About the job

Job summary

As part of the Places for Growth Programme, we are committed to delivering a more geographically diverse Civil and Public Service that will better serve the public and ministers. As part of this initiative, we are continuously reviewing how we recruit into each location. 

At DWP we are committed to creating a great place to work for all our colleagues; an inclusive and respectful environment that reflects the diversity of the society we serve. 

We want to maximise the potential of everyone who chooses to work for us, and we offer a range of flexible working patterns and support to make a fulfilling career at DWP accessible to you. 
 
Diverse perspectives and experiences are critical to our success, and we welcome applications from all people from all backgrounds with the experience and skills needed to perform this role. 

As one of the largest government departments, almost every individual in the UK is a direct customer of DWP at some point in their lives. DWP’s mission is to improve people’s quality of life, both now and in the future. We do that by focussing on delivering excellent services that make a difference to millions of people. We trust and empower our people to deliver these services to customers every day, including the most vulnerable in society.  

We seek to be an exemplar of the modern Civil Service, and to build on our achievements for the benefit of those we serve. When we are at our best, we care, we deliver, we adapt, we work together and we value everyone, and we seek to ensure that these values guide the way we serve our country, our communities, and our fellow citizens.

Contract Management and Partner Delivery (CMPD) is a Corporate Team within DWP. It’s an incredibly exciting time to be working in CMPD. The role of CMPD is to ensure that our contracted employment and health providers deliver the outcomes that the customer needs and play a vital part in shaping the future of contracted employment, Health and European Social Fund (ESF) payments and provisions.

The Directorate sits within DWPs Finance Group and works closely with a wide range of colleagues including DWP Operations, Commercial, Finance, Strategy and contracted suppliers.

More information about DWP, CMPD and this role is included in the candidate pack.

Job description

As a member of CMPD, you will be required to support delivery of CMPD aims and objectives and actively support and promote the DWP vision. In particular, to provide support to the Southern cluster on various national contracts to:  

• Ensure that provision service delivery standards are constantly measured, business targets and objectives met in line with original assumptions/contractual obligations. 
• Monitor Provider performance against targets and service levels, producing performance reports and briefing material as required. Engaging with stakeholders to fully impact performance challenges. 
• Challenge and inspire providers to drive performance improve-ments where needed, identifying innovative solutions and escalating risks as appropriate.  
• Support Grade 7, Senior Performance Manager (SPM) and other HEOs across the country to optimise the performance of provision. 
• Develop a strong understanding of Providers processes and ensure Provider requirements are considered in DWP planning activity. 
• Project a clear understanding of provision requirements to ensure provision aligns with expectations.   
• Maintain strong and effective working relationships with a wide range of internal/external stakeholders.  
• Collaborate with Providers on opportunities to improve both the performance and value for money. 
• Identify potential risks to the successful performance of the providers and ways in which the Department should mitigate and manage these risks. 
• Attend/contribute to governance meetings, providing appropriate challenge to ensure robust scrutiny of Provider performance.

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 CRITERA – Strong engagement and influencing skills with a focus on building collaborative working relationships with colleagues and stakeholders across the team, department and with external providers. 
• The ability to lead by example and provide inspiration, direction and support to colleagues and internal/external stakeholders by communicating with clarity and purpose and challenging in a professional manner. 
• The ability to work flexibly to meet changing demands and manage multiple competing priorities in a complex and challenging environment. 
• Proven experience of producing excellent communications with the ability to assimilate and interpret information quickly and explain complex propositions simply and clearly. 

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.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a Personal Statement of no more than 1000 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. 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. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

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

Interview:

Applicants meeting the agreed minimum standard will be interviewed using the blended approach testing both behaviours and strengths. 

Sift and Interview dates to be confirmed.

Postings:

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

Standard promotion rules will apply, and successful candidates will be placed on the pay scale and terms and conditions of DWP.

The roles available will be based in: 

• Taunton – Brendon House, 35-36 High Street, Taunton, TA1 3NY​
• Exeter - Clarendon House, Western Way, EX1 2DA​
• Bridgewater - Hanover House, Northgate, TA6 3HG

Some travel may be required.

Location preferences -  ​

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.

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.

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.

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.