About the job

Job summary

The Government People Group (GPG) exists to work with departments, professions, and functions to build a modern, effective Civil Service.

We support the government workforce with the right skills and capability. We are working with leaders to get the right people in the right jobs, with the right skills and continuous learning to excel in their roles.

We provide leadership, and in turn, create leaders with exceptional line management capability across departments, influencing partners in the wider public sector and beyond. This involves getting our retention and reward strategy right, to nurture specific skills, and create pride and resilience in our workforce.

Our role is also to provide system leadership across central government in pulling together back office services. Collectively, we help support the Cabinet Office’s priority to drive efficiencies, and reforms that will make government work better, to ultimately provide a better service to the public.

The role available sits within GPG Platforms, Data and Interoperability (PD&I) directorate. It  provides first-class platforms and services for over 400,000 civil servants, including recruitment, data analysis, skills, insight and learning solutions. We have a responsibility for the operation and modernisation of Civil Service digital and data platforms.

You will be based within the Data and Insight team, who have developed a data platform and are the lead analytical unit in GPG. Across our newly created team we provide a range of insight and data services which drive value for a range of internal clients e.g. objective and high-quality data analytics, statistical reporting and operational research to support senior leaders. Our services  enable users to understand and tackle complex problems, increase operational effectiveness and develop their organisational strategy.

Job description

We are looking for a Business Support Officer to join our Data and Insights team, who will support the Data Services programme (such as the triage process responsibility), and be part of a Data Migration Project team. Overall, this role is providing support to the team with dealing with new enquiries, liaising with customers, developing and maintaining management information systems, coordinating and planning activities for the team.

The successful candidate will be reporting to the Programme Delivery Manager, the role of Business Support Officer will have the following set of responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Initial Triage Process: Manage the initial triaging process for all tasks received through the Front Door, including: reviewing requests for completeness and relevance; liaising with customers if further information is required; requesting, accepting and adding requests to the tasking backlog for further scoping and prioritisation. Support triage meetings and allocate tasks to appropriate team member(s).
• Customer Relationship Management: Manage shared mailbox and support the communication with customers, answer customer queries and liaise with internal teams as required. Ensuring high standards of customer care always.
• Project Support: Ensure that systems procedures and processes are fully documented and kept up to date for the Data Migration project and Data Services Programme. Monitor processes, projects and milestones to ensure that actions taken are appropriately logged and tracked.
• Invoice Management: Manage and prepare invoice requests, maintain accurate invoicing records, ensure clear audit trail and work with Finance and departments to obtain relevant information
• System Management: Oversee the day to day management of platform administration support for our digital services. Includes responding to access queries, adding new users, and changing dashboard permissions.
• MI Data Requests: Collating and preparing MI in response to ad hoc requests. Able to produce, interpret and manipulate data sets, and analyse and summarise key findings, tailoring reports to suit the needs of various audiences. Assist in the identification, evaluation and tracking of business benefits.
• Support Onboarding: Prepare and support induction materials for new starters and contractors joining the Data and Insight Team.
• Planning & Engagement Activities: Provide administration support to the team by assisting in the preparation of workshops, team away days, stakeholder, and community meet ups. Supporting meetings as appropriate through recording, distribution and monitoring of minutes and actions.

This list is not exhaustive, you may be required to carry out additional duties according to business needs.

Person specification

As an enthusiastic and self-motivated Business Support Officer you will provide business support for the team in a wide ranging role bringing your own ideas and experience. Identifying ways to innovate and improve existing processes for us to be more effective and efficient.

You will have experience of working successfully in a complex organisation with good written and verbal communication skills whilst forging effective relationships with both stakeholders. You will be successful at prioritising, planning and are results-driven, whilst demonstrating the ability to work on unrelated problems simultaneously.

Essential Criteria:

• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Good analytical and problem solving skills.
• Possession of excellent IT skills and ability to use digital tools.
• Strong verbal and written communications skills.
• Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills and an ability to work to deadlines and manage time and resources effectively.
• Take responsibility for tasks to completion, proactively looking to improve.
  
  

You must be able to demonstrate the ability to:

• adapt to frequently changing priorities.
• remain focused on tasks.
• work autonomously when required.

Desirable Criteria:

• Previous experience in a business support role.
• Experience of google applications (google mail, drive, documents).
• Knowledge of Agile working practices.
• Experience of working with finance.
• Project management experience.
• Previous experience of working in a data or analytical team would be advantageous.

We are not looking for a perfect candidate, we are looking for someone proactive and innovative with a willingness to learn and develop their skills and improve business processes.

Additional information:

A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £35,400, Cabinet Office contributes £9,558 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, Ability and Experience.

Stage 1 - Online Tests

After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Verbal Test, Civil Service Work Strengths Test and a Civil Service Numerical Test. If you successfully pass the tests, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application. 

Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 23:55 on 31st May. If you fail to complete the online tests before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the tests will be available when you are invited to take the tests. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.

Stage 2 - Application Stage

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:

1. A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements.
2. A Personal Statement against the skills and experience (maximum 500 words).

Your CV and Personal Statement are your opportunities to show us how your experience means that you meet the criteria for this role. Your CV should cover your skills, qualifications, job history, and achievements to date and your Personal Statement is the chance to further expand on this and give specific examples of where you have demonstrated the desired skills. Giving examples rather than just saying you're experienced with a certain requirement will strengthen your statement and enable the sift panel to understand more about your suitability for the role.

Stage 3 - Video Interview

If successful at the application stage, candidates will be invited for an interview. During the interview, you will be assessed on the Behaviours for the role as stated below. You will be expected to give clear examples of previous experience relating to these Behaviours.  Interviews will be conducted virtually and further information about the interview process will be provided if you are selected for an interview

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together

Expected timeline:
Expected Sift date/s: W/C 03rd June
Expected interview date/s: W/C 17th June
Interview location: Online

Further Information

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

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

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 or 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.

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

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

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.