About the job

Job summary

Here at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), we work on things that make a real difference to people’s lives. 
 
Whether it's through the homes we live in, the work of our local councils, or the communities we’re all a part of, our work is at the top of the political agenda. We have ambitious and far-reaching outcomes to achieve this year and, if you’re thinking of joining us, there’s never been a more exciting time. 
 
We have over 3,500 staff who are based in 20 offices right across the UK.  

As a Senior Microsoft 365 Engineer for DLUHC you’ll sit within the heart of the Technology team in our digital directorate helping to run, manage, and support our Microsoft 365 environment and provide our staff with the functionality they require across our Windows 10 and iOS devices, as well as the M365 suite of applications. 

The Technology team is responsible for delivering various modern technology services to a user base. We work flexibly to deliver excellent user centred services within Microsoft Azure, AWS, Microsoft 365 and other SaaS and Desktop apps. We’re now looking to develop internal capability and skills so that we can build power apps, automations and reporting within the team and also support business users to do the same.  

We’re looking for a Senior M365 Engineer who will work on tier 2/3 incidents and service requests referred to the team by the Service Desk, within the ServiceNow ITSM toolset. It has With opportunities to develop skills and knowledge across a portfolio of products and there will be various opportunities to work on cross disciplinary projects or services. Examples of recent work include introducing PSTN calling in Teams, configuring WDAC to increase security, implementing Azure Sentinel, and some cutting edge projects such as Microsoft 365 Copilot. 

You’ll work collaboratively across our technology teams with architects, engineers and security colleagues. You’ll work in an agile way making use of agile practices to deliver shared outcomes and plan activities for yourself and others. 

The team works in a fast paced environment with a high degree of autonomy. You’ll be someone who enjoys a challenge, self-motivated and likes to explore new things. 

As the directorate responsible for all core technology across the department your role can include work in other platforms and/or other cloud solutions as a secondary role. You will be based in the Digital Tools Team who have the overall remit of managing, supporting, and implementing all things M365, along with end user devices and end user computing. You will work forge links with our architecture and cyber teams as your work will cross over and require collaborating with them. 

We particularly welcome candidates from an ethnic minority background and other underrepresented groups to apply, as we work to continually improve our ability to represent the places and communities we support through our work.

Please read before applying:

  
Important - To apply for this role you will need to submit a CV and covering letter. These need to be merged into one document. When submitting your application Applied will ask you to upload a CV, when doing this you should upload your merged document of your CV and covering letter. There are further details in the Selection Process section further below in this advert. 

Job description

What you’ll do:

• Provide 2/3 tier management, support and maintenance of Windows 10/11 and Microsoft 365 applications - Outlook, Teams, SharePoint Online and OneDrive etc. 
• Manage, support and administer Exchange Online, Entra ID, Intune, Teams, SharePoint/OneDrive, Defender and Compliance. Including the use of PowerShell.
• Ensure that the solutions are configured and run securely, including regular checks of services to confirm their integrity. 
• Work with others to own, resolve and execute delivery of fixes and improvements.  
• Reduce our technical and security risk including written advice, policies, procedures and training to users. 
• Teach/train staff on O365 features in an evergreen environment. 
• Support teams, events and specific staff to make the best use of Digital Tools to work in and out of the office, collaborate with others, share information easily and work effectively. 
• Work as part of a multi-disciplinary technology team to deliver high profile projects. 
• Develop procedures/guidance/knowledgebase articles for service desk to allow the first line support service desk to take on support functions.
• Provide line management of staff, if required.

Person specification

As a senior M365 engineer you’ll have:

• Extensive experience in tier 2nd/3rd line support role diagnosing and resolving incidents and service requests in a Microsoft 365 and Windows 10/11 environment. 
• Extensive experience across Microsoft 365 technical administration including Entra ID, Intune, Exchange Online, Power Platform, SharePoint, Defender, and Compliance admin portals. 
• Experience of Apple DEP.
• Experience of creating user guides, process documentation, and training users on how to use new features in an M365 evergreen environment. 
• Experience of configuring and maintaining Windows 10/11, MacOS and iOS/Android mobile devices ensuring they meet security standards. 
• Extensive knowledge of the Microsoft 365 suite of user facing products. 
• Knowledge of networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, Firewalls).
• Experience of creating, managing and maintaining complex Entra ID Conditional Access policies. 
• Experience of configuring and managing Entra ID Enterprise Apps and App Registrations. 
• Experience of implementing Windows Defender 365 Secure Score recommendations. 
• Experience of packaging apps for deployment via Intune.
• A desire to learn new skills - e.g. PowerShell, Zscaler etc.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £61,884, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities contributes £13,418 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

We are for everyone 

At DLUHC we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce. We promote equality of opportunity in all aspects of employment and a working environment free from discrimination, harassment, bullying and victimisation. 

We would strongly recommend that applicants get in touch with the vacancy manager to find out more information about this role. 

We are for everyone 

CV and Cover Letter Declaration 

We recruit based on your knowledge and skills, and not background, gender or ethnicity - this is called name blind recruitment. 

