About the job

Job summary

Our Mission

We are known as IfATE, we are a group of passionate people who work with employers to develop, approve, review and revise apprenticeships and technical qualifications.

We are transforming and improving the skills system by putting employers at the heart and making it easier to navigate for all.

You will be part of an organisation that works to help people of all ages and backgrounds have the opportunity to maximise their potential, contribute to improving social mobility and the UK’s productivity. 

Find out more about the work of IfATE in the ‘What we do’ page on our website. 

We are building an inclusive culture to make IfATE a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, and actively welcome applications from everyone including those from underrepresented groups.

Job description

We are looking for a Senior Software Developer with Django and Python skills to work within an Azure DevOps environment. This is essentially an operational role, involving developing and maintaining the Institute Data System (IDS). IDS is a Django based internal workflow/case management platform that records information on the current status of IfATE technical products and processes to support core decision making. It also provides key reports and analysis, as well as a document store.

IDS was originally designed to support the development of apprenticeship standards, but now also supports the much wider set of products that IfATE manages, including HTQs and post-16 qualifications, T-levels, Occupational maps and Occupational standards.

The role sits within the IDS Team, which is part of the wider Digital and Analytical Services (DAS). As well as being responsible for IDS, DAS supports evidence-led decision making throughout IfATE by providing data, insight and analysis to the board and its sub committees using a mixture of coding, statistics and domain expertise.

The ideal candidate should possess a combination of Django and Python expertise and experience with Azure DevOps tools and practices. They will be expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy, championing the effective use of data and analytical evidence across the institute. This will require a clear understanding of quality assurance, risk and project management to ensure successful delivery across the full range of  responsibilities.

IfATE is going through an exciting period of transformation as it takes on more responsibility to reshape the technical education landscape. We are currently embarking on an ambitious plan for our digital services that will transform our systems and processes over the next 3 years. The successful candidate will be asked to get involved in this activity alongside the 'day job' and work with third parties and other stakeholders to support transition from the legacy systems to the new.

We are looking for a motivated and pro-active senior software developer who can deliver at pace, working both independently and as part of a team. The successful candidate will be experienced in Python and Django and will care about code quality.

As a Senior Software Developer, you will: 

• Help to improve and develop the Institute Data Service (IDS) in order to support the expanding responsibilities of the Institute, working within an agile environment.
• Understand the whole IDS system and take responsibility for teaching this to others where appropriate.
• Apply your experience of full stack web application development technologies and front-end languages.
• Work in cloud-based environments (Azure).
• Design, test, and improve software that meets user needs, writing clean, secure code that is of a high quality and is easy for others to reuse. 
• Find ways to improve the system robustness, resilience and stability.
• Help improve the links between IDS and the other digital services used by IfATE.
• Identify process optimisation opportunities and propose and implement solutions.

Benefits of the role include:

• Space to learn and develop in order to further your career. This job is in line with the Senior Software Developer role described by the Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) Profession Capability Framework (see https://www.gov.uk/guidance/software-developer for further information). Following this framework will enable the successful candidate to identify skills that need development to help career progression and to later move into other software development roles across the Civil Service.
• Exposure to a wide variety of interesting projects across the entire organisation.
• Ability to work with a relatively large amount of autonomy and influence. We are open to new ideas and keen to continually improve the way we do things.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

• Proven ability to deliver complex software solutions in a multi-disciplinary agile team.
• Experience of full stack web application development technologies including Django, Python, REST APIs, PostgreSQL and front-end languages.
• Proficiency with key Azure DevOps tools including Azure DevOps Services, repos, pipelines, artifacts and boards.
• Ability to set up and manage Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD).
• Proficiency in Git workflows, including feature branching, pull requests and code reviews.
• Strong problem-solving skills for debugging and addressing issues and the ability to communicate the impact and potential resolutions of technical messages effectively.

Desirable Criteria

• Proficient in creating clear and comprehensive documentation for both code and deployment processes.
• Knowledge of testing and quality assurance methodologies within the CI/CD pipeline.
• Experience of using GDS design.

Desirable criteria will only be assessed in the event of a tie between candidates.

Working flexibly is important to the success of the IfATE, and while you will have specific responsibilities as set out above, you will be part of a ‘one team’ approach and may be asked to be involved in a range of other activities.  As new areas of work progress, you may be asked to move between teams to deliver the IfATE’s key priorities.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £53,775, Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education contributes £14,519 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

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement.

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

Please use your Personal statement (in no more than 750), to provide evidence on how you meet the essential criteria listed above.

Please note - the CV incorporated into the application form is for information purposes only and will not be scored.

The personal statement will be assessed at sift. If we receive high volumes of applications, we will sift only on the first essential criteria, so please ensure that the first 150-200 words of your statement are aligned to this criterion.

Candidates eligible for the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) will be invited to interview if they meet the minimum criteria at application stage. Please refer to the Candidate Information Pack for more details.

Interview

The interview will involve a discussion around your experience based on the advert’s criteria, your CV, and your statement.

You will also be asked to give a 10 minute presentation and follow up questions (presentation topic will be given prior to interview).

Sift is expected to take place w/c 19/02/24.
Interviews will be held on Monday 26/02/24.

Interviews will be expected to take place remotely via MS Teams. Please refer to Candidate Information Pack for further information on the process.

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to IFATE 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

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 @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.

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. 

The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education does not cover the cost of travel to your interview/assessment unless otherwise stated.

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

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.