About the job

Job summary

We encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates

At DfE, we are proud of the commitment we make to diversity and inclusion and of the progress we have made. We have active & vibrant staff networks, special leave policies and workplace adjustments put in place for those who need them. We are continuing to build a diverse DfE, in an inclusive environment which nurtures and realises potential in all, at all levels.

Equality and Diversity - Department for Education

The Higher Education Directorate works to improve student outcomes and experience through the effective supply and regulation of finance and funding provision, including proactive sponsorship of, and engagement with, key stakeholders such as the Office for Students and the Student Loans Company, and ensuring high quality course provision informed by real data, expertise and insight in the sector.

We ensure student funding & support is supplied and controlled as intended by legislation, including appropriate oversight in terms of financial governance, fraud prevention and ensuring the ongoing sustainability and resilience of the sector.

We put in place mechanisms to improve and reform this provision fit for the future and in line with wider ministerial and societal priorities.

The Deputy Director for the Higher Education Analysis Division is a demanding but very rewarding Deputy Director post, working with a large team of highly talented analysts to support excellent policy and delivery on Higher Education through the delivery of high-quality analysis.  It is a role which offers considerable autonomy and scope for personal impact – with ownership of the entirety of the analytical function for Higher Education, including some of the department's most business-critical models, and the chance to directly shape the future of higher education policy at a critical time for the sector and the government, ahead of a likely Spending Review in 2024

Job description

The Deputy Director for HE Analysis will be a crucial member of the Higher Education Directorate SMT. They will use their analytical expertise and understanding to support strategic decision making, working with the business and the HE sector in a collaborative and accessible way. 

They will have responsibilities for:

• Delivering first class quality analysis through their team to support policy making in the HE Oversight Directorate and beyond.
• Engaging with policy teams, senior leaders and external stakeholders to present an analytical case for decisions.
• Anticipating the long-term evidence needs in the HE policy environment and ensuring that there is a strategic research programme to meet these needs, while balancing analytical resource between this long-term programme with short-term policy.
• Leading a high-performing, multi-disciplinary team of c. 65 analytical staff across multiple sites;
• Wider leadership within the Higher Education Directorate, and DfE.

As the Deputy Director for the Higher Education Analysis Division you will:

• Support wider Higher Education policy formulation, ensuring decisions are evidence-based and analytically rigorous
• Oversee the delivery of multiple national statistics publications, a wide-ranging HE research programme, as well as leading the delivery of student loan forecasts of the student loan book worth ~£200 billion
• Lead engagement of the division internally and externally with a range of critical and high-profile partners, developing and maintaining key relationships
• Develop and maintain a high performing and outward looking division with a strong focus on wellbeing, continuous learning and development, and mutual support
• Play a key role as a senior civil servant in the Department for Education, taking on wider corporate leadership responsibilities and also engaging with the DfE Senior Analytical Leadership team. 

Person specification

This is a stretching strategy and delivery role in our directorate. The essential skills required are: 

• You are an approachable leader who can set a compelling vision, build support for it and then motivate teams of people within and external to their organization and outside their direct line management chain to deliver. 
• You have the ability to lead on analytical support and expertise for policy teams and Ministers and deliver high quality analysis through your team.
• You are an effective communicator who can verbally present complex information clearly and concisely to different audiences.
• You are an effective decision maker with sound judgement who can engage credibly at all levels, listen to a diverse range of views and balance competing interests before recommending options and taking decisive action.
• You have the ability to build trusted and effective relationships with senior stakeholders, including relationships at Director, CEO, Ministerial and Director General level, demonstrating resilience and ability to challenge where needed.
• You are able to work at pace in fast moving environments, and where it is not possible to satisfy all internal and external stakeholders.
• You are a badged analyst: GORS, GSG, GES, GSR. External candidates must be successfully badged as part of the recruitment process

Desirable skills:

• Knowledge of the Higher Education sector and its key stakeholders.
• Strong quantitative modelling skills and ideally a proven track record of developing financial models.

Desirable criteria will only be assessed in the event of a tie break situation to make an informed decision.

