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 

About Us

At the Department for Education, diversity is one of our cornerstones. Not just in terms of the background, skills and perspectives of the people who work here, but the different professions who call this organisation home. We have a surprising variety of roles, where a vast array of people come together to create an education system that gives today’s children and young people everything they need to thrive. Join us and this environment will be the launchpad for a career few can match for experience and nationwide, real world impact.

The purpose of the Technology Directorate is to help the department deliver its objectives by being a trusted partner, providing support and expertise to deploy and develop:

• IT desktop services and applications
• IT infrastructure and infrastructure services
• Application and system development
• The directorate is part of a wider Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) community across government, sharing a clear vision of making public services digital by default, simpler, clearer and faster to use

We are recruiting a Senior ServiceNow developer to work in our Technology operations team.

As a Senior ServiceNow Developer you will work in a multidisciplinary team participating in agile environment to develop solutions to business problems and translate these into effective workflows, supporting end-to-end business processes using ServiceNow’s best practice tools and technology. You will focus on delivering value to our users and improving the customer experience.

 We are looking for a Senior ServiceNow Developer who has experience working in the following areas:

• IT Service Management (ITSM),
• IT Business Management (ITBM),
• IT Operations Management (ITOM),
• Integration Hub.

Job description

You will be required to deliver workflow solutions in line with product goals and delivery cycles, while working openly and collaboratively in our team. Above all, you will want to make an impact, which may sometimes involve challenging current methods.

Working within our growing team, we have new potential and exciting opportunities to introduce new features and functionality available from the ServiceNow platform. You will working on things like improving existing workflows and identifying opportunities for automation.

As a senior ServiceNow Developer, you will also provide administration, application development, maintenance, and technical support by using good practice web programming techniques to configure robust solutions.

You will be leading a team of talented developers and be a key member of the senior management team guiding the development of the platform.

Please note: Cover is required between 8am and 5pm with core working hours of 9am- 4pm. Some flexibility may be shown and can be discussed with the successful applicant. Regular travel to Coventry is required for this role. 

Person specification

Essential

• Modern coding and development standards, practices, and techniques
• JavaScript, HTML, CSS
• Working knowledge of ServiceNow platform (ITSM)
• Ability to facilitate technical workshops and requirements discussions with stakeholders of varying level of seniority and technical skill
• Good understanding and experience of agile methodologies
• UCD focused
• Integrations, automation, and/or orchestration via workflows, scripting web services/APIs, and IntegrationHub

Desirable:

• Line management experience
• Experience of good practices such as Test-Driven Development, CI/CD, and DevOps as well as modern development workflows, ideally using GitHub.
• Experience of good software design principles such as OOD, SOLID and design patterns
• Experience of supporting, coaching, and mentoring less experienced developers
• Experience with ServiceNow CMDB/CSDM
• ITIL 4 certification

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 Stage

To apply for this role you will be asked to provide your CV, a personal statement (max 500 words) and examples of how you demonstrate the two behaviours listed in the person specification section above.

We will sift on your CV and statement, detailing your knowledge, skills and experience suitable for the role against the listed essential criteria, plus your 2 behaviour examples.

Interview Stage

Candidates successful at sift will be invited to interview via Microsoft Teams. You will be asked to prepare a short presentation for the interview. On top of the presentation, you will be asked questions on your technical skills, experience, and the 1 additional behaviour listed under personal specifications for the role.

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. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist 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.