About the job

Job summary

Do you have experience in either Quality Assurance or Digital Forensics? Do you have great communication and Leadership skills? 
 
Then DWP may be the place for you. This is an exciting opportunity to join our Counter Fraud and Compliance Directorate (CFCD) on a team committed to tackling fraud encountered through our Economic, Serious, and Organised Crime team.

Your role will be varied with no two days being the same.  We are seeking a Quality Manger to transform the Digital Forensics Quality Assurance Framework and play a leading role to support ISO 17025 accreditation. 

You will be at the forefront of tackling serious and organised crimes against DWP which often has links into wider criminality of modern slavery, human trafficking, and identity fraud. You will work with senior leaders across multi law enforcement agencies on high profile and serious fraud operations involving many suspects in multi-million-pound criminality.   

As Quality Assurance Manager, you will work independently of practitioners and will be fully responsible for findings, including non-conformity.  This will include development and continual review of the Quality Assurance Framework, as well as involvement in the Standard Operating Procedures used by practitioners.

CFCD is a great place to work where the leadership team are passionate about attracting the best talent whilst nurturing and valuing new and existing colleagues to be the best they can be. We are looking for people who can demonstrate our values and commitment to leadership which are based around Collaboration, Resilience, and Inclusivity.

We look for emotionally aware leaders who enable teams to be innovative, adaptable, and flexible. We want you to be comfortable challenging the norm and finding daring and dynamic solutions that support our values and enable colleagues to shine in whatever role they do. 

Job description

The role of the Quality Assurance Manager is vital for the development, maintenance, and assurance of forensic services provided to DWP.  The DWP Digital Forensics Unit conducts forensic activities within laboratory environments, as well as at the scene of crime, overseeing practices for the forensic examination of a whole range digital devices, ensuring that standards are always upheld, and that policies and procedures are correctly followed in accordance with relevant regulations.

This role has overall responsibility for the Quality Management Systems currently in place, alongside the development of new Quality Management structures and activities, to ensure the Digital Forensics unit can attain, and retain, its accreditation to ISO 17025, and that systems in place meet regulatory, legislative, and criminal justice requirements (e.g. Forensic Science Regulator, Health and Safety, EU, Home Office).

You will play a key role in the continuous improvement of the Quality Management System. You will ensure the organisation remains compliant with current standards and manage the implementation of new accreditations as required, enabling confidence in the quality of outputs.

You will be responsible for ensuring that the Digital Forensics Laboratory has the correct equipment, documentation, processes and manuals for all Digital Forensic operational activities, Accreditation activities and the Quality Management System.  You will be responsible for controlling Digital Forensic equipment, working to ensure that it is validated and calibrated to the required standard, providing expert witness statements in court if required.

What will you be doing as a Quality Assurance Manager

Responsibilities  

As a Quality Assurance Manager, you will be responsible for:

• Ascertaining and maintaining a comprehensive understanding and written record of internal policies and technical procedures of the Digital Forensics unit.
• Leading on the creation, review, and updating of the Digital Forensic Quality Management framework and associated records. This includes technical validation. 
• Engaging with colleagues across the Operations Leadership teams, Digital Forensics unit and both internal and external stakeholders and partners, to ensure understanding, co-operation, and compliance with the Quality Management framework and understand best practice. 
• Planning and leading the internal audit programme, comprising of auditing and reporting of both the quality management system and technical/forensic processes, to ensure compliance with ISO 17025, and Forensic Science Regulator (FSR) Codes of Practice. 
• Supervise, train and mentor new members of the Quality Assurance Team. 
• Investigating and identifying root causes for non-conforming activities and implement effective corrective and preventative action, procedural updates, and checks for effectiveness to maintain traceability as required by external assessors to meet ISO 17025, FSR Code of Practice and UKAS requirements.
• Assessing complex techniques and outcomes, and make recommendations from your analysis, as you encounter new or novel practices.
• Providing written and verbal reports to meet the different needs and range of stakeholders.
• Leading the work with the wider Digital Forensics unit to prepare for and facilitate UKAS Assessment visits, obtaining, expanding and maintaining the scope of accreditation, as required.
• Reviewing quality management and operational data to assess performance, and conduct trend analysis, providing assurance to both internal senior management and external bodies (e.g. UKAS) that business objectives and all regulatory requirements are being met.
• Providing professional and technical advice on all aspect of Digital Forensic quality, including whether DWP is operating safely within relevant legislation, the FSR Code of Practice and/or ISO 17025.
• Validation of outcomes, competency testing, and assurance, which will require development of a variety of techniques, for example the creation of blind trials or simulations to in order the ensure the unit has robust quality checking and validation processes.
• In addition, you will adopt a continuous improvement approach, ensuring the service remains consistent, fit for purpose, and meets the demands of both internal and external requirements. Maintaining an awareness of existing legislation/regulations and responding to any updates, changes, and/or introductions of new regulatory requirements will be essential. 

