About the job

Job summary

https://youtu.be/rVaPVTGV3oA

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 

We are looking for a motivated and self-starting EO to provide programme and administration support within the Programme Management Office of the Developing Teachers and Leaders Division.

The work of Developing Teachers and Leaders Division (DTLD) is central to the DfE’s commitments set out in the Teacher Recruitment and Retention Strategy. We are transforming the training and support teachers, and school leaders receive throughout their career, primarily through four programmes of work: the Early Career Framework (ECF), National Professional Qualification (NPQ) reforms, National Institute of Teaching (NIoT), and Teaching School Hubs (TSHs).

 This post offers the opportunity to be part of the unit leading on:

• The Teacher Development Reform Programme Management Office reporting and providing assurance on 4-multimillion-pound sub-programmes.
• Appropriate Body Policy and Legislation
• Contract Management of 87 Teaching School Hubs
• Development of future CPD Strategy, including future Teaching School Hub and National Institute of Teaching Policy

Job description

The role will be providing administrative support within the Programme Management Office (PMO) team.

The post holder's role will focus on providing administrative support to the team and overall division.

The role includes but is not limited to:

Assurance and Knowledge and Information management.

• Management of monthly PMO commissions
• Tracking the division’s Ministerial submissions and responses/decision log
• Leading on coordination of the division’s responses to external queries and FOIs
• Organising the logistics of team and unit meetings.
• Document maintenance 
• Administrative support
• Supporting the planning and delivery of deep dives into programmes project management techniques
• Supporting the people lead with recruitment processes
• Minute-taking for programme board
• Maintaining oversight and ownership of the annual and quarterly information asset register

We are a friendly, supportive, and high performing team with experience of working effectively across several sites. Our work is challenging, high paced and rewarding.

For the right applicant, this role offers a great development opportunity to build on their skills and knowledge in cross team communication, programme management and implementation support.

We have a strong focus on learning and development and ensure individuals feel confident and challenged in their work.

Apprenticeship Eligibility Statement  

This role includes the completion of the Business Administrator Apprenticeship (Level 3).

Please check the eligibility requirements below using the apprenticeship standard before applying for the role:

Institute for Apprenticeships & Technical Education 

You must have lived in the UK for 3 years prior to apprenticeship start date and not be undertaking another apprenticeship at the same time. 

• You must not already have a substantial amount of the skills and knowledge that is covered in the contents of the apprenticeship standard. 
• You must not have already worked in a similar role, or your previous learning, and/or work experience covers the contents (Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours) of the apprenticeship standard. 

Please do not apply if: 

• You already have all the skills and knowledge that is covered in the contents of the apprenticeship standard. 
• You have already worked in a similar role, or your previous learning, and/or work experience covers the contents (Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours) of the apprenticeship standard. 
• You have a degree (or equivalent) in Business Administration. 
• Part of this apprenticeship is to complete a level 2 English and maths functional skills qualification. If you have already achieved GCSEs in English and maths at Level 4 (grade C) or equivalent or a higher grade, you will not need to complete the functional skills qualification. 

At the enrolment stage, the individual's eligibility will be checked by the training provider.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

We are looking for an organised self-starter to support the team and help to drive work forward.

We are looking for candidates with: 

• Excellent organisational skills.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively to a wide range of audiences.
• Experience of working with Microsoft Excel
• Experience of managing multiple work priorities, doing so alongside competing deadlines

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, Strengths and Experience.

Application

To apply for this role, please provide a CV of 250 words and a Personal Statement of 500 words demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria listed in the person specification section of the advert.

You will also be required to provide 250-word statement against each of the following Behaviours:

1. Delivering at Pace
2. Changing and improving

An initial sift based on the lead behaviour, Delivering at Pace, may be held if a large number of applications are received.

Interview 

At interview, you will be asked questions to assess your behaviours and strengths.

The behaviours we will assess are: 

1. Delivering at Pace
2. Changing and improving

Interviews will take place via Microsoft Teams.

The purpose of the interview is to assess your suitability for the role. It will usually last 40-60 minutes, and you will be asked to describe specific occasions when you have demonstrated the behaviours we are looking for. 

There is no expectation or requirement for you to prepare for the strengths-based questions in advance of the interview, although you may find it helpful to spend some time reflecting on what you enjoy doing and what you do well.

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.