Benefits

Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Department’s transfer / promotion policies.

As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK, with an average employer contribution of 27%.

You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years’ service. In addition, all staff receive the King’s Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days’ bank and public holidays.

We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours. 

Most DfE employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending at least 60% of their time in an office or work setting. Changes to these working arrangements are available in exceptional circumstances, but must be agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role.

Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DfE, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.

As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Strengths and Experience.

Application

To apply for this role, you need to complete an online application via the Civil Service Jobs portal.  Applications will be accepted until 23:55 on Thursday 11th January. You will be asked to provide:

1. A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years

1. A Statement of Suitability (no longer than 1,000 words) setting out how you meet the selection criteria (above under Person Specification and on slide 7 of the attached candidate pack). You can choose to outline any further information you believe is relevant for the role.

Failure to submit both documents will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification.

If there are a large volume of applications an initial sift will be conducted against the lead criteria “An approachable leader who can set a compelling vision, build support for it and then motivate teams of people within and external to their organization and outside their direct line management chain to deliver. ”

If you are unable to apply online please contact scs.recruitment@education.gov.uk in the first instance. Please visit our career site for further information on the Civil Service application process.

Please note the following:

• We cannot accept applications submitted after the closing date;
• Applications will be assessed solely on the documentation provided;
• Please refer to the advert and checklist above to ensure you have provided everything requested;
• Applications will be acknowledged upon receipt;
• Feedback will only be given to candidates unsuccessful following interview

Shortlisted candidates:

Shortlisted candidates will: 

1. Take part in a Staff Engagement Panel (which typically takes up to 1 hour to complete), to be held week commencing 29th January.
2. Be invited for a formal panel interview in week commencing 12th February on MS Teams.  You will be asked to prepare a presentation for the interview (further information will be shared with shortlisted candidates) and you will be asked questions to further assess your Experience and Strengths using the Civil Service Strengths Dictionary. 

As part of the recruitment process, we may request references.

Please note that at interview stage we may ask if you have any conflicts of interest to declare.

For an accessible version of the candidate pack, please contact scs.recruitment@education.gov.uk

Other Information

We reserve the right to raise the minimum pass mark in the event of a high volume or strong field of candidates.

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

The government is committed to supporting apprenticeships, enabling people to learn and progress in a role whilst earning. We want to monitor the number of people who have completed apprenticeships who are now applying to progress further in their career and are asking this question to all candidates, on all vacancies. You will be asked a question as part of the application process about any previous apprenticeships you have completed. Your response to this question will not affect your application and it is not a requirement of the role to have completed a previous apprenticeship.  

DfE cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. DfE holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe 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 circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Department of Education of your intention by emailing Pre-Employment.Checks.DFE@education.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Department for Education do not cover the cost of travel to your interview/assessment unless otherwise stated.

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

Candidates will be posted in merit order based upon location preference. Where more than one location is advertised you will be asked to state your preferred location.

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.

Terms and conditions of candidates transferring from ALBs and NDPBs

Bodies that are not accredited by the Civil Service Commission and are not able to advertise at Across Government on Civil Service jobs will be treated as external new starters and will come into DfE on modernised terms and conditions with a salary at the band minimum.

Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission but do not have civil service status will be offered modernised terms and will not have continuous service recognised for leave or sickness benefits. Salaries should be offered at band minimum, but there is some flexibility where this would cause a detriment to the individual.

Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission and do have Civil Service status will be treated as OGD transfers. Staff appointed on lateral transfer will move on to pre-modernised DfE terms (unless they were on modernised terms in their previous organisation). Staff appointed on promotion will move on to modernised DfE terms. Staff will transfer over on their existing salary (on lateral transfer) and any pay above the DfE pay band maximum will be paid as a mark time allowance. Staff moving on promotion will have their salaries calculated using the principles set out in the attached OGD transfer supplementary information.

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 Department of Education via centralrecruitment.operations@education.gov.uk 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.

Any move to Department for Education (DfE) will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming 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/

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.