 

Person specification

What we are looking for in our Quality Assurance Manager:

• Strong and effective experience in Quality Assurance, and practitioner processes, risk assessments, business continuity planning and impact assessments, with the ability to lead through others and make sound business decisions at pace.    

• Can collaborate and communicate with clarity, conviction and enthusiasm with colleagues, partners, and stakeholders to drive positive outcomes and meet a range of different needs, including guidance and advice on the importance and specifics of working to statutory requirements.   
• Have the resilience to overcome difficulties, taking ownership for resolving issues. 

• Ability to think critically on processes and procedures and be able to manage and implement improvements.

• Understand risks, nonconformities, their importance, and have experience managing and handling sensitive and challenging issues.
• Can drive performance improvement through proactive management of processes and ensuring compliance with relevant policies and regulatory requirements, using sound analytical skills, and the ability to effectively interpret and use information.

• Understand and engage with change with an ability to inspire and obtain buy-in from colleagues by encouraging discussion.

• Have excellent planning, negotiating and influencing skills, particularly as a DWP representative in national multi-agency meetings, requiring strategic decisions.  
• Confident with technology; ability to quickly adapt to new/bespoke systems and solutions. 
• Have a flexible, agile outlook, able to innovate and display creative thinking.  
• Understand the political context within which DWP operates.
• Hold a solid understanding of equality and diversity, and how it impacts upon service delivery.  

Key Criteria

Candidates will be able to demonstrate the following Key criteria: 

• Previous experience and in depth understanding of developing a quality and technical validation manual in accordance with international standards such as ISO 9001, ISO 17025 & the Forensic Science Regulator Codes of Practice, and experience of managing third party assessments with UKAS.

• Previous experience in developing and continually improving quality standards and management in a testing or calibration laboratory environment, with a focus on documentation, compliance, validation, audits, and process improvement.

 

• Experience in conducting internal audit/governance of policies, procedures and forensic activities against legislation/regulations, and using your excellent presentation and communication abilities, to produce reports or deliver findings and recommendations, at various levels.
• Experience of working collaboratively with internal and external partners, demonstrating your ability to build relationships and influence others, to agree or transform common objectives and outcomes. 

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of working within digital forensics laboratory, and/or other working environments subject to operating to quality standards.
• Experience of working within the Criminal Justice system to obtain and present best evidence.

Training Requirements

The successful candidate should already hold or be willing to attain: 

• ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Awareness 
• Laboratory Management – Role of the Quality Manager & Technical Management
• Laboratory Internal Audit – ISO/IEC 17025:2017 course

You must be willing to attain any future appropriate training required to undertake the technical functions of the role.  This may be attained through completion of relevant courses, as required.

Travel Requirements: 

You are required to travel nationally to attend and oversee:    

• Audits of laboratories of the Digital Forensic Unit
• Briefings and operational meetings with internal and external stakeholders such as Senior Leadership teams, Digital Forensics unit, Police, UKAS.   
• Due to the nature of the role, this could be at any location nationally.  

Essential Criteria 

Please note that the role that you are applying requires National Security Vetting (NSV) to the level – Security Check (SC).  You can find more information at United Kingdom Security Vetting: Applicant - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)   

If you are successful in your application, you will need to attain SC clearance before you can take up post.  This is mandatory and is in addition to completion of Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). 

The purpose of the NSV process is to provide a level of assurance about an individual’s trustworthiness, integrity and reliability, and other factors that increase their vulnerability to corruption or risk of committing a security breach. It involves the investigation of an individual’s background and circumstances to achieve this aim. 

