About the job

Job summary

This role sits within Resource Modelling and Analysis Division (RMAD), within Financial Management and Partnering (FM&P) Directorate in DWP.

FM&P Directorate provide expert financial advice and analysis to inform decision making ensuring budget holders make the best use of resources.

RMAD is responsible for delivering robust evidence to support resourcing, financial and service improvement decisions which directly influence DWP’s ability to deliver its services to citizens in an effective way, by:

• Providing robust and credible estimates of activity timings across the business to feed into departmental demand models and provide valuable insight to drive service improvements.
• Providing robust and trusted forecasts of DWP demand: as the single version of the truth, they will be used extensively across DWP to inform effective decisions on Service Delivery planning and improvement.
• Ensuring high quality input parameters for the ABM and demand models building trust in the outputs.
• Supporting the DWP Planning process and the value for money challenge with the suite of ABM models, using actual and planning event activity data.
• Providing evidence and insight that informs decision making across DWP.
• Implementing Analytical Review of Resource (ARR) recommendations on demand modelling and Work Study, transforming our ability to support departmental planning and decision making.
• Being a high performing and collaborative team working across boundaries with a strong culture of continuous improvement, including supporting staff to get the right skills and capabilities to flourish and make RMAD a great place to work.

The Division includes three multi-disciplined teams made up of Generalists, Accountants, Analysts and Institute of Management Services Practitioners. The division works cross-site with staff in all of the DWP hub locations.

Places for Growth and Social Mobility

As part of the Places for Growth Programme, we are committed to delivering a more geographically diverse Civil and Public Service that will better serve the public and ministers. As part of this initiative, we are continuously reviewing how we recruit into each location.

Postings

Posting will be made in merit order by location, this will be based on the geographical requirement at the time. A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made. Reserve list candidates will be posted in merit order by location. Successful candidates will be posted to a specific role and will have the opportunity to express a preference as part of the selection process, although final decisions may come down to business need, and the skills and development needs of candidates. Standard promotion rules will apply, and successful candidates will be placed on the pay scale and terms and conditions of DWP. The roles available will be based in:

• Birmingham – 3 Arena Central, B1 2AX.
• Blackpool – Peel Park, Brunel Way, FY4 5ES.
• Leeds – Quarry House, Quarry Hill, West Yorkshire, LS2 7UA.
• Manchester – 2 St Peter's Square, M2 3AA.
• Newcastle – Benton Park View, NE98 1BA.
• Sheffield – Hartshead Square, South Yorkshire, S1 2FD.

Job description

The Demand Modeller Business Partner posts are critical roles within a multi-disciplinary team, working as one function to deliver our key priorities. You will be responsible for providing high quality estimates of the staff resource required to deliver DWP services.

This role encompasses both technical and account management responsibilities. You will be responsible for ensuring that complex models are correctly maintained, documented and updated to strict timescales. You will do this by working closely with analysts and senior operational, service design and financial colleagues to ensure that the inputs and assumptions are robust and accurate and that changes are received on time, processed and well documented.

The estimates you produce will be used for planning at the highest level in DWP and form an integral part of the submission to Her Majesty’s Treasury (HMT) during the Spending Round. Your models will be subject to scrutiny at the highest levels within DWP and HMT and potentially the National Audit Office (NAO)

There may be opportunity to become a badged analyst or associate analyst with sufficient experience in the role.

You will need to be numerate with a strong focus on detail and strong stakeholder management/consultancy skills to build strong working relationships across organisation boundaries whilst offering constructive challenge to ensure that the model outputs are robust and pass scrutiny.

The core requirements for the post are set out below.

• Working with a diverse team of modellers and analysts to achieve the team’s vision and support the transformation of our services.
• Build constructive relationships with stakeholders across the Department, communicating the team’s purpose, delivering complex often difficult messages clearly to senior stakeholders.
• Deliver excellent customer service by understanding the complexity and diversity of our customers, actively managing their expectations and delivering a high quality, efficient and cost-effective service.
• Supporting the implementation of a new internal business processes to improve the efficiency and accuracy of the models.
• Work with stakeholders to lead the identification and communication of new and innovative approaches to our deliverables, gaining their confidence in our outputs. Encourage ideas for change, utilising technology where available.
• You will need to be flexible and willing to work across the team to enable the Division to meet its strategic objectives, adapting to variations in work, demonstrating personal resilience and acting as a change advocate.
• Exceptional analytical and reasoning skills and the ability to convert large amounts of diverse data into coherent, insightful reports and briefings that can inform decision making at a senior level.

Person specification

A strong candidate for these roles should be able to demonstrate the following Essential Criteria

• Leadership – you will have strong leadership skills and experience of working across organisation boundaries to deliver projects (Lead Criteria).
• Excellent communication skills – you will have a proven ability to build and maintain stakeholder relationships, also demonstrate how you have delivered results through collaboration and effectively managing customer expectations.
• Drive innovation – you will be able to demonstrate an ability to identify opportunities to drive innovation and continuously improve.
• Flexibility – You will need to be flexible and willing to work across the team to enable the Division to meet its strategic objectives, adapting to variations in work, demonstrating personal resilience and acting as a change advocate.
• Excellent reasoning and decision making – you will have exceptional analytical and reasoning skills and the ability to convert large amounts of diverse data into coherent, insightful reports and briefings that can inform decision making at a senior level.

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

Hybrid working

This job role may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in their DWP office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and your office will be your contractual place of work. The number of days that anyone will be able to work at home will be determined primarily by business need, but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be taken into account. If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working, including whether a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for you, will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas.

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, Ability and Experience.

Sift stage:

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a Civil Service Numerical Test and a Personal Statement of no more than 1,250 words.

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

After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Numerical Test. If you successfully pass the test, 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 27th December 2023. If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.

The sift panel will use your Personal Statement to assess your skills and experience against the Essential Criteria listed for this position.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead criteria as mentioned above.

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Candidates must achieve a minimum score of 4 on the Personal Statement to progress to interview stage. If a very high number of candidates achieve this, the Department reserves the right to draw the line higher before we invite people to interview.

Interview stage:

If you have been successful in sift stage, you will be invited to an online interview via Teams which will last approximately 40 – 50 minutes. You will need to produce evidence of ID at the video interview.

The interview will take a blended approach, and you will be assessed against the Behaviours outlined in the job advert, as well as strength-based questions. 

Further information will be provided to those who are invited to interview, and feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Application sift is planned to be carried out WC: 15/01/2024

Interviews are planned to be carried out WC: 05/02/2024

Please be advised that the above dates are indicative only and are subject to change.

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

At DWP we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce.

We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia.

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 “Reasonable Adjustments” 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.