About the job

Job summary

At the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), we encourage applications from everyone, particularly groups currently underrepresented in our workforce. We pride ourselves on the positive impact diversity has and promote inclusivity and equality of opportunity for all. Our recruitment process is anonymised, which means that your name, date of birth and other personal details will not be seen by the sift panel.  

Do you have excellent MI, analysis and data science skills?

Are you a confident communicator with the ability to constructively challenge?

Do you have a passion for leadership?

If so, we’d love to hear from you!

Job description

We’re looking for an individual to join the Operations and Customer Service Directorate (OCSD) Central Support area as a Head of Analytics. You will take responsibility for leading the OCSD Central Management Information, Data Analytics, Data Science and directorate resourcing responsibilities to provide meaningful, timely and accurate output, enabling the delivery of the directorate’s Key Priorities, Service Level Agreements, Secretary of State and Agency Targets.

You will take responsibility for proactively embedding a new structure which has recently been defined with a variety of new roles. You will drive forward the recruitment of key roles, including new Data Scientists and Data Analysts, and ensuring the support infrastructure is fit for purpose.

You will oversee all OCSD analytical activities, engaging with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders and be responsible for overseeing the development of strategies to ensure intelligence and resource levels are accurate and timely to meet operational demand within Service Level Agreements (SLAs). 

You will lead a newly created area of 39 colleagues, including 7 direct reports. Transitioning your team into the new structure, delivering business priorities and capturing business impact will be key priorities for the role holder.

This is a fantastic opportunity to be involved in the early stages of DVLA entering the realm of data science! You will be pivotal in shaping the structure of our future work in this area.

Your responsibilities will include but will not be limited to:

• Overseeing all OCSD analytical activities including, reporting, depth analysis, performance management, forecasting and use of data science ensuring they are fit for purpose and aligned to industry best practice.
• Setting direction for the use of Data Science ensuring activities are conducted ethically and within agreed frameworks articulating the business benefits in support of organisational objectives, while collaborating across the organisation to drive meaningful goals and priorities.
• Communicating regularly with key stakeholders across the Agency creating meaningful and collaborative relationships, ensuring clear and concise delivery of messages including evidence based, independent and actionable recommendations. Build relationships with external Agencies including DfT and Other Government Departments and Office for National Statistics.
• Building capability through the use of CPD, keeping up to date with new developments in Data Science, Data Analysis and Performance Analysis. Promoting the use of new and innovative approaches to analysing, presenting and using business data.
• Support and develop the use of new technologies and techniques. Building relationships with external Agencies including DfT and Other Government Departments and Office for National Statistics to share best practice and ensuring adherence to the Data Governance Framework.

For further information about the role please see the attached role profile. 

Additional Information  

Applications will be accepted from full time/part time/job sharers. Full time roles at DVLA consist of 37 hours per week. Part time and/or flexible working may also be available subject to the needs of the business. If you have a flexible or part time working requirement, you should contact the vacancy holder in advance of making an application to avoid possible disappointment later in the process should your desired working arrangements not be compatible with the requirements of the role. To contact the vacancy holder, please use the job contact details listed under ‘Contact point for applicants’. 

This role will be based in Swansea, and we will be operating a hybrid working model that allows you to work between home and on-site giving you greater flexibility about where and when you work, subject to business needs and this also allows for ongoing support, development, and collaboration with colleagues. 

Therefore, the expectation is that you will spend a minimum of 60% of your working time based at your principal workplace (DVLA). We would encourage you to discuss the working arrangements for this role with us during the recruitment process. 

About Operational Delivery Profession 

Operational Delivery Profession (ODP) is the largest and most diverse professional community across the Civil Service. Many of us will have an association with several professional communities or specialisms, ODP applies to all public facing roles / or a role that is primarily aligned to supporting the work of those with public facing roles. All critical to the delivery of UK public services. 

