About the job

Job summary

Working towards sustainable futures. Championing diversity in the workplace. At the Department for Work and Pensions, it’s all in a day’s work. From HR to Finance, Policy to Communications, this is work that sustains and supports, where everyone’s voice is heard, and our customers are at the heart of everything we do. For a career packed with possibility, a comprehensive benefits package, where we live by our values and have the opportunity to improve the lives of people across the UK, look no further. 

Supporting people who need it most. That’s our purpose. Start your own career today. Find out more and apply here. 

DWP is looking to fill 1 role in Contract Management and Partner Delivery (CMPD) directorate.  

The roles available will be based in: 

1. Blackpool Peel Park, Brunel Way, Blackpool FY4 5ES​ 
2. Newcastle – Benton Park View, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE98 1BA
3. Sheffield – Hartshead Square, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S1 2FD
4. Manchester – 2 St Peter’s Square, Manchester, M2 3AA
5. Leeds – Quarry House, Quarry Hill, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7UA

We welcome applications from candidates who demonstrate an interest and aptitude in designing and developing automated solutions to deliver business objectives and value for money. 

Job description

The key tasks of the role are:  

• This role involves working directly with customers and stakeholders to gather business requirements;  

• Translating requirements into potential system solutions through the use of MS Access and Visual Basic for Applications;  

• Building and developing robust and flexible MS Access tools to meet requirements;  

• Deliver live demonstrations (both face to face and via MSTeams) of developed tools & their functionality to a diverse and wide audience base;  

• Gather customer MI requirements and ensure these are incorporated into developed solutions;  

• Author and maintain written and online guidance to support customers and front end users;  

• Ensure developed solutions meet strict Data Protection and GDPR Policies & Legislation;  

• Maintain Information and Data Asset registration;  

• Provide first line support to customers once tools are live; 

• Perform diagnostic and fault finding methodology to identify and correct issues; and

• Continuously improve and adapt tools to the changing needs of the business through regular updates and scheduled releases. 

Person specification

Candidates should demonstrate the following criteria in their personal statement, this is the information which will be used to conduct the written sift: 

 Lead Criteria 1:   

• Demonstrate visible leadership, to deliver business objectives in complex and challenging environments. This criterion must be met.  

Lead Criteria 2:   

• Strong, proven problem-solving and analytical skills (including advanced excel experience), with the ability to interpret complex data and Management Information to draw conclusions, identify improvements and resolve issues. This criterion must be met.  

• Experience of efficiently delivering operational processes, complying with contractual and or otherwise legally binding procedures to deliver timely quality assured evidence based decisions.

• Ability to effectively communicate complex and sometimes unwelcome messages to a diverse range of senior internal and external stakeholders.

• Some experience of working with Relational Databases.

• Knowledge and use of Visual Basic for Applications.

• Experience and use of Structured Query Language (SQL).

• Strong organisational skills with a keen attention to detail. 

Desirable skills  

• A knowledge of DWP systems.

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%
• 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.

After submission of the first stage of your application, applicants will be asked to provide a Personal Statement of no more than 1250 words against the key criteria as outlined above. You will also be asked to provide a short CV listing your skills and experience. 

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

Your CV will only be considered for applications that progress to job offer and will assist the vacancy holders in matching skills to suitable opportunities/locations. It will not form part of the sifting process or be scored. 

Sift: 

All applications will be sifted according to the key criteria within the person specification section of this advert, using the information you provide on the Personal Statement template supplied in the application process. 

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead criteria annotated above. If your application proceeds to full sift all criteria will be considered. 

Interview: 

Applicants meeting the agreed minimum standard will be interviewed using the blended approach testing both Behaviours & Strengths.  

Sift and Interview dates to be confirmed. 

Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.

Postings: 

Successful candidates will be posted in merit order based on your location preferences and the geographical requirements of the business.  

You will be asked for your preferences for up to 3 locations, 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. 

The roles available will be based in: 

1. Blackpool Peel Park, Brunel Way, Blackpool FY4 5ES​ 
2. Newcastle – Benton Park View, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE98 1BA.​ 
3. Sheffield – Hartshead Square, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S1 2FD. ​ 
4. Manchester – 2 St Peter’s Square, Manchester, M2 3AA. 
5. Leeds – Quarry House, Quarry Hill, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7UA. 

 Some travel may be required. 

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.  

Reserve list candidates will be posted in merit order by location.   

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. 

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.