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 

This role sits within the ESFA Service Delivery team and will focus on developing one of our digital services to calculate funding allocations creating funding contracts or publish information digitally to meet user needs developing business requirements and using an array of digital tools to improve project delivery ensuring that code conforms to industry best practices, Government Digital Service (GDS) standards, internal development guidelines and aligns with the strategic vision of the Department for Education.

Job description

As a Senior Software Developer you will lead a team of outstanding software developers to help build and run great digital services, ensure high quality output through collaboration with other teams and disciplines and assist in defining and enhancing the approaches taken to the creation and delivery of software solutions.

You will lead on both front and back- end web development, including the creation of internal and public facing APIs. You will work with technical architects, test leads, and DevOps colleagues to create the best solutions and to ensure the smooth transition from development through to production and take responsibility for the support of the applications you build, including occasional support outside of office hours.

As a Team Lead you will be responsible for supporting the team, combining your leadership skills with your software engineering capability, ensuring delivery, and motivating the team to achieve.

Your key areas of impact will be:

• To take ownership over the products, features and services the team looks after, being curious at heart with a desire to make things better
  
• Delivering secure, reliable and scalable software and supporting the team with technical tasks when needed
  
• Evaluating and advising on design choices and ensuring that software is high quality and balances technical and business considerations
• Working with the Product Manager to make sure business needs are met with high-functioning software solutions
• Defining and documenting test cases for new systems and maintaining live systems to ensure ongoing performance
• Evolving new approaches/solutions with other professions through discoveries, maintain a focus on development and deployment
• You will help prioritise and direct technical tasks across the team, to balance new and live services
• Ensuring that any reusable code created and any innovative work done within the team is communicated
  
• Sharing knowledge of tools and techniques with the wider team of developers and non-developers
• Holding the technical responsibility for all stages of a software development project, ensuring compliance, and set the standards for programming tools and techniques

Person specification

We are looking for someone with the following proven skills: 

Essential Criteria

• The ability to build scalable, server-side, cloud-based web applications (preferably Microsoft Azure)
• A detailed knowledge of C#, .NET, ASP.NET & MVC programming languages
• A detailed understanding of front-end web development, from one or some of the following (HTML/CSS/Java Script), and Visual Studio
• An ability to develop software using SQL server as the underlying data store or Cosmos db
• Sound analytical skills and good judgement when making decisions or providing opinions or advice to others. Experienced in providing hands on technical leadership
• Experience of agile development (Scrum/Kanban), software patterns, SOLID principles, continuous integration and deployment and Test-Driven Development, behaviour driven development (BDD) tools and techniques and Git version control
• Understanding of the use of Responsive Web Design.  Able to deliver web services using Web API and Open Standards with a good understanding of web security
• Full software delivery lifecycle through to orderly software retirement
• A good understanding of architectural patterns and principles
• Able to champion user research to focus on all users. Can prioritise and defines approaches to understand the user story, guiding others in doing so
• Curiosity - the urge to find out why things are the way they are and to seek out new challenges
• Problem solving - the imagination, tenacity and intelligence to find the best solution
• To have the ability to persuade and influence senior grades and stakeholders and advise and have the expertise to be able to guide more junior colleagues on complex issues within their area of the business

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, Experience and Technical skills.

Application stage:

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and Personal Statement (maximum 750 words). Your personal statement should demonstrate how your skills and experience are suitable for the role, and how you meet the Essential Criteria set out in the job advert.  

Sift stage: 

We will sift your CV and Statement against the essential criteria listed in the person specification section above.

Interview stage: 

Prior to your interview you will be asked to complete an on-line developer assessment.  Details of the assessment will be emailed to you five days before your interview.  

At interview we will assess you against the following Behaviours:   

• Changing and Improving
• Delivering at Pace
• Leadership

We’ll also assess you against these Technical skills during the interview process:

• Modern standard approach - You can use a modern standards approach to solve problems, using test driven development (TDD) techniques
• Programming and build - You can write clear, concise and maintainable code using standard tools
• A systematic approach to problem solving 

We will ask open-ended questions to which we are seeking answers/evidence of essential, previous skills, experience, and Behaviours to help us make an informed decision. 

Interviews may be conducted via Microsoft Teams. If you are invited to interview, please ensure that you have access to this software. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in contact.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.

Sift date to be confirmed. Interview date to be confirmed.

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.