About the job

Job summary

In DHSC, we are proud of our purpose – to enable everyone to live more independent, healthier lives for longer. To achieve this, and create a great place to work, we have four values: we are inclusive, we constantly improve, we challenge, and we are agile. If this sounds like an environment you’d like to work in, we’d love to hear from you.

We are pleased to offer a role in the Chief Data Officer’s Directorate (CDO).  As a new directorate, you will be joining at an exciting time; leading the building of the function and in particular its culture, values and identity and help shape its mission and purpose.

The aim of CDO is to advance the safe, legal, and ethical use of data across the Department, in order to foster a data driven culture which enables better policy making across the government. We seek to build partnerships and connections across the health and care family, to maximise the collation and sharing of data; building a collaborative and shared vision of how data is used, so that data is at the heart of decision making.

CDO is responsible for the management and transformation of a range of data products and services onto new infrastructure and support systems, changing the culture, process and systems to ensure they are modern, resilient and adaptable to meet a range of needs. 

 

The projects and programmes are a mix of management and maintenance of existing services and products and a programme of transformation, The work is a mix of migration, transition, consolidation, adaption and transformation of existing data and digital products systems and processes. We intend to both ‘move and improve' the systems and processes that support our health intelligence and analysis provision.

We are recruiting to the post of Project and Transformation Adviser. The post holder will support the Project and Transformation Manager, by managing discreet projects, supporting governance arrangement and reporting, supporting project oversight and management, stakeholder engagement and administrative support for meetings.

The projects and programmes are a mix of management and maintenance of existing services and products and a programme of transformation., The work is a mix of migration, transition, consolidation, adaption and transformation of existing data and digital products systems and processes. We intend to both ‘move and improve' the systems and processes that support our health intelligence and analysis provision.

Job description

The role is critical in the transformation and delivery of a range of data services to move and improve the Department's data and analytical products and processes, making them fit for the modern data and digital age.  This transformation is a significant piece of work in the CDO Portfolio.

• You will have great communication and engagement skills. You will be able to adapt your communication style to maximise understanding and impact.
• You will have knowledge of project management principles and be able to organise your own workload.
• You will be required to support the management and delivery of discrete projects, supporting with governance, planning, delivery, financial and contractual monitoring and risk management.
• You can act as the point of contact for contracted suppliers, understand appropriate internal contacts and processes within a government department.
• You can communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders, support and host discussions within a multidisciplinary team, with potentially difficult dynamics and be an advocate for the team externally, managing differing perspectives and needs.
• You can understand the financial impact of the work you do and how cost and budgets are created.
• You can actively address internal risks and issues and know when to escalate them, set the team pace and tempo, ensuring it is sustainable, track, manage, escalate and communicate dependencies, understand how the risks, issues or dependencies impact the work of a team.
• You can understand the importance of planning and forecasting and show an awareness of the different ways to develop a plan.

You understand the importance of continuous improvement, and able to seek and implement feedback to improve ways of working.

Person specification

You will report directly to the Project and Transformation Manager, and will:

• Assist the project manager in delivering the project’s objectives by completing specific tasks as required. For example, creating and maintaining processes and supporting documents for example project plans, timelines, governance papers, project reports, risk registers, change controls and communications.
• Support and co-ordinate the governance of discrete projects by arranging, facilitating project governance meetings including setting dates/venues, coordinating agendas, papers and notes and following up on actions.
• Provide hands on planning support as and when needed to projects/workstreams, ensuring planning standards are adhered to and appropriate tools are used.
• Input into the development of business cases and proposals to establish new projects.
• Contribute to the production of timely and accurate reports on project performance by providing progress reports and monitoring specific actions.
• Identify and monitor project risks (threats and opportunities), then plan and implement responses to them.
• Analyse project reports, taking appropriate action to resolve failures to meet project standard or escalate to the Project and Transformation Manager.
• Manage professional relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, including contract management, and act as a point of contact for external parties. Support stakeholder engagement, communication and contract management at all levels.
• Work collaboratively across teams and functions, with the ability to problem solve and work in an agile way.

The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by the directorate.

Key Skills and Experience Required for the Role

Essential Skills and Knowledge:

• Demonstrable project management experience using relevant tools and techniques, delivering at pace and in ambiguous circumstances.
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage tight and sometimes conflicting deadlines. Able to prioritise own workload and negotiate with stakeholders.
• Experience in meetings management including the setting up of and administration for meetings and governance processes i.e., agenda, papers, notes, times and venues.
• Work flexibly and responsively, frequently at pace, being able to champion the latest thinking to improve outcomes, spot where things can be done better and promote how these can be taken forward. Ability to record and report on project progress, risks, issues and compliance, and draft outline timeframes and budgets.
• Ability to identify and monitor risks, maintain project registers, issues, and linkages across strands of work, taking the appropriate action to address these effectively.
• Clear demonstration of a focus on delivery – developing and delivering on plans, responding quickly and decisively to take ownership for and delivery of valued outcomes in changing circumstances and to tight deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with a proven track record of establishing, building, and maintaining strong, collaborative, and productive relationships.
• The ability to manage a broad range of responsibilities and thrive under pressure.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, both written and verbal, with a working knowledge of Microsoft Office 365 products including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and SharePoint.

Desirable

• Experience in change management.
• Knowledge or experience managing contracts or supporting procurement activities.#

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%

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.

Sift date: W/C 27/05/2024

Interview date: expected W/C 3/06/2024

Interview location: By video

The available interview slots will be released with the sift scores. 

Applications will be sifted on Behaviours, CV and Statement of Suitability. 

Please use your CV to set out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role. These can be found in the ‘key skills and experience required for the role’ section of the advert.

Please use your statement of suitability to (in no more than 750   words) outline how you meet the key skills and experience required for the role as set out in the job advert. 

An initial sift based on the lead Behaviour: Delivering at Pace may be held if a large number of applications are received. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

At interview candidates will be assessed on Behaviours and Strengths.

To find out more about working in the department please visit our page on the Civil Service Careers Website here 

Applicants who are appointable but were not successful in appointment to this vacancy, may be held on a reserve list for up to 12 months, and contacted if similar vacancies become available. 

Please be aware that some travel may be required across the DHSC estate. 

Please note that applicants will require BPSS  clearance. 

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to DHSC 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.

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. 

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.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

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 Government Recruitment Service via dhscrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as 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. 

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out. 

n 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. 

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

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. 

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.

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.