About the job

Job summary

DWP is looking to fill one Life Chances Delivery Manager role in the People and Capability directorate. ​

The roles available will be based in the following P&C Hubs; Leeds (Quarry House), Sheffield (Kings Court) and Newcastle (Benton Park View). ​

​You will be asked for your preferences for up to 1 location, these 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.​

​Selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit, on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles here. Successful candidates will be posted in merit order based on your location preferences, where appropriate, and the geographical requirements of the business. Dependent on your position on the merit list, if none of your location preferences remain at the point we make a job offer DWP may offer you a role at an alternative advertised location. If we are unable to offer you a role in any of your preferred locations, and you are unable to accept a role at an alternative advertised location, we will add you to the reserve list if one is being held.

Job description

• Working closely with DWP business and other stakeholders including across the Civil Service to promote participation in our schemes that support movement into employment.​
• Working closely with DWP, other government departments, and other external partners including Charities to improve, govern and complete the recruitment process for our Internship programmes, ensuring the smooth onboarding of all successful candidates.​
• Supporting Line Managers and Interns by, answering queries and signposting to subject matter experts where necessary. ​
• Evaluating schemes led by the Life Chances team and encouraging good news stories. ​
• Managing the recruitment and resourcing for life chances schemes using exception 2 of the Civil Service recruitment principles (and exception 10 where temporary positions are made permanent). ​
• Maintaining data and working closely with colleagues and other stakeholders including Social Mobility Apprenticeship colleagues to ensure the data is relevant, accurate and up to date.​
• Managing MI and provide SEO and Grade 7 with accurate reports and information and data for briefings as and when required. ​
• Possibility of line management responsibilities. ​
• Supporting team by providing cover for other work areas across the team, including Going Forward into Employment programmes and Movement to Work.

Person specification

• A good understanding and experience of developing, implementing and delivering programmes which support employment/employability. (Lead Criteria).​
• A committed team player with an ability to work flexibly across the team to support the delivery of all our programmes.​
• Excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to build and maintain professional and trusting relationships with stakeholders at all levels.​
• Excellent planning, organisation and prioritisation and outstanding facilitation skills.​
• The ability to deliver at pace and adapt quickly to change. ​
• Strong verbal communication skills with the ability to influence others, often in challenging and fast-changing situations.​
• Excellent written communication skills with the ability to tailor work appropriately to the audience.​
• Have experience, understanding or keen to learn quickly the details of DWP recruitment and resourcing policies and procedures. ​
• Have experience, understanding or keen to learn quickly the details of DWP Internships programmes and associated policies and procedures. ​
• Ability to build and maintaining teams excel databases, ability to work independently to accurately collate, interpret, record, track and report data to SEO and G7 within strict timeframes.     ​
• Passionate about working closely with others to help people from diverse background and support them into work.

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

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​

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

Selection will be by a written sift, followed by an interview (video via MS Teams)

The written sift will be conducted using evidence from your Personal Statement and will be assessed against the Criteria within the Personal Specification section of the advert

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the Lead Criteria:

• A good understanding and experience of developing, implementing and delivering programmes which support employment/employability,

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

Interview​

​You will be assessed against the following behaviours​

• Communicating and Influencing; Communicate in a straightforward, honest and engaging manner, choosing appropriate styles to maximise understanding and impact.​
• ​Working Together; Encourage joined up teamwork within own team and across other groups. Establish professional relationships with a range of stakeholders.​
• Managing a Quality Service; Develop, implement, maintain and review systems and services to ensure a delivery of professional excellence.​
• Delivering at Pace; Show a positive approach to keeping the whole teams efforts focussed on the top priorities.​

​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?​

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 

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 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.  

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.