About the job

Job summary

The UK's Policy Lab is a dynamic and inclusive organisation that sits within the Department for Education, but works across the whole of government. Our mission is to radically improve policymaking through design, innovation and people-centred approaches. We are looking for an exceptional candidate to join the leadership team of Policy Lab and to be at the forefront of bringing new creative innovation practices to UK policy development.

Job description

Policy Lab is a cross-government unit, with a decade of experience working openly and collaboratively to address some of the UK’s toughest policy challenges. Our multidisciplinary expertise includes policy, lived experience research, experimentation, art, systems thinking, futures, technology and design (including co-design, graphic design and strategic design). We operate on a cost recovery basis and are directly accountable to our varied commissioners.  

To be effective as the Head of Creative Innovation Practice, you will be an innovation leader with experience deploying new and established practices in multidisciplinary teams. You will be passionate about radically experimental, impact-focussed and compassionate approaches to policy development. You will have networks to further the Lab’s missions, including internal and external to government. You will also be visionary and ambitious about taking Policy Lab’s practice to the next stage of development. You will come to Policy Lab with a keen understanding of policy and an area (or areas) of your own creative or innovation practice which can contribute strongly to policymaking. 

As the Head of Creative Innovation Practice, you will: 

• Play a central role in identifying, developing and integrating new policy innovation approaches into Policy Lab’s work and contributing to their uptake by the mainstream policy community. This builds on our strong track record with methods such as speculative design, film ethnography and collective intelligence. The role entails seeking out and testing the next generation of policy innovation tools. It also includes working with the practitioners in the team to develop their innovative practice and translate that into work with policy teams. 

• Be a key component of the team’s business development working as part of the leadership team, and specifically with the G6 Head of Projects. This will include identifying and securing new strategic opportunities for the Lab, such as multi-year initiatives and high-impact external partnerships. The Head of Creative Innovation Practice will also play a leading role in identifying the methods, disciplines, tools and approaches (including novel approaches where possible) for new projects. 

• Oversee part of Policy Lab’s portfolio of policy innovation projects which are commissioned by partners across government, and beyond. In practice this would involve taking a senior leadership role in a certain number of projects, including structuring projects and teams, keeping work on track, and leading on client and senior stakeholder relationships for those projects.  

• Deliver aspects of the Policy Lab’s ambitious portfolio of work, Policy Lab is a practical, hands-on team. At times you will be both overseeing and delivering aspects of our exciting programme of work, alongside other team members.  

• Play a leading role in developing the Labs’ unique studio culture at the heart of government, by nurturing a multidisciplinary group of more than 30 designers, policymakers, ethnographers, technologists, curators, placements and other non-traditional skilled team members to do their best work. There should be consideration for greater diversity in the Lab teams, for example through recruitment and partnerships. The Head of Creative Innovation Practice will have significant line management responsibilities as well as oversight of recruitment for specialist roles and placement opportunities in the team.  

• Act as a champion for policy innovation in government and beyond. This will entail thought leadership externally and internally to the Civil Service, and a presence in both like-minded innovation communities as well as potential new markets for Policy Lab’s high-impact innovation work. The postholder will be regularly presenting and facilitating in high-profile settings to amplify Policy Lab’s work.  

• Have corporate responsibilities in DfE’s Strategic Policy Directorate, including contributing to leadership decisions, building strategic relationships with sister teams and developing the Directorate’s collaborative culture. 

Person specification

Essential criteria

• A strong track record in management and leadership, in particular in multidisciplinary teams, including management of non-typical Civil Service roles such as designers, artists, technologists, ethnographers and scientists. 

• Professional experience and BA/MA degree-level in a creative or innovation practice which can contribute strongly to policymaking. This could include design, participatory approaches, technology or other fields.

• Experience managing a portfolio of complex and ambitious projects applying a field of practice to real world problems, including knowledge/experience of various project management approaches.

• Advanced writing, synthesis and facilitation skills.

• Proven ability to develop relationships with clients to trial and deploy new and existing practices. 

• A track record in developing and nurturing communities of practice.

• External leadership reputation and credibility with a broad range of internal and external partners. 

 Desirable criteria 

• Experience of the policy process and working in a government environment. 

• Management of a commercial or quasi-commercial operation without core funding. 

Desirable criteria will only be assessed at interview, in the event of a tie break situation, to make an informed decision. 

National Security Vetting may be a future requirement of the role. The successful candidate must be willing to undergo or hold Security Check vetting. 

