guidelines,

WISTs reporting into the Second Permanent Secretary and DHSC Executive Committee

Directorate, ALB and EA compliance tracking and annual review status

Development and delivery of WISTs communications and engagement strategy

Ownership of WISTs roadmap with accompanying delivery plans, regular milestone progress tracking and trend analysis

Support the wider business planning and demand forecasting processes in partnership with Finance, Business operations, HR, Recruitment, Engagement and Talent

Ownership and escalation of priorities, performance, interdependencies, emerging trends, risks to the Director and SLT to support informing business planning decisions.

Supporting WISTs Directorate reputation for being a great place to work with great people, skills, and expertise.

Budget management, working collaboratively with Budget Holders and Finance. Ensure a robust process is in place with appropriate planning and reporting tools for aligning business plans with financial plans.

 

The successful applicant will be highly motivated, organised, analytical, a good ‘problem solver’ and able to manage multiple demands and deadlines. A high level of engagement, flexibility and energy is necessary for this role.

We’re building a team which works inclusively and collaboratively across the department. If successful, you’ll provide business management within the directorate. You’ll contribute to and deliver our strategy and vision including, medium to long term business planning, resources, pipelines, and budgets - ensuring that directorate colleagues and the wider health and social care community are kept informed. 

Key Skills and Experience Required for the Role.

Essential Skills and Knowledge:

• Demonstrable evidence of having worked in business management or project and change roles – including staff management, recruitment, communications planning, reporting, risk, assumption, issue and dependency management.
• Have experience working with and managing data, delivery of business performance reporting, able to explain complex data/information simply and identify emerging trends and issues.
• Experience of leading and developing teams. Inclusive and corporate leadership is essential to ensure that the directorate is a great place to work which attracts the best data and information professionals.
• Experience of working in a fast-paced, change or project environment with shifting priorities.
• Experience of managing budgets, forecasting, and tracking of spend.

Desirable Skills and Experience:

• Project management and delivery including governance boards.
• Answering parliamentary questions and FOI requests.
• Experience leading recruitment campaigns in complex organisations

Your normal place of work will be your contractual primary workplace, usually either London or Leeds.  Within DHSC we offer non-contractual hybrid working. The expectation at present is a minimum of 60% of your working time spent in the office, enabling in person interaction and collaboration and enhancing team working, learning, and support. 

You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas and some travel may be required across the DHSC estate. 

Opportunities for some working from home may be available; other flexible working options may be discussed with the hiring manager in line with individual circumstances and business need. 

There are a limited number of DHSC colleagues who have existing agreed homeworking contracts resulting from Our Future Estate Programme 2023-2024. Colleagues covered by these arrangements are eligible to apply for this role whilst continuing their agreed existing home working arrangement. Occasional travel to DHSC offices or other locations may still be required according to business need. Travel and subsistence will be provided in line with the pre-agreed homeworker arrangements

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £53,116, Department of Health and Social Care contributes £14,341 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, Strengths and Experience.

Sift date:  W/C 8/4/24

Interview date: expected W/C 22/4/24

Interview location: By video

The available interview slots will be released with the sift scores. 

Applications will be sifted on Behaviours and Statement of Suitability.

Please use your statement of suitability to (in no more than 500 words) outline how you meet the key skills and experience required for the role as set out in the job advert. 

An initial sift based on Lead Behaviour : Leadership may be held if a large number of applications are received. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview. 

At interview candidates will be assessed on Behaviours and Strengths.

To find out more about working in the department please visit our page on the Civil Service Careers Website here 

Applicants who are appointable but were not successful in appointment to this vacancy, may be held on a reserve list for up to 12 months, and contacted if similar vacancies become available. 

Please be aware that some travel may be required across the DHSC estate. 

Please note that applicants will require BPSS clearance.

Further Information

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

Any move to DHSC 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

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 dhscrecruitment.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 interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional. 

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 Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk 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.

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

This role is being advertised on a permanent basis. If preferable, Loan or Secondment options will also be available for existing Civil Servants (Loan) and applicants from accredited NDPBs or any other employer (Secondment). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis 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.

Terms and Conditions

Candidates should note that DHSC’s Terms and Conditions of employment changed from 1 October 2013. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the terms and conditions they will adopt should they be successful. 

New Entrants to the Civil Service

New entrants appointed in grades AA to G6 will receive DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions:

• Annual Leave: 25 days on entry rising by one day for each completed year of service to a maximum of 30 days and pro-rata for part-time staff
• Privilege Leave: 1 day - for the King’s birthday
• Hours of Work: 37 hours (net) per week for full time staff in all geographical locations, including London and pro rata for part-time staff
• Occupational Sick Pay (OSP): one month full pay/one month half pay on entry, rising by one month for each completed year of service to a maximum of five months’ full pay and five months’ half pay
• Mobility: Mobility clause in contracts allow staff to be mobile across the Civil Service
• Probation: 6 month probation period

Existing Civil Service staff transferring from another Government department, on either level transfer or promotion

All staff moving to DHSC will transfer onto DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions (as outlined above). 

Existing DHSC staff, appointed on either level transfer or promotion

If DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions are already held, the employee will retain those terms and conditions. If DHSC’s pre-modernised terms and conditions are held, the employee will transfer onto DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions (as outlined above).

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. 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.