To be eligible to apply, you will need to have 5 years continual UK residency prior to the date of your application.  In certain circumstances a minimum period of 3 years may be considered with additional checks.  If you do not have continual UK residency, we will not be able to proceed with your application, because you will be unable to obtain Security Clearance.  This includes if you have been out of the UK for six months or more during this time. 

The application process will ask for personal details about you, your address history, previous relationships, your parents, your employment history, your financial circumstances, and details of any pending, spent or unspent convictions.  This list is not exhaustive.  Please view the Vetting explained - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) for more information. 

If you require any further information, please contact the vacancy holder – the details are on the jobs portal through which you made your application.

If you are successful in your application, we recommend that you familiarise yourself with the NSV process and advise that you collate as much information as you can prior to starting your Vetting application.   

If you go on to attain Security Clearance, then you should be aware of the following: 

Behaviours expected of you to maintain clearance 

Keeping your clearance is dependent upon maintaining good security behaviours. You must: 

• Not take any illegal drugs.
• Always act with honesty and integrity and, if you are a Civil Servant, adhere to the Civil Service Code.
• Always act in a way that will not put you at risk of being unduly influenced, exploited or blackmailed by people such as criminals and journalists.

In addition to the above candidates who are successful will be asked to complete an integrity declaration before we offer them a position.      
Candidates must declare to the best of their knowledge:   

• Any disciplinary finding of guilt / failure to meet the appropriate standard of conduct relating to their employment they have ever had.  
• Any charge of a disciplinary offence / notification of a failure to meet the appropriate standards they have ever had where the case has not yet been concluded. 
• Any past convictions, criminal findings, or police cautions, regardless of whether they are ‘spent’, they have ever had. 
• The disclosure of this information will not automatically disbar the candidate from this role but we need to be aware of any event or issue which could impinge on the candidate’s credibility if questioned in court.  

What Checks are Involved? 

• Successful completion of the Baseline Personnel Security Standard. 
• Completion, by the individual, of a security questionnaire. 
• A departmental/company records check which will include, for example personal files, staff reports, sick leave returns and security records. 
• A check of both spent and unspent criminal records. 
• A check of credit and financial history with a credit reference agency. 
• A check of Security Service (MI5) records. 
• Exceptionally, if there are any unresolved security concerns about the individual, or if recommended by the Security Service, the individual may also be interviewed. 
• In the event of any unresolved financial concerns, the individual may also be required to complete a separate financial questionnaire so that a full review of personal finances can be carried out. 
• Checks may extend to third parties included on the security questionnaire. 

Benefits

Benefits including:

• Generous annual leave - 25 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (pro–rata for part time employees), plus bank holidays and one day of leave for the King’s Birthday. The exact number of days of annual leave will be determined by any current years of service.
• Competitive maternity, paternity and parental leave. We also recognise the importance of a good work-life balance and offer flexible working and a family friendly approach to work.
• Training and apprenticeships and up to 5 days’ personal development & learning allowance
• Flexible/hybrid working
• Employee discount schemes
• Free wellbeing support
• Opportunities to make a real difference through joining forums, initiatives & charities
• Interest free travel loans
• Vodafone advantage discount scheme
• HASSRA - DWP colleagues will have the opportunity to join HASSRA, a vibrant and successful organisation that provides a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly). It also has an important part to play in helping us achieve a healthy work-life balance and wellbeing in the workplace
• Highly sought after civil service pension- your pension is a valuable part of your total reward package where:
  - The employer makes a significant contribution to the cost of your pension.
  - Your contributions come out of your salary before any tax is taken. This means, if you pay tax, your take-home pay will not be reduced by the full amount of your contribution; and
  - Your pension will continue to provide valuable benefits for you and your family if you are too ill to continue to work or die before you retire.
  - For more information, visit civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk

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 Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

Stage 1 - Application and Sift  

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a Statement of Suitability in no more than 1250 words detailing the relevant skills and experience you can bring to the role, based on the Key Criteria listed.   

