About the job

Job summary

Working at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)

DWP is an amazing place to work. DWP works on some of the most important and exciting policies in government. We are proud of our work and want to offer applicants the opportunity to get involved in our ambitious agenda to improve outcomes for millions of citizens in the UK; throughout their lives, in the workplace, and in retirement.

From the design and development of policies to the delivery of services supporting work, welfare, pensions and child maintenance, DWP is the Government’s largest department. Almost every individual in the UK is a direct customer of DWP at some point in their lives. DWP’s mission is to improve people’s quality of life, both now and in the future. We do that by focusing on delivering excellent services that make a difference to millions of people. We trust and empower our people to deliver these services to customers every day, including the most vulnerable in society.

We offer attractive long term career opportunities and personal development. We also offer a range of unrivalled employee benefits (see below) whilst promoting a supportive and engaging working environment.

DWP Commercial Directorate (CD) Employment Category

If you like to be challenged, you’ll feel at home with us in DWP Commercial Directorate as we’re one of the largest Government Commercial functions, with stretching challenges and a real opportunity to make a difference to the lives of our customers.

The Employment Category works with key stakeholders across DWP and wider government to design and deliver services to support some of DWP’s key policies and organisational priorities. Our mission is to support those who are long term unemployed and support people with long term barriers and health conditions to get back into or to stay in employment.

We have opportunities for people with excellent organisational and communication skills, to join our Employment Category team. We’re learning and changing, and we need innovative, curious, and determined people to keep us moving forward. If you are passionate, proactive, and can take ownership, we want to hear from you!

Job description

The post of EO Commercial Support is a pivotal part of the team's support function, offering a unique opportunity to gain valuable experience supporting activity across the commercial lifecycle, including procurements, contract management and implementation of contracts providing vital services to the public.

Working within the Employment Category in the London based In-Work Support team, the Commercial Support performs an essential role on a variety of Projects and team activities. By working closely with an experienced team and a variety of stakeholders, the role supports business, strategic and commercial operations, compiling information to help the team make informed decisions. 

The job is challenging, requires pro-active and innovative thinking, good communication skills and an outgoing and enthusiastic approach to challenges and personal development. An ideal for any pro-active and innovative thinkers, with good communication skills and an outgoing and enthusiastic approach to challenges. This role offers a unique opportunity to gain valuable experience supporting activity across the commercial lifecycle, including procurements, contract management and implementation of public contracts that provide vital services to the public.

Person specification

The roles and responsibilities for this position include, but are not restricted to:

• Gather and analyse data to support reporting and decision-making.
• Effective communication and engagement with colleagues, customers, key stakeholders and suppliers.
• Support the implementation of new procedures, processes and systems.
• Support implementation of change and, where appropriate, influence colleagues and customers by demonstrating a proactive and positive attitude to change.
• Proactively seek information and support from others outside own immediate team to help achieve results.
• Support Contract Management and Procurement activity, developing an aptitude in using eProcurement and Contract Management tools and software.
• Provide effective input and support in the delivery of commercial activities including market engagement, sourcing, procurement, implementation, governance, contract management and risk management.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS                                                                                 

The application process will involve providing a CV and personal statement. Successful candidates for this role must be able to demonstrate the following essential skills throughout the selection process: Further information under ‘Application process’.

• Ability to efficiently manage competing priorities against demanding timelines, whilst maintaining focus and attention to detail. (Lead Essential Skill)
• Good communication and influencing skills across a wide range of stakeholders.
• Proven experience of reviewing and improving existing processes and implementing new products or procedures.
• Working effectively to complete tasks as part of a team, taking direction, working together and providing feedback to colleagues.

Benefits

Pay, benefits and culture 

If successful you will join us in our brilliant DWP hub location of Caxton House, London.

Our team loves the ability to balance their life and their work, with flexible hours, flex-friendly, hybrid working (some time in the office, some time at home) and lots more. Flexi-time policy means that at those times when you might need to work longer to get the job done, you build up flexi-credits that you can use to start later or finish earlier or take extra days off.  

Our teams are friendly and supportive – the work we do is important, but your life, health and happiness come first.  

In return for your skills, we offer salary of £33,979 p.a (London only), an attractive Civil Service pension with employer contributions of over 28% into a defined benefit pension scheme and a generous leave package of 23 Days, rising to 30 Days over time. 

• Annual Leave of 23 days, increasing to 25 days after one year's service, rising up to 30 days, plus all Bank Holidays.

We also have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:

• Flexible working and family friendly policies.
• Volunteering and charitable giving.
• Discounts and savings on shopping, fun days out and more.
• Interest-free loans to buy a bike or a season ticket, so it’s even easier for you to get to work and start making a difference.
• Sports and social activities.
• Learning and development, including coaching, mentoring, progression opportunities and guaranteed 5-days formal learning per year.
• And lots more.

CLICK APPLY for further information and to start an application on Civil Service Jobs.

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.

Please apply on the Civil Service Jobs website. As part of the application process you will be asked to:

• Provide personal information.
• Enter your CV in the space provided, setting out your employment history.
• Complete a personal statement (maximum of 1250 words) which should demonstrate how you meet all the essential skills as set out in the job description.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Stage 1 assessment - Sift

At sift, we will assess your application by using your CV and personal statement only. To be successful, you must demonstrate your experience matching ALL of the Essential Skills listed in the job advert above.

In the event of a high volume of applications it may be necessary to undertake an initial sift on the lead essential skill before moving to a full sift. If so, we will sift on:   

Ability to efficiently manage competing priorities against demanding timelines, whilst maintaining focus and attention to detail, ensuring accuracy in the end goal/result

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to an interview

Please note that you are not required to produce behaviour-based examples in the content of your CV or personal statement.

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed. 

Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.

Stage 2 Assessment - Interview

If you are successful at the sift stage, you will be invited to a video interview using MS Teams, where you shall be assessed on the Behaviours listed below as well as Experience based questioning.

Interview Assessment Elements (Success Profiles):

We will assess the following Behaviours at interview;

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Developing Self and Others

Prior to interview:

Once you have received notification of success at the sift stage, it is important that you download Microsoft Teams to either a laptop, tablet or personal computer.

You will need to select a date and time for your video interview from an online list. Providing you have already supplied your personal email address, you will then receive an invitation for your selected date and time, along with a link to the Microsoft Teams interview session. Prior to your interview you will be required to provide copies of relevant documents to confirm your identity. These documents should either be scanned, or photographed using a smart phone, and emailed to the person issuing the invitation to interview, no later than 24hrs before your interview. Further instructions will be provided in the interview invitation.

Indicative Timeline:

Please note that the following dates are only indicative at this stage and could be subject to change. If you are unable to meet these time frames, please let us know in your application.

• Sifting Panel: to commence from w/c 29th July 2024
• Final Panel Interviews: to commence from w/c 19th August 2024
  

Further Information

Find out more about Working for DWP

A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to DWP 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 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.

Before applying for this vacancy, current employees of DWP should check whether a successful application would result in changes to their terms & conditions of employment, e.g. mobility, pay, allowances. Civil Servants that would transfer into DWP from other government organisations, following successful application, will assume DWP's terms & conditions of employment current on the day they are posted, unless DWP has stated otherwise in writing.

The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. Applications will be screened and if evidence of plagiarism or copying examples/answers from other sources is found, your application will be withdrawn. Internal DWP candidates may also face disciplinary action.

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

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.