Please remove references to your: 

• name/title
• educational institutions
• age
• gender
• email address
• postal address
• phone number
• nationality/immigration status

You will need to merge your CV and covering letter into one document. When submitting your application Applied will ask you to upload a CV, when doing this you should upload your merged document of your CV and covering letter. 

Most of our campaigns utilise multiple assessors and so it is possible that your application would be viewed by different assessors. 

At sift, through your CV and covering letter we will be assessing: 

• Experience 
• Technical Ability 

The interview will be of a blended nature consisting of the following success profiles elements:    

Behaviour: Changing & Improving, Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace

Experience

Technical 

In full the campaign will test the below Success Profile Elements: 

Experience: 

Technical: 

Behaviours:  Changing & Improving, Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace

Technical and Experience questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description. 

We do not consider direct CV applications – you must apply for this role via the application link on Civil Service Jobs: 

Please note that near miss offers may be made at the lower grade to candidates who do not meet the grade criteria for this campaign 

Group 1 DDaT roles

DLUHC has implemented the DDaT capability framework for Group 1 roles. Applicants that are successful at the sift stage will be required to complete a capability assessment at interview.

DLUHC will honour completed capability assessments for this role from other Government Departments for existing Civil Servants. Please provide a copy of your capability assessment to the Hiring Manager when applying. If you have any queries on pay, please contact the Hiring Manager.

Salary is determined by performance at interview, within the range advertised. Each experience or technical skill is assessed between 1-3, representing working towards, at or above the job level requirements. You are awarded a proficiency level accordingly, and you will be given opportunities at least once a year to re assess your capability and progress through the pay scale within your grade. An additional digital allowance may be payable depending on level of assessed capability.

Candidates moving from another government department have the option to retain their current salary where the principle for implementation is there is no detriment where existing pay exceeds the indicative level. Where individuals are at a lower salary than their assessed level, they will receive an upward adjustment.

G7 Group 1 DDaT salary

• The salary for this role will between  £61,884 - £66,677 (London). depending on the proficiency level assessment.
• An additional digital allowance may be payable depending on the level of assessed capability up to £9,000
• For applicants in receipt of existing allowances, we will assess each case individually and aim to match the digital allowance implemented with no detriment.
• For existing civil servants, the usual policy on level transfer and promotion will apply and is non-negotiable

Please note that the average employer pension contribution is based upon the National minimum salary for this role. Should your agreed starting salary for this role be different, the average employer pension contribution will be calculated accordingly. If you are a Secondee, this will not apply as you will remain on your home organisation’s terms and conditions. 

BENEFITS:

Transfers across the Civil Service on or after 4 October 2018:Any move to DLUHC 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

For further information about the benefits available to DLUHC employees, please see the attached Candidate Pack.

 

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION:

• London

Sift and Interview dates

Sifting is envisaged to take place W/C 15/01/2024 with interview dates to be confirmed. All interviews are currently being held remotely via videocall. 

Reserve List 

In the event that we identify more appointable candidates than we currently have posts available, we will hold applicant details on a reserve list for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made. This may include roles at a lower grade. Candidates placed on a reserve list will be informed of this. Those candidates who do not wish to remain on the reserve list should contact recruitment@levellingup.gov.uk to be removed from the reserve list. 

SC (Security Check)

Important note

Successful candidates for roles based in our 2 Marsham Street building must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Security Check and the process can take up to 8 weeks to complete.

Please note that successful candidates will need to pass the Security Check – this requires you to have been resident in the UK for the past 5 years. Please refer to the DLUHC Notes on Security Clearance section of our Candidate Pack for further information on Security Check (SC).

Candidates should also note that with effect from 1st August 2018 the department will also check all applicants who are successful at interview, against the Internal Fraud Database (IFD) held by the Cabinet Office. In accordance with the Civil Service Internal Fraud Policy, any applicant who is included on the IFD will be refused employment by DLUHC. Please see the Candidate Pack for further information on the Internal Fraud Database.

Before starting your application it’s very important to make sure that you are eligible to apply and meet the Civil Service nationality requirements. All candidates are expected to read the information provided in the DLUHC candidate pack regarding nationality requirements and rules 

Candidate Pack Information 

Please see attached Candidate pack for further information. 

 

Internal Fraud Database 

The Internal Fraud function of the Fraud, Error, Debt and Grants Function at the Cabinet Office processes details of civil servants who have been dismissed for committing internal fraud, or who would have been dismissed had they not resigned. The Cabinet Office receives the details from participating government organisations of civil servants who have been dismissed, or who would have been dismissed had they not resigned, for internal fraud. In instances such as this, civil servants are then banned for 5 years from further employment in the civil service. The Cabinet Office then processes this data and discloses a limited dataset back to DLUHC as a participating government organisations. DLUHC then carry out the pre employment checks so as to detect instances where known fraudsters are attempting to reapply for roles in the civil service. In this way, the policy is ensured and the repetition of internal fraud is prevented.  

For more information please see- Internal Fraud Register 

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.