About the job

Job summary

DWP are recruiting up to 15 Grade 7 analysts to fill key posts across a range of policy and business areas over the next six months.

Posts will be offered in order of merit, and preferences will be sought once results have been released if a choice is available. Successful candidates will be posted in merit order based on your location preferences, the geographical requirements of the business and business demands.

The roles available will be based in one of our hubs in the following locations Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, London Westminster, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield and Treforest.  Please note that Birmingham, Glasgow and Treforest are relatively new analytical hubs.  Any Grade 7s recruited via this campaign and located in these hubs will have a unique opportunity to help grow the analyst presence in these locations.  For individuals based in the Treforest Hub, the ability to speak Welsh is desirable. 

Candidates must meet the eligibility requirements set out in the ‘Essential Qualifications’ sections of the attached candidate pack; which is either to be a member of one of the following professional bodies

• Government Economic Service (GES)
• Government Operational Research Service (GORS)
• Government Social Research (GSR)
• Government Statistician Group (GSG)

or have the required qualifications to become a member of one of these professions. 

If not already a badged member of one of the analytical professions above, then successful candidates will be expected to align with one of the four analytical professions.  Please note, you can only apply under one of the analytical professions above.

If you meet the eligibility requirements you should then provide evidence against the Key Criteria listed in Person Specification section of this job advert. 

You can find more about what a Grade 7 analyst role at DWP can offer you in the candidate pack attached.

Job description

DWP has an excellent reputation for ensuring its work is underpinned by robust evidence and analysis. Analysts work flexibly, in multi-disciplinary, multi-site teams across the organisation, embedded within policy, operational and wider analytical teams, to develop DWP’s evidence base and provide analysis that supports key decisions underpinning Departmental policies and projects.  The wealth of data we have access to is unprecedented and allows us to work in real time, quickly being able to see the outcome of those decisions. 

There are around 800 analysts in the Analytical Community (AC) at DWP made up of Economists, Operational Researchers, Social Researchers, Statisticians, Data Scientists and Data Analysts.  Analysts are grouped into 20 Lead Analyst areas, embedded across the Department.  Our services are in high demand and we continue to increase in size.  The DWP AC is an excellent place to work and as one of the largest in Government we can offer a wide variety of development, training and promotion opportunities, making us a great place to develop and grow as an analyst. DWP analytical roles are often profession neutral, offering analysts access to a wide range of analytical roles.  Posts can be done from any of our hub locations and we have a strong presence outside London.

The posts we are advertising will place the successful candidates in the heart of the Department’s critical work.  They provide the opportunity to develop a variety of analytical skills and to benefit from a strong focus on career and professional development tailored to candidate needs.  Many posts are profession neutral and teams across the DWP Analytical Community are usually made up of a mixture of analysts from across the four analytical professions.  Each of those four professions is well represented and successful candidates will be able to benefit from a variety of regular profession related community activities.

Through this campaign, if you are not already a badged member of one of the four analytical professions you will become one. This means that as well as joining the community of analysts in DWP you will join a community of analysts working across many government departments, agencies and public bodies, playing a pivotal role in government decision making.  Our candidate pack provides an insight in the variety of roles for analysts in DWP including details of how to find out more about each of the four analytical professions.

Person specification

Key Criteria

• Excellent leadership skills, including the ability to set team objectives, engage others, and maximise the value of analysis (lead Key Criterion*).
• An ability to plan and prioritise, manage risk and influence outcomes across a variety of multi-disciplinary and/or multi-site teams.
• Strong communication skills to influence a wide range of stakeholders to inform decision making.
• An ability to build and maintain a network across a range of stakeholders and colleagues to meet customer needs.
• Excellent analytical skills to lead, quality assure and effectively disseminate high quality, complex analysis.
• A role model for learning and development, with experience of building capability.

*The lead Key Criterion is: Excellent leadership skills, including the ability to set team objectives, engage others, and maximise the value of analysis.

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.

Application

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and a personal statement (1,250 words max).

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

This statement should provide evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the selection Key Criteria in the Person Specification section of the advert.

When completing your personal statement, please read and understand the Key Criteria (see candidate pack and job advert) 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 what you have done that’s relatable to the Key Criteria. You don’t have to explain the whole process, just what you have done and the skills, experience you have used. 

Please do not use excessive forward slash (/), backslash (\) or dashes (-) in your personal statement. By excessive, we mean hyphenating words that are not normally hyphenated, using slashes between many words or formatting slashes in white font so they can’t immediately be seen. Any applications that do this will not be sifted or the form will be amended to remove the excess slashes and then anything after the 1,250 word count will be ignored. 

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

• Excellent leadership skills, including the ability to set team objectives, engage others, and maximise the value of analysis.

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

You should also state in the additional questions which profession you intend to align to, or are already a member of. If you are not already a member of one of the four analytical professions you should also state which route you are applying under (see candidate pack).

If you are interested in applying to these roles as a job share then please submit a separate application and, if an existing partnership, make it clear in the additional questions section that you would like to be considered as a job share (do not provide any names). Once sifting has been completed and applications un-anonymised, if you are invited to interview we will contact you directly about assessment arrangements.

Sift

Only if applicants meet the qualification requirements, will their application then be sifted against the Key Criteria required for the role.

Please ensure you complete the all sections of the application form and provide clear evidence that supports the required qualifications. If the detail on your qualifications is not provided or not clear, your application will be deemed ineligible.

Candidates who are current, permanent, badged members of one of the four Government analytical professions must state this in the qualification section of the application form and answer yes to holding the required qualifications.

Only the strongest applications will progress to the interview stage.

Interview

Shortlisted candidates successful at the sift stage will then be invited to attend a blended interview, covering Behaviours, Technical and Strengths. These will be conducted online using MS Teams.

At interview candidates will be asked to present evidence of the following Civil Service Behaviours:

• Leadership
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

Together with your technical professional skills in line with either the profession framework you are a member of or the profession you are aligning to in applying for this vacancy.

If you are not already a current, permanent, badged member of one of the four analytical professions stated then you may need to take additional testing prior to, or at, the main interview. Full details will be provided for candidates who get through to the interview stage.

All candidates will be invited to deliver a presentation for up to 5 minutes which will bring out their technical and professional skills in line with the profession they are a member of or aligning to at Grade 7 level.

If successful at interview you must be able to start within three months of being offered a post.

If you are not already a current, permanent, badged permanent member of one of the professions stated you must already hold the qualifications stated. We cannot accept applications from candidates awaiting results of a degree.

Failure to provide the detail or information required clearly will result in your application being rejected.

Sift and Interview dates to be confirmed.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

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.