About the job

Job summary

The Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA), based in the Cabinet Office, was created in 2019 to lead the cross-government delivery of the Strategy for our Veterans, to develop future iterations of that strategy, and to provide leadership, advocacy and improved coordination of veterans’ issues across government. The aim of the OVA is to realise the Government’s ambitious strategic vision, to make the UK the best country in the world to be a veteran.

There are around 2 million veterans in the UK and 15,000 people leaving the Armed Forces every year. The government wants to ensure that every single veteran has the opportunity to move successfully into civilian life and can access the help they need to do so. The community of veterans and their families is diverse and varied in the support people need, with the work of the OVA spanning issues including housing, health and wellbeing, employment, diversity and inclusion, historical legacy issues, finance, criminal justice and societal recognition of the value of service in the Armed Forces.

This is an exciting opportunity to join an evolving team putting data at the heart of the veteran’s agenda. This role is in the OVA Data Team, on the Strategy, Planning, Evidence and Data (SPED) side of the OVA. The SPED side is responsible for providing an evidence base to the OVA Policy and Communications Side, across government and the wider service and research communities as they go about their work to discover, develop and deliver interventions and services. 

The successful applicant will ensure OVA has a good data management foundation to achieve its aspiration in becoming the centre of excellence in veteran data. The successful applicant will also lead on OVA’s data collection and reporting procedures to ensure OVA can provide accurate and timely data and information with a broad range of stakeholders across the government, charity and research sectors. 

The successful applicant will be required to build good relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, work at pace, and be able to cover a diverse range of work. The role holder will collaborate within the Data, Research and Strategy Team and also with colleagues in the OVA’s Policy Team, Governance & Legislation and Communications Team.

Job description

We are looking for an enthusiastic person with a DDaT (Digital, Data and Technology) background to join the Data Team at the OVA. The successful candidate will be required to lead on OVA’s data management functionalities by working closely with Cabinet Office Digital while it delivers an overarching data strategy across the Cabinet Office. The successful candidate will also work closely with a broad range of data stakeholders across the government, charity and research academic sectors to establish and deliver (1) efficient data collection from relevant stakeholders while OVA grows its data asset over time and (2) effective data reporting approaches that will keep relevant stakeholders updated with timely and accurate data and information. Last but not least, the role will ensure OVA’s key data operational functions (including management of veteran contact data) are delivered in time with good standards.

 The role requires someone who can lead on projects collaboratively and independently while line managing a HEO data officer. The successful candidate will have knowledge or past experience in data management and has interest in developing data collection and data reporting procedures. The role holder will be required to work collaboratively with a broad range of stakeholders and is able to build and maintain a good working relationship with them. The role will suit someone who is capable of juggling multiple work that may have different focuses at the same time. The role holder will have the opportunity to work with different teams in the Office for Veterans' Affairs to develop new skills and experience. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop OVA’s data management functionalities by working closely with Cabinet Office Digital
• Develop and implement efficient procedures to collect data from key stakeholders across the government, charity and research academic sectors
• Develop and implement effective data reporting approaches (including the usage of gov.uk websites) to provide timely and accurate data and information with relevant data stakeholders 
• Ensure data held by the OVA is maintained at a good standard
• Ensure ministerial briefings, official communications and other key official documents are provided with accurate and timely data
• Establish new and maintain existing working relationship with data stakeholders across the govt, charity and research sectors
• Line manage one data officer (HEO grade)

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

• Experience in data management
• Excellent attention to detail - ensure data used for supporting official documents are timely and accurate
• Experience in data collection and reporting
• Project management - ability to deliver at pace and be able to prioritise work
• Good collaboration skills
• Good communication skills both oral and written
• Good interpersonal skills for developing and maintaining positive working relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, both internally and externally

Desirable Criteria:

• Previous experience in using data to support policy and comms functions
• Line management experience

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 £40,850, Cabinet Office contributes £11,030 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.

Application process

As part of your application you will be asked to provide a name-blind CV detailing your job history and qualifications, 500 word Personal Statement and 250-word statements on two behaviours (Managing a Quality Service and Delivering at Pace). Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

The Personal Statement should outline your suitability for this job role. Please pay particular attention to the person specification when writing your statement. This section will be used for the sift to assess your suitability to be invited to an interview. You do not have to refer to the Behaviours element in your statement. 

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour, Managing a Quality Service. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Selection process

During the blended interview you will be assessed against your experience, behaviours that are contained in this advert and strength based questions, the strength questions are ones in which we wish to gain your initial response. 

We would generally expect answers to follow the STAR or CAR structure and encourage candidates to use this during the interview.

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date – w/c 12th Feb
Expected interview date/s – w/c 4th March
Interview location - Virtual via MS Teams

Further information

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

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

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

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

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. 

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.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

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 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. 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.