About the job

Job summary

We encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates   

At DfE, we are proud of the commitment we make to diversity and inclusion and of the progress we have made. We have active & vibrant staff networks, special leave policies and workplace adjustments put in place for those who need them. We are continuing to build a diverse DfE, in an inclusive environment which nurtures and realises potential in all, at all levels.  

Equality and Diversity - Department for Education 

This role is within the Regulation and Quality Division which leads the Department's work on raising standards by having the strongest school system possible. Specifically, it is a pivotal role within the Improving Schools and Trusts Team (IST), housed within the School and Trust Improvement Unit. The team is dedicated to steering the development and implementation of the department's Trust and School Improvement offer (TSI).

Part of the role will involve being the contract manager for 9 contracts with regional delivery partners, one per DfE region, that support the delivery of TSI, working closely with regional TSI leads in Regions Group (RG).

The post holder will also take the lead in evaluating the effectiveness of TSI and will support the overall evaluation of the department’s approach to improving schools and trusts as a whole.

You will be required to work closely with other teams in the wider unit, and with Regions Group who have responsibility for delivery of TSI.

The IST is made up of five team members ranging from EO to G7 (1x EO, 2x HEO, 1x SEO and 1xG7) and are currently based in London, Nottingham, Manchester and Coventry.

Job description

We are seeking a proactive and self-starting individual with exceptional organisational and collaboration skills to take on the role of Policy Officer in our team. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in fostering strong professional relationships with both internal stakeholders and our contracted regional delivery partners. This role demands a strong ability to manage competing demands while maintaining a sharp attention to detail.

Responsibilities of the post holder will include:

• Contract manager for 9 regional delivery partners. This involves creating strong professional relations with each contractor to ensure the effective delivery of TSI and contractors’ wider duties, holding contractors to account through termly contract management meetings, and being the lead for developing future approaches to TSI delivery, including the lead for future procurements.
• Working with RG to ensure effective delivery of TSI, ensuring that policy queries are answered quickly or are escalated effectively to senior members of the team.
• Work with analysts to create, publish and assess an annual qualitative review of the TSI offer, alongside developing and delivering the long-term approach to assessing the effectiveness of TSI.
• Be the policy team lead supporting the development of TSI tracking and monitoring systems, including ensuring the accurate and timely recording of management information in TSI trackers ahead of reporting to ministers.
• Develop effective relationships across the department and with external stakeholders to offer a series of training and support to MAT CEOs and National Leaders of Education who will deliver TSI to schools and trusts.

In addition, the individual will need to respond to the needs of the team throughout the year by covering other areas of work where necessary and reacting to pressures in other areas of the team as and when they arise.

Person specification

Essential criteria:

• The ability to apply creative thinking to develop options, and deliver innovative solutions, to complex policy problems.
• Ability to create strong relationships across the department to influence policy development and delivery.
• The ability to work autonomously in a changing, fast-paced environment, manage and prioritise competing deadlines, and escalate risks where necessary.

Desirable criteria:

• Knowledge/previous experience of grant or contract management and/or procurement of services.

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

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 Behaviours and Experience.

Application

To apply for this role you will be required to provide a CV and Behaviour statements as part of the application process. 

Your CV should include details of your employment history, education, training and professional qualifications and your previous skills and experience. 

You will be required to provide a 250 word example demonstrating how you meet the behaviours listed below:

• Delivering at Pace 
• Communicating and Influencing 
• Making Effective Decisions 
• Working Together 

In the event of a large number of applications, we will sift on the lead behaviour 'Delivering at Pace'.

We will use your CV to assess your experience against the essential job criteria. 

Interview

Candidates who have been successful at the sift will be contacted to schedule interviews and these will take place via Microsoft Teams. 

At interview you will be asked questions around the behaviours listed above. 

At interview you will be asked questions to assess your experience in line with the essential criteria listed above. 

Other Information 

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.   

DfE cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. DfE holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.

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. 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.