About the job

Job summary

The Home Office (HO) is here to make our country safer. As well as working to protect the most vulnerable, reduce crime and enforce the law, we also work to, and have a proud history of, providing refuge to those who have been displaced or are seeking asylum. Whether it is fighting crime, protecting our borders or combating slavery, the HO is at the cutting edge of public policy in this country and our work is some of the most challenging and rewarding in government.

The role of the Public Safety Group (PSG), which sits within the HO, is to keep the public safe by protecting the vulnerable, cutting crime, disrupting the highest harm criminals, and ensuring that our police, fire and rescue services are as trusted, efficient and effective as they can be in delivering front line public services. 

The people in our Group develop and implement policy, provide funding, and deliver legislation. We make the most of innovation, data, and partnerships to protect the vulnerable, prevent crime, and tackle the highest harm crimes. We work with our partners in law enforcement, establishing governance arrangements at a national, regional, and local level.

Britain’s emergency services work 24/7 to serve the public in some of the most dangerous and challenging situations. To help them do their job even better, the Emergency Services Network (ESN) Programme is creating the next generation mobile communications network, including secure and resilient voice and broadband data services, which will be used by thousands of front-line police officers, paramedics and fire-fighters. 

ESN is a pan-government, cross departmental programme based within the HO, having representation from the Emergency Services at both, operational and departmental levels, and has close working involvement from the suppliers of the ESN technology.

This is an exciting programme, delivering cutting edge technology which will directly impact people’s lives. It will transform how our blue-light services respond to incidents, offering better mobile coverage, leading to faster response times. ESN will allow emergency service professionals to work together more efficiently and effectively when incidents and accidents occur by sharing data across the new digital network. The new network is dynamic and can take advantage of new technology as it develops, making sure that those doing the vital job of protecting the public and saving lives get the best and most modern communications tools available.

Job description

The Capability Delivery function which sits within the Delivery and Deployment Directorate is responsible for enabling users to use the new ESN solution through ESN devices (handheld, road vehicle and aircraft) and Control Room readiness. There are three portfolios of work set up to achieve this: ESN Air, Control Rooms and Devices. Capability Delivery also includes responsibility for Quality Assurance and Testing of the technical deliverables of the programme. 

This is a challenging and exciting opportunity to work on one of Governments biggest programmes supporting the essential services provided by our Emergency Services.

The Devices Strategy Lead will work to the Devices Portfolio Lead and will be responsible for setting the strategic direction for Handheld and Vehicle Devices within the Programme. 

This will include:

• Ownership of the Emergency Services Mobile Communication Programme (ESMCP) Devices Strategy and coordination with Project Managers, Commercial, Technical & other SMEs to ensure the successful delivery of devices that satisfy User needs.

• Development & management of integrated plans to ensure delivery of products / services by an agreed date. Maintaining the plan across the Devices Portfolio and ensuring that project and commercial timelines are integrated with those from other programme workstreams, delivery partner roadmaps and other stakeholder timelines.

• Coordinating with multiple workstreams in the programme to develop, maintain and implement the governed strategy.

• Working closely with Users to ensure that the strategy continues to reflect the position of their communities and considers the impact of new technologies. 

Although this role is Bristol based, frequent travel to London may be needed. Travel costs associated with this will be covered by the business area.

This role is available on a Full-Time basis as well as Compressed Hours. Job-sharing applications would also be considered but any job offer is conditional upon a viable job-sharing arrangement being available. Due to the level of engagement with suppliers and Emergency Services, we are unable to consider a Part-Time working option. 

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estates capacity, by Spring 2024. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details).

Person specification

This role is suited to an individual with experience of developing strategy, has an awareness of public sector procurement processes and business case development. 

You will have:

• Strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to build effective relationships with colleagues at every level within an organisation.

• Strong communications skills and the ability to understand and articulate technical concepts to non-technical audiences and senior level stakeholders.

• Commercial awareness and an understanding of the impact that commercial and market drivers will have on the successful delivery of the project.

• Ability to see the big picture and take a strategic approach.

• A good understanding of project management methodologies.

