About the job

Job summary

DWP is looking to fill this role in People and Capability directorate.

The role available will be based in one of the following locations:  Sheffield Kings Court, Newcastle Benton Park View, Leeds Quarry House, Blackpool Peel Park, Cardiff Treforest Ty Taf and Glasgow Atlantic Quay.

For jobs located in Wales, the ability to speak Welsh is desirable.

You will be asked for your preference for the location, this will tell us where you would prefer to work if you are successful. Please do not select a location unless you are prepared to accept a role in that location.

The SEO has responsibility for working closely with colleagues across DWP, the Cabinet Office and other organisations to identify suitable candidates and vacancies,  matching candidates to vacancies, ensuring disclosure conversations take place for prison leavers (this is where unspent criminal convictions are discussed), recruiting and onboarding candidates and providing support to vacancy holders, line managers and candidates during the period of the GFiE scheme.

Job description

• Develop and maintain ownership for the end-to-end process, guidance and policies for all GFiE schemes. This includes, sharing best practice across government and with other stakeholders, completing risk assessments for health and safety, security and data protection, highlighting any risks to senior leaders.
• Work closely with DWP colleagues, the Cabinet Office and other government departments to improve opportunities, promote participation into the scheme and recruit successful candidates into DWP.
• Ensure the accurate recording of data and provide regular timely and accurate updates and briefings.
• Seek feedback from candidates and stakeholders to ensure the quality of GFiE schemes in DWP and associated policies, processes and guidance are relevant, current and efficient and modernised in line with DWPs visions for the future.
• Line management responsibilities for a small team.

Person specification

Lead Key Criteria Demonstrable recruitment experience leading and managing campaigns with a passion for removing barriers to employment for candidates whose life chances may put them at a disadvantage to others.

Leadership experience with the ability to motivate, coach and lead others to deliver high profile, sensitive work in a fast paced, challenging and changing environment.

Leadership experience with the ability to motivate, coach and lead others to deliver high profile, sensitive work in a fast paced, challenging and changing environment.  

Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence at all levels, often in challenging, sometimes sensitive, and fast-changing situations.

Experience and the ability to build and maintain professional and trusting relationships with internal and external stakeholders, consider and respect the needs and opinions of all and promote flexibility, curiosity, and diverse perspectives to drive innovation to achieve successful business outcomes.

Effective planning, organisation and prioritisation skills and the ability to deliver at pace and adapt quickly to change.

Ability to analyse data and record and report this accurately and timeously.

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%

Location

Applicants should apply for suitable posts where they can travel to and from their home office location daily within a reasonable time.   

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

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.

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.

Selection will be by a written sift, on the personal statement which will be a maximum of 1000 words and the CV followed by an interview by Teams video covering the behaviours and strengths. 

The Civil Service uses a Behaviour Framework to assess candidates’, knowledge and skills.

You will be assessed against the following behaviours: Leadership, Delivering at Pace, Working Together and Communicating and Influencing at Level 3.

It may help to use the WHO or STAR model to explain: What the task/ work was, How you approached the task/work/situation and what the Outcomes were, what did you achieve? Or What was the Situation? What were the Tasks? What Action did you take? What were the Results of your actions?

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

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

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 CV and will be assessed against the Key Criteria within the advert.

The minimum requirement to be considered suitable for the role would be a candidate that demonstrates substantial and consistent positive evidence against each essential criteria. In the event of a large number of applications we will use the Lead Key Criteria to initially assess your application during the Sift stage. Candidates who pass the initial Sift may be progressed to a full Sift or direct to interview. 

Interview

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an interview. This will be a Teams video interview. The interview panel will be a minimum of two people. The interview will assess: Behaviours, Strengths and Experience,  The interview aims to be more of a conversation exploring the candidate’s capability for the role.

To help you prepare and settle into the interview you will be sent the behaviour questions in advance of the interview, 5 days prior to your interview. These questions should be treated as confidential. The interview panel may ask you other questions which will not be shared in advance, including follow-up questions, and those about your experience, abilities and strengths. 

Candidates will be asked further probing questions to determine suitability for the role.

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

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.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form. 

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend a Blended Video Interview which is an online interview via MS Teams. Candidates will be assessed on Behaviours and Strengths.

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/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.

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. 

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.