When completing your statement of suitability, please read and understand the Key Criteria thoroughly, as this is what your written evidence will assessed against. Your layout is entirely your preference; you may choose narrative, bullets, etc. You may choose to address each criteria separately, however, one narrative example may cover and evidence several key criteria. You may not be able to meet all the key criteria, but please ensure you: Evidence the key personal requirements; what have you done that’s relatable to the requirements? You don’t have to explain the whole process, just what you have done and the skills, experience you have used. Share with us what makes you suited to this role and why? What you can do and the skills you have that are transferable to the key requirements, and the life experience or passion you have that are linked to this role.   

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form. 

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead or both the lead and the 2nd lead criteria. If so, we will sift on:      

• Previous experience and in depth understanding of developing a quality and technical validation manual in accordance with international standards such as ISO 9001, ISO 17025 & the Forensic Science Regulator Codes of Practice, and experience of managing third party assessments with UKAS. (Lead criteria)
• Previous experience in developing and continually improving quality standards and management in a testing or calibration laboratory environment, with a focus on documentation, compliance, validation, audits, and process improvement. (Second lead criteria).

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to an interview.   Please note candidates will be provided an explanation of their score at sift detailing if an initial sift or full sift was carried out on their application. 

**Please note the closing date for your full application is 23:55 on 11/06/2024** 

Sift to be held 17/06/2024 to 21/06/2024. These dates made be subject to change.  

Candidate Pack   

It is important that you take time to read the Candidate Pack which can be found at the bottom of this job advert. This provides further information about the role and working in DWP.  

Stage 2 - Interview

Those who pass the Written Application Sift with the required score will be invited to a blended interview and will receive an electronic notification to your Civil Service Jobs account.  

Please note that interviews will be Face-to-Face at either of our Liverpool, Harrogate, Glasgow or Staines offices. You will receive an invite with the relevant details to attend the office at the appointed time through the email account you provide us with on your application.  

Interviews are scheduled to take place from 15/07/2024 to 19/07/2024, please note that these dates are only indicative at this stage and could be subject to change. Interviews will be scheduled Monday to Friday, between 09:00 to 17:00.

Preparing for the interview  

The interview will take approximately 45 minutes and will consist of technical questions about the creation and development of a Quality Assurance Framework, auditing and validation functions, working in a forensics environment to a Code of Practice, and Strength-based questions. 

Strengths 

It is difficult to prepare for strength type questions. However, you can think through your answers, focus on your achievements and aspects you enjoy and decide how these can be applied in the organisation and role.  

While strengths questions are shorter and we do not expect a full STAR response, the panel is interested in your first reaction to the question and information or reasoning to support this. 

If you withdraw your application at any stage, it will not be progressed any further.    

Stage 3 – Offer  

Once all interviews have been completed, candidates will be notified of the outcome by email. Offers will be made in strict merit order to the highest scoring candidate first.  

The successful candidate(s) will be notified of a start date following successful security checks, which is likely to be during October/November 2024.  

Important information.   

Working Pattern​  

Part-time and job-sharing working patterns within working hours will be considered but must meet business needs. We will do our best to let people with existing part time contracts retain their contracted hours provided they are in line with current business needs. Please note that successful part time and job share candidates will be required to work full time for specific periods to complete all training and consolidation. ​  

​Hours of Work ​  

The full-time working week in DWP is 37 hours. You may be required to work at any time between the hours of: ​  

• 7:45am and 8:00pm on any day between Monday to Friday, and​ 
• 8:45am to 5:00pm on Saturday.​ 

Managers will agree working patterns with successful applicants within these business hours and review these as appropriate.  ​  

You will be given advance notice of your personal schedule.  

Please note:   

• If you are offered the role you applied for, in a location you have expressed a preference for, and you decline the offer or are unable to take up post within a reasonable timeframe you will be withdrawn from the campaign and removed from the reserve list, other than in exceptional circumstances*.   
• If DWP makes an offer of an alternative role or location to that which you originally applied for, and you decline that offer, you will be able to remain on the reserve list. 

*Note - Exceptional circumstances could be when a candidate has requested a contractual Part Time Working Pattern and this pattern cannot be accommodated in the initial role offered, or in cases of serious ill health.  

Candidates should also note that if successful in this campaign, you will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 18 months before applying for any other lateral moves within DWP.   

Further information  

Find out more about Working for DWP 

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 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 or Disclosure Scotland 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 the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk 

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

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. 

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.  

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.  

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

Reasonable Adjustments 

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 “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 are 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. 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.