• A passion for meeting the requirements of our users and enabling them to keep their personnel and the public safe. 

Essential criteria:

You will have a demonstrable passion for delivery with the following skills or strong experience in:

• Interpersonal skills, and the ability to build effective relationships with colleagues at every level, including experience of fostering a culture of collaboration.

• Ability to Influence key decision makers and stakeholders.

• Working with others to identify problems and implement innovative solutions.

• Evidence of creating the environment in which teams have delivered complex projects to time, quality, and budget.

• Evidence of taking a strategic approach and seeing the big picture.

Desirable criteria:

For this role, the below experience would be beneficial, but is not essential:

• An understanding of Government or public sector procurement, with experience of working with commercial colleagues to prepare for procurements.

• Experience of service management and design.

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%

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.

This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

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

• A CV (job history / qualifications)
• Statement of Suitability (Personal statement) (1000 words maximum)
• Evidence of the lead behaviour 'Working Together' (250 words maximum).

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

Please note, the Statement of Suitability must be aligned to demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria as detailed in the job advertisement.

The sift will be based on the Statement of Suitability and the lead behaviour. Your CV will not be scored but will be used to provide context on your Personal Statement, and support conversations at Interview. 

In an event where a high volume of applications are received, an initial sift will take place using the lead behaviour 'Working Together'. Candidates who pass the initial sift will be either progressed to a full sift or straight to interview.

Successful candidates shortlisted for interview will be tested on all the behaviours outlined in the advert.

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. All applications are screened for plagiarism and copying and generating of examples/answers from internet sources including Artificial Intelligence. If any is detected the application may be withdrawn from the process. Further action, including disciplinary action, may be considered in such cases involving civil servants. Providing false or misleading information would be contrary to the core values of honesty and integrity expected of all Civil Servants.

Sift and Interview Dates

The sift will take place week commencing the 29th April 2024.
Interviews will take place week commencing the 13th May 2024.

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.

Interviews will take place remotely. Candidates will be required to have access to:

• A laptop (personal or work) with a working webcam
• Good internet connection
• Microsoft Teams

It is advisable to access your interview from a windows operating system laptop, desktop, phone or tablet as there is no guarantee that Microsoft Teams will work without issue on an Apple laptop, tablet or desktop.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to time constraints we may not be able to offer alternative interview date(s). It is therefore expected that candidates who are successful at sift stage will make themselves available during the above time frame given.

Further details and instructions will be provided closer to the scheduled interview.

Further Information

For meaningful checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time to enable appropriate checks to be carried out and produce a result which provides the required level of assurance. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years if the role requires CTC clearance, 5 years for SC clearance and 10 years for DV.  A lack of UK residency in itself is not necessarily a bar to a security clearance and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

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

Please note: The successful candidate will be required to hold or be willing to secure Security Check (SC) clearance.

A reserve list of successful candidates may be held for a period up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made in merit order.

We often have similar roles available at different grades. If a candidate is suitable for a similar role or a lower grade than they have applied for, we may offer the candidate that role without the need for them to go through a further selection process.

Every day, Home Office civil servants do brilliant work to develop and deliver policies and services that affect the lives of people across the country and beyond. To do this effectively and fairly, the Home Office is committed to representing modern Britain in all its diversity, and creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people are able to bring their whole selves to work and perform at their best.

We are flexible, skilled, professional and diverse. We work to recruit and retain disabled staff and area Disability Confident Leader. We are proud to be one of the most ethnically diverse departments in the civil service. We are a Social Mobility Foundation top 75 employer.

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.

For further information please see the attached notes for candidates which must be read before making an application.

Existing Civil Servants should note that some of the Home Office terms and conditions of employment have changed. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the Terms and Conditions they will adopt should they be successful in application and should refer to the notes for candidates for further details.

Transfer Terms: Voluntary.

If you are invited to an interview you will be required to  bring a range of documentation for the purposes of establishing identity and to aid any pre-employment checks.

Please see the attached list of Home Office acceptable ID documents.

Any move to the Home 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

Reasonable Adjustments

If a person with disabilities is 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 HOrecruitment.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

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security 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.