About the job

Job summary

GDS exists to help government make brilliant public services that empower people in the UK. We work at the very centre of government to drive digital transformation, focused on users. We build and maintain common platforms, products and tools for others to use and create great public services that are accessible, inclusive and easy to use. We also work with departments to identify patterns, share learning and create change to make government more efficient.

Our teams are organised around delivering on our priorities. These are:

• making it easier for people to find what they are looking for on GOV.UK
• building common service platforms to make it simpler and cheaper to build quality digital services
• promoting agile, user-centred design practices both in the UK and across the world

Job description

The UK Government provides hundreds of services to citizens and other users. These range from ones you are probably familiar with, like applying for a passport, taxing your vehicle, or registering to vote, to other services that are smaller but often vital to someone’s specific circumstances.

Rather than trying to build and run all of these services from the centre of government, at GDS we develop common components that enable other departments and agencies to build simple, accessible digital services that meet common user needs. We also have a small professional services division that works in partnership with government agencies to help them transform their services.

This role will support the strategy and vision for this mission, leading Policy & Engagement, along with the Communications, and amplifying relationships across government to make change happen.

It will lead the Strategy, Policy and Engagement team and portfolio which sits at the centre of the Platform and Services Directorate.

You will lead and manage strategy, policy, communications and strategic engagement for Platforms and Services, playing a central role in delivering the programme today, and developing the vision and strategy for tomorrow. 

As Head of Policy, Strategy and Engagement:

• collaborate with your peers within the directorate to develop and coordinate the Directorate’s overall strategy, including in preparation for an anticipated spending review and future business cases
• support the teams with policy, engagement and comms as they deliver a series of technical enhancements and changes to existing services, or support departments to create and launch new best of breed end to end digital services where none exist bringing more citizens into digital channels
• lead the programme's approach to policy development, working with product teams to help navigate where central policy input is needed, and externally with Departments and CDDO to ensure alignment with cross-digital transformation policies
• manage and drive engagement with a wide range of stakeholders in other public sector organisations, private and voluntary sector bodies to ensure the digital identity programme fully understands and responds to issues and opportunities regarding privacy, inclusion and interoperability
• respond rapidly to a wide range of day-to-day tasks, including briefing requests and parliamentary business
• deputise for Deputy Directors as required
• lead, manage, guide and support the SP&E team (civil servants and contingent labour with policy, strategy, comms and engagement specialisms)
• you will drive policy or legislation changes where they make sense and help the Directorate achieve its objectives
• be part of the Platforms & Services leadership team and deputise for the senior digital leaders and policy advisors
• partner with the Head of Product and Head of Delivery to lead the delivery of an updated long term vision and near term strategy for Platforms & Services so that it reflects strategic requirements of the whole of government, fits with wider public sector domains, and keeps pace with technology innovation
• support delivery of Platforms & Services programme objectives by leading on senior and cross-cutting engagement, and responding to urgent events and escalations by departments and agencies
• ensure stakeholders across government are both informed about and consulted on Platforms & Services progress and plans, and understand the strategic importance of making effective use of our products and services to meet their business goals
• you and your team will amplify quick wins, and drive policy & engagement plans for longer term more challenging problems, often partnering with departments that have less digital expertise
• this is a high profile area of work. We are looking for a creative individual who can think on their feet, handle rapidly changing circumstances, solve problems and build collaborative relationships across the organisation and across Whitehall

Person specification

We’re interested in people who:

• lead the design and implementation of effective cross-government engagement strategies and/or policies for promoting and increasing adoption of products and services 
• demonstrate analytical rigour, including working with the economists on costs and benefits, pulling together strong evidence and testing assumptions with delivery partners and stakeholders; in support of developing business cases
• demonstrate strong leadership, and a track record of growing, guiding and developing teams and individuals in a culture of continuous improvement
• establish and maintain excellent stakeholder relationships, influencing and gaining the confidence of senior leaders
• communicate persuasively - in person, in writing and tailored to the audience - with ministers, departments and services, and externally

Benefits

The benefits of working at GDS

There are many benefits of working at GDS, including:

• flexible hybrid working with flexi-time and the option to work part-time or condensed hours
• a Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
• 25 days of annual leave, increasing by a day each year up to a maximum of 30 days
• an extra day off for The King’s birthday
• an in-year bonus scheme to recognise high performance
• career progression and coaching, including a training budget for personal development
• paid volunteering leave
• a focus on wellbeing with access to an employee assistance programme
• job satisfaction from making government services easier to use and more inclusive for people across the UK
• advances on pay, including for travel season tickets
• death in service benefits
• cycle to work scheme and facilities
• access to children's holiday play schemes across different locations in central London
• access to an employee discounts scheme
• 10 learning days per year
• volunteering opportunities (5 special leave days per year)
• access to a suite of learning activities through Civil Service learning

GDS offers hybrid working for all employees. This means that everyone does some working from home and also spends some time in their local office. You’ll agree to your hybrid working arrangement with your line manager in line with your preferences and business needs.

Any move to Government Digital Service 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

 

 

Things you need to know

Selection process details

The standard selection process for roles at GDS consists of:

• a simple application screening process - We only ask for a CV and cover letter of up to 750 words. Important tip - please ensure that your cover letter includes how you meet the skills and experience listed in the “person specification” section above
• a 60 minute video interview

Depending on how many applications we get, there might also be an extra stage before the video interview, for example a phone interview or a technical exercise.

In the Civil Service, we use Success Profiles to evaluate your skills and ability. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, increases performance and improves diversity and inclusivity. We’ll be assessing your technical abilities, skills, experience and behaviours that are relevant to this role.

For this role we’ll be assessing you against the following Civil Service Behaviours: 

• Leadership 
• Seeing the big picture
• Making effective decisions
• Communicating and influencing
• Delivering at pace

Candidates that do not pass the interview but have demonstrated an acceptable standard may be considered for similar roles at a lower grade.

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status.

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.