Benefits

Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Department’s transfer / promotion policies.

As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK, with an average employer contribution of 27%. 

You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years’ service. In addition, all staff receive the King’s Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days’ bank and public holidays.

We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.

Most DfE employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending at least 60% of their time in an office or work setting. Changes to these working arrangements are available in exceptional circumstances but must be agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role. 

Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DfE, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.  

As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Strengths and Experience.

Application

To apply for this role, you need to complete an online application via the Civil Service Jobs portal. Applications will be accepted until 23:55 hours on 31 July 2024. 

You will be asked to provide: 

1. A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years. 
2. A 750-word personal Statement of Suitability. The statement of suitability should demonstrate your experience in relation to the ‘essential criteria’ listed above. To confirm, the maximum word count for the statement of suitability is 750. Please adhere to this limit as anything over 750 words will not be taken into account.  

We will use your CV and statement to assess your experience for the role against the essential criteria listed in the person specification section above.  If you are unable to apply online, please contact CentralRecruitment.Operations@education.gov.uk in the first instance. Please visit our career site for further information on the Civil Service application process. 

Please note the following: 

• We cannot accept applications submitted after the closing date; 

• Applications will be assessed solely on the documentation provided; 

• Please refer to the advert and checklist above to ensure you have provided everything requested; 

• Applications will be acknowledged upon receipt; 

• Feedback will only be given to candidates unsuccessful following interview 

Should we receive a high number of applications, we will perform an initial sift based on the experience you outline in your personal statement of suitability. 

Interview 

You will be asked to prepare a presentation for the interview on the subject of "What experience would you bring to the role as Head of Creative Innovation Practice at Policy Lab, and what is your vision for the future of the role?". Your presentation will be assessed against the first three essential criteria. You will also be asked strength based questions to further assess your Experience using the Civil Service Strengths Dictionary. 

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a formal panel interview during week commencing 12 August, 2024.

Other Information 

In your application, please don’t include personal information that identifies you. 

This means we can recruit based on your knowledge and skills, and not background, gender or ethnicity - it's called name blind recruitment (opens in a new window). 

Please ensure that you remove from your application, all references to your: 

• name/title 

• educational institutions 

• age 

• gender 

• email address 

• postal address 

• phone number 

• nationality/immigration status 

We understand that you might use AI and other resources for your application; however, please ensure all information you provide is factually accurate, truthful, and original and doesn’t include ideas or work that isn’t your own. This is so that your application is authentically and credibly your own. 

We reserve the right to raise the minimum pass mark in the event of a high volume or strong field of candidates. 

Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK from the location options provided and not from overseas. 

The government is committed to supporting apprenticeships, enabling people to learn and progress in a role whilst earning. We want to monitor the number of people who have completed apprenticeships who are now applying to progress further in their career and are asking this question to all candidates, on all vacancies. You will be asked a question as part of the application process about any previous apprenticeships you have completed. Your response to this question will not affect your application and it is not a requirement of the role to have completed a previous apprenticeship.    

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe 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 circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Department of Education of your intention by emailing Pre-Employment.Checks.DFE@education.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading. 

Department for Education do not cover the cost of travel to your interview/assessment unless otherwise stated. 

A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made. 

Candidates will be posted in merit order based upon location preference. Where more than one location is advertised you will be asked to state your preferred location. 

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band. 

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. 

Terms and conditions of candidates transferring from ALBs and NDPBs 

Bodies that are not accredited by the Civil Service Commission and are not able to advertise at Across Government on Civil Service jobs will be treated as external new starters and will come into DfE on modernised terms and conditions with a salary at the band minimum. 

Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission but do not have civil service status will be offered modernised terms and will not have continuous service recognised for leave or sickness benefits. Salaries should be offered at band minimum, but there is some flexibility where this would cause a detriment to the individual. 

Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission and do have Civil Service status will be treated as OGD transfers. Staff appointed on lateral transfer will move on to pre-modernised DfE terms (unless they were on modernised terms in their previous organisation). Staff appointed on promotion will move on to modernised DfE terms. Staff will transfer over on their existing salary (on lateral transfer) and any pay above the DfE pay band maximum will be paid as a mark time allowance. Staff moving on promotion will have their salaries calculated using the principles set out in the attached OGD transfer supplementary information. 

Reasonable adjustment 

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: 

Contact Department of Education via centralrecruitment.operations@education.gov.uk soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. 

Complete the “Assistance required” 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. 

Any move to Department for Education (DfE) will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming 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/ 

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). 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.