About the job

Job summary

DWP makes a difference every day to the lives of citizens across the UK. In the Corporate Transformation Group, we enable colleagues to deliver high quality public services by improving how and where we work. Together we are directly improving the workplace for colleagues and freeing up their time to deliver critical services. ​

The Private Office is a high-performing, supportive, and inclusive team in a demanding but rewarding environment. This is an exciting opportunity for someone interested in working with senior officials in DWP.​

The successful candidate will approach their responsibilities efficiently and effectively. It is imperative the post holder is an independent and proactive individual, who is adept at acting on their own initiative whilst making a meaningful contribution to the work of the wider team and supporting the Director General.  The post holder will need to engage effectively and enhance the Director General's relationships with stakeholders including Private Offices, Ministers, Cabinet Office, and commercial customers across DWP.  If you think that this is you, we would love for you to apply.​

Job description

This is a highly demanding but rewarding role covering a wide range of responsibilities:​

• Working closely with the Corporate Transformation Director General, Private Secretary, and other Private offices/Business Support teams to ensure a seamless and efficient team approach to the DG group’s business.​
• Provide diary management to the Corporate Transformation DG, ensuring the most efficient use of their time. This will also include anticipating future diary pressures and advising as appropriate.​
• Managing the DG’s time and support the Private Office to function efficiently, looking for ways to continually improve ways of working.​
• You will be responsible for updating the recording system day pack and ensuring all relevant briefings are obtained.​
• You will make judgement calls on what takes priority, anticipating issues and challenges, taking steps to mitigate these in advance.​
• There will be a requirement to proactively build effective relationships with a range of colleagues, including those across Corporate Transformation, the wider DG Office team, Private Offices and Business Support Teams across the department.​
• You will be responsible for completing compliance activity such as Gifts & Hospitality returns, Transparency Data returns, expense and annual leave recording.​

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The small team currently provides cover across the operating hours of 8:00am to 6.30pm during the week and you will need to be able to offer sufficient flexibility to play your part in providing this cover.​

The role does entail periods of intensive work and, on occasions, long hours, when there are business demands.  ​

The role provides a real opportunity to be at the centre of an exciting and dynamic DWP Private Office and to develop key relationships and skills to shape your future career.

Person specification

•  Experience of working in, or be able to demonstrate an aptitude for, a Business Support role within in a large-scale organisation. (Lead criteria) ​

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• Strong organisational skills with the ability to work proactively and at pace to deliver against multiple priorities.​

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• Ability to work collaboratively within your team and across the wider stakeholder network, often to short deadlines to achieve common goals whilst maintaining a quality service.​

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• Strong interpersonal and communication skills (both written and verbal), with the confidence to engage with a broad range of stakeholders including the Director General, Senior Civil Servants and Private Offices.​

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• Confidence to challenge current practices when identifying process improvements, helping to lead on and implement efficiencies. ​

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• Proactively keeping up to date with the immediate and long-term business priorities. ​

• Proficient use of Microsoft Office especially Outlook, Teams, SharePoint and OneNote.

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%

If you are based outside of London this role requires you to work from the London office 2 days per week according to business needs. Expenses will be paid as per DWP policies and procedures.

This is a full-time role and is suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works 40% 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 consideration. 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.

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 ​

To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process outlined below:​

On-Line Assessment ​

At the point of submitting your application you will be guided to an on-line tool which will assess your work strengths. You will need to pass the Civil Service on-line Work Strengths Test to progress through to written sift and interview. ​

After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Work Strengths 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 insert closing time on insert closing date. 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.

 CV​

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.​

The CV is an on-line tool accessed through the Civil Service Jobsite and there is no requirement to upload your personal CV.  Our CV element is short, and allows an initial check of eligibility, so please put the main content of your evidence and skills in your Personal Statement. ​

Personal statement ​

A supporting statement (maximum 1000 words) explaining why you want to work for DWP in this role; how you consider your personal skills, qualities, and experience providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria in the person specification.​

When completing your personal statement, please read and understand the Key Criteria  thoroughly as this is what your written evidence will be assessed against. Your layout is entirely your preference; you may choose narrative, bullets, etc. You may choose to address each criteria separately, however, one narrative example may cover and evidence several key criteria. You may not be able to meet all the key criteria, but please ensure you evidence: the key personal requirements and what have you done that relates to the requirements. You don’t have to explain the whole process, just what you have done and the skills and experience you have used. Share with us what makes you suited to this role and why, what you can do and the skills you have that are transferable to the key requirements, and the life experience or passion you have that are linked to this role. 

Written Sift​

The written sift will be conducted using evidence from your Personal Statement and will be assessed against the Key Criteria within the advert.​

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead criteria:  ​

Experience of working in, or be able to demonstrate an aptitude for, a Business Support role within in a large-scale organisation. (Lead criteria) 

In this case candidates who pass the initial sift may then proceed to a full sift or straight to interview.

Interview​

Candidates who progress to interview will be invited to a video interview with a panel of a minimum of two people. ​

Candidates will be asked questions which assess Behaviours and Strengths. ​Candidates who are successful at sift and invited to interview will be sent the behaviour questions in advance so they may prepare their responses. It is not expected that you will read your answers out verbatim. Strength questions will not be sent in advance.

The behaviours we will select on are: ​

Managing a Quality Service

Working Together ​

Delivering at Pace  ​

Making Effective Decisions 

The interview will be expected to last around 45 minutes.

Further Information

Find out more about Working for DWP

Selection and Feedback​

We will notify all candidates as soon as possible.

A reserve list will be held for up to 6 months, which we may also use to fill future similar vacancies.

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 or Disclosure Scotland 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. 

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk 

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.

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

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.

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.

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.