About the job

Job summary

Do you have experience of working in a service delivery environment, with multiple contracts?

Are you a natural influencer who loves to have challenging conversations?

Can you encourage others to work towards a common goal?

If so, we are seeking a Head of Contracts and Operations, at the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), and we'd love to hear from you!

Job description

The job holder is responsible for delivery of all Driving Theory Test Network and associated contractual services.  They are responsible for contract management and improvement of the current and future Theory Test contracts throughout the Theory Test Commercial Cycle:

• Pre-procurement planning and market engagement.
• Procurement and benefit realisation – working with the Head of Theory Test Policy and Service Development.
• Contract Management and business improvement.
• Operational delivery of the Test Centre Network.

The job holder will contribute to determining the contractual model for future delivery of the service and then manage the output and will be a key stakeholder in the Theory Test Transformation and Relet Programme providing expertise of contract and commercial matters.

The job holder will build expertise in the team to enhance current and future contract outcomes and deliver positive and enabling management of the Theory Test Contract management team through current contract and the transition, mobilisation and go live of new contract(s).

The job holder is a member of the Corporate Senior Leaders group and has responsibility for associated corporate activities.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to;

• Influence the commercial strategy to best business advantage.
• Contribute to a procurement strategy that delivers: fit for purpose commercial arrangements that deliver the required business outcomes.
• Contract management (customer, supplier and operational service), continuous improvement and development of the current and future Theory Test Network contracts to the agreed commercial standards and outcomes.
• Lead the business improvement of Theory Test Contract via membership, as a key stakeholder, of the Theory Test Service Management Group and Strategy Group.

For more information about the role and responsibilities please see the attached Candidate Pack.

Person specification

• To succeed in this role, you will have demonstrable experience in a commercial environment.
• You will have experience in a service delivery environment, working with multiple contracts.
• Excellent communication skills are pivotal to this role, with the ability to provide guidance and robust recommendations to internal and external stakeholders, where your exceptional engagement and relationship building skills will enable you to influence and challenge at all levels.
• We will look for you to coach, lead and develop your teams, driving professionalism, fairness and consistency at all times.
• You will have excellent analytical and problem solving skills, and the ability to quickly develop recommendations based on evidence available to you.
• The successful applicant will hold, be working towards, or willing to work towards when in post the Cabinet Office Contract Management Capability Programme – Expert Level.

Additional Information

This role can be based in Bristol, Newcastle, Nottingham or Swansea, your presence at one of these locations will form part of the working arrangements agreed with you. We operate a hybrid working model giving you greater flexibility about where and when you work. Our expectation is that you will spend a minimum 60% of your time at your base location. Visits to other DVSA sites or work locations count towards this.

Whilst we welcome applications from candidates seeking part time/flexible working hours, there will be a business requirement for candidates to work a minimum number of hours for specific locations. For further information please contact alexander.fiddes@dvsa.gov.uk

Occasional travel and overnight stays within the UK will be required as part of this role, to meet with staff and stakeholders.

Please take note that DVSA does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship. 

About Us

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) helps keep Britain moving, safely and sustainably. 

 

We do this by helping people through a lifetime of safe and sustainable journeys, helping them keep their vehicles safe to drive, and protecting them from unsafe drivers and vehicles. 

We’re working hard to:  

• make roads safer
• improve services for our customers
• make road transport greener and healthier
• harness the potential of technology and data
• grow and level up the economy

We’re committed to giving all our colleagues purpose, professionalism and pride in what we do. We work in supportive, diverse and inclusive teams where everyone is valued. You can grow, develop and progress, and make a real difference to society. 

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice and welcome and encourage applications from everyone, such as ethnic minorities, women, disabled people and those who identify as LGBT+. 
 
To find out more about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace and making DVSA a great place to work visit our Careers website.  

Benefits

• An environment with flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance
• Exceptional pension with an employer contribution of an average of 27%
• Generous Annual Leave - 25 days holiday, increasing by 1 each year of service, up to 30
• 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday 
• Latest IT and Tech devices 
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues
• Excellent learning and development tailored to your role including paid apprenticeships up to Masters level
• Wide range of discounts schemes on high street names
• Employee assistance program for health and wellbeing 
• Cycle to work scheme and Gym membership offers
• For more information see visit our careers page

 

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.

How to Apply 

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

For your Personal Statement, please provide detailed evidence of the following:

• Your experience in a commercial environment.
• Your experience in a service delivery environment with multiple contracts.
• Your experience of working in a complex project delivery environment, relating to transformation or launch of a customer facing service.

Your personal statement will be limited to a maximum of 750 words.

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

• An interview and a presentation.

As part of the technical assessment for this role you will be assessed against: 

• The Government Commercial Function (GCF) People Standards Framework.

Further details around this can be found in the 'Technical' section of the advert and in the attached Candidate Pack.

The sift is due to take place 22 - 23 April 2024

Interviews are likely to be held 09 - 10 May 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’ll try to meet the dates we’ve set out in the advert. But there may be occasions when these dates will change. We’ll give you plenty of notice of any important dates.

If you would like to find out more about what it’s like to work for DVSA and how to apply, we will be holding virtual sessions to find out more. Please click here to secure your place at one of our upcoming events.

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

The Department for Transport recruits using Success Profiles. For each role, we consider what you need to demonstrate 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.

You can read more about Success Profiles here.

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. 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.