About the Digital Data and Technology Profession

The Digital Data and Technology (DDaT) profession is a community of experts leading digital transformation and use of data within government, creating more efficient services that have a meaningful impact on people’s lives. The profession is grouped into six specialisms, encompassing a range of technical specialists who each share a commitment to put users first and deliver world-leading government products and services.

This role has a foot in both professions as it uses DDaT skills to ensure support to the public facing roles within the Agency.

Person specification

You will have significant experience of delivering management information, analysis and data science arrangements in a large business. You will have a good understanding of and use a wide range of data science techniques, tools and technologies.

You will have knowledge of communicating and presenting data science and data ethics effectively to senior leaders and championing the role of data science in supporting organisational priorities, and in collaborative working across professions.

You will be an experienced leader, making people feel recognised, involved, developed and supported, encouraging others to flourish and develop in an environment of continuous improvement.

We have qualified Data Scientists in the team. While you are not expected to be an expert in this area, you will have a sound basic knowledge, a good understanding of how to use data and the ability to challenge qualified professionals while maintaining a high level of mutual respect. You will share your knowledge of best practice and ensure that business critical information is robust, secure and consistently available to all who need it.

We strive to ensure that DVLA is a great place to work where everybody can be their true self, be treated with dignity and respect, and according to their individual needs. We have a number of staff network groups run by staff to support their colleagues. 

Due to the evolving nature of the business, vacancies can become available at any time. Therefore, this campaign may create a reserve list to fulfil demand if it arises which will be held for a period of 3 months. 

Benefits

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits. 

• Best in class learning and development tailored to your role  
• An environment with flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance 
• Generous average employer contribution of 27%, depending on rate of salary and chosen pension scheme 
• 25 days holiday, increasing by one day each year up to 30 days pro rata 
• Access to the staff discount portal 
• 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff 

There are many more opportunities and great benefits of working at DVLA, visit our Careers website for further information.   

 

  

Things you need to know

Selection process details

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

For this role you will need to submit a CV and personal statement of up to 1000 words. We need to understand how your skills and experience meet all the essential criteria for this role. You can use any part of your life to demonstrate your skills and experience, but it must be relevant to the role. You can refer to your work experience, education, hobbies, or interests. 

You can decide the best way to structure your personal statement. You may choose to address each of the essential criteria on their own. Or you can give one example that covers all the essential criteria we are looking for. Click here for further guidance on submitting your CV and personal statement. 

It is essential when submitting your personal statement that you provide as much detail as possible, within the word count, against the essential criteria outlined below as this will be used in conjunction with your CV to assess candidate suitability to move to the next round in the recruitment process. 

For your CV and personal statement, please provide detailed evidence of your experience of the following essential criteria: 

• Delivering management information, analysis and data science arrangements in a large business with a good understanding and use of a wide range of data science techniques, tools and technologies.
• Communicating and presenting data science and data ethics effectively to senior leaders and championing the role of data science in supporting organisational priorities, and in collaborative working across professions.
• Leading people to feel recognised, involved, developed and supported, encouraging others to flourish and develop in an environment of continuous improvement.

The sift is due to take place on 15/02/2024.

Interviews will be held on 28/02/2024.

This interview could be conducted via a video interview, details of which will be provided to you should you be selected for interview. 

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. 

If invited to interview, this may consist of a range of question types. These could include questions around behaviours and how you would respond in any situation as well as specific examples of things you have done. 

The selection process will be designed specifically for the role. As a result, your assessment will include: 

•              An interview

You’re encouraged to become familiar with the role profile, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within. 

The Department for Transport alongside other Government Departments recruit using Success Profiles. This means for each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate in order to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.  

For further information on Success Profiles visit our Careers website. 

Reasonable Adjustments

As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Document Accessibility

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

This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you cannot access the information on our website for any reason, please email DRGComms@dft.gov.uk for assistance.

Further Information

For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit the How We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.

Pre-employment Checking

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.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. 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.