About the job

Job summary

Do you have extensive and recent experience of working on complex COBOL based applications, including the use of Micro Focus COBOL?

Have you had extensive experience designing, developing, and enhancing complex batch services and frameworks, using Autosys tooling?

Are you a strategic thinker with the ability to lead and empower teams?

We are looking for an outstanding Senior Technical Lead to lead the evolution of our core system’s critical, complex and high-throughput batch services; ensuring they are secure, accurate, efficient and that we get the best from them in line with wider DWP strategy.

This role involves working with our delivery squads, delivery leads and architects to maintain and develop our batch services. In doing so you will help DWP deliver critical services supporting the lives of millions of people.

In addition to the batch framework services you will also be responsible for supporting the feasibility assessment, design, and proof of concept work for a range of new initiatives being considered across our services.

You will support and develop our Core (legacy) Services that pay ~£150 billion to over 15 million citizens each year.

Please note - this role requires you to pass a security clearance check. For further information on this please see selection process details.

Job description

You will be responsible for the operational stability of the products you build and be in a position to effect change in the on-going robustness and resilience of those products.

You will work within, and contribute to, the overall Software Development Lifecycle Process as part of a multi-functional delivery team focused on one or more products.

Our core systems are based on Micro Focus COBOL although we also use other core languages in the wider infrastructure, e.g., Python, REACT, C, C++, and packages such as Autosys.

You will need to demonstrate your experience and knowledge across a range of products and technologies as follows:

• Batch Frameworks across multiple applications and services.
• a robust knowledge of Autosys.
• a thorough knowledge of large-scale COBOL applications, their infrastructure and interconnectivity.
• Micro Focus COBOL
• Python, C, C++, REACT

The role also requires the ability to support, mentor and provide leadership and guidance across our batch framework team. 

This is a senior role for an experienced technical expert looking for your next career step into a senior managerial role but retaining and using your technical knowledge and expertise.

You will also actively participate in our Senior Leadership Team setting the direction and vision for our teams.

You will: 

• use your technical expertise in multiple domains to develop technical product roadmaps and manage product lifecycles ensuring full alignment with DWP Strategy.
• provide leadership, guidance, and support to technical resource within the Batch Framework team and across the wider BPS team.
• undertake design and review, both functionally and architecturally, of the processes we use to deliver.
• identify service improvement opportunities and take these through to implementation.
• be required to support new initiatives and concepts, leading on the feasibility and design work, working alongside the Lead Architect to drive through the architectural design and development, identifying, evaluating, and recommending options aligning to the Digital Strategy. 
• lead and support solutions through governance process, e.g., Design Authority.
• support and provide expertise to (potential) consumers of our services, including Transformation Projects
• develop the capability of the wider team.
• bridge the gap between different teams, for example Architecture, Software Engineering, Delivery Management and Product Support to build shared understanding and direction.

You will also regularly get your hands dirty, for example resolving urgent & complex problems, developing new code, implementing external products, or undertaking Proof of Concepts.

You will be expected to draw value from collaboration with others, actively seek input from colleagues and value a multidisciplinary team over hierarchy.

You will need to understand both traditional Project methodologies and how Agile principles can be applied within one of the largest legacy estates in Europe.

Person specification

To be successful with this application, you need to demonstrate your skills and align your application to the following Essential Criteria:

• Extensive experience and expertise in designing and building batch frameworks including a strong working knowledge of Autosys tooling.
• Sound working knowledge and experience of COBOL/Micro Focus COBOL and open-source technologies such as Python, C, C++ and REACT.
• Experience of delivering feasibility studies and proof of concepts, presenting well documented findings in a clear and precise manner to a range of stakeholders.
• Experience in leading high performing teams, developing batch strategies across a large organisation.
• Experience of developing and mentoring junior staff to increase their capability and confidence.

If you would like to learn more about the role, please contact caicy.sandford@dwp.gov.uk.

Benefits

• An employer pension contribution of up to 27% For further information please click here.
• Annual leave rising up to 30 days, (based on your working pattern).
• Family friendly flexible working arrangements, such as hybrid working, job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
• Learning and development tailored to your role this could include industry recognised qualifications, coaching and mentoring. 
• An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join staff networks including: Women’s Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more.

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.

Salary Information

Pay for this role is from £69,869 to £77,740.

The maximum salary for the grade is £77,740, however a Digital Allowance of up to £12,255 per annum is available for exceptional candidates, based on our assessment of your skills and experience.

Our offer to successful candidates will be based on an assessment of your skills and experience as demonstrated at interview.

Existing Civil Servants who secure a new role on lateral transfer should maintain their current salary.

Existing Civil Servants who gain promotion may move to the bottom of the next grade pay scale or 10% increase in salary whichever would be the greater.

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

Stage 1: Application

Your application will consist of three parts:

1. A Personal Details application form.

2. Your employment history detailing your responsibilities, skills, accomplishments, plus your qualifications and relevant training. Please copy this information into the box field provided.

3. Personal statement up to 750 words. 

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

When giving details in your employment history and personal statement you should highlight your experience in line with Essential Criteria listed in Person Specification. 

The sift panel will use the information in your employment history and personal statement to assess your experience, skills, and knowledge against the essential

You will receive one combined score for both your Employment History/CV and Personal Statement, which will be provided in your Personal Statement score.

Important Information

• You will be asked to complete your employment history any information that you would customarily share on a CV should therefore be entered onto the application form.
• Personal details that could be used to identify you including your name, contact details and address must be removed for your application to be considered.
• If your employment history/personal statement contains any personal details your application will be withdrawn.

Stage 2: Interview

If you’re successful at sift stage, you will be invited to a video interview via Microsoft Teams. There, you will be assessed against the experiences listed in the Essential Criteria.

You will be asked to do a 10-minute presentation on a specific topic. Further details will be provided to candidates invited to interview. 

Interviews will take place from Early-March onwards.

Further information:

Find out more about Working for DWP

For Hints and Tips on completing your application visit Applying for jobs at DWP Digital

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

Reserve list candidates will be posted in merit order by location. 

Security Clearance Requirement

You must meet the security requirements before you can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check.

For meaningful checks to be carried out, you will need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time, to enable appropriate checks to be carried out and produce a result which provides the required level of assurance. Whilst a lack of UK residency in itself is not necessarily a bar to a security clearance, and expectation of UK residency may range from 3 to 5 years. Failure to meet the residency requirements needed for the role may result in the withdrawal of provisional jobs offers. 

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.

Reasonable Adjustment

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 DigitalRecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the “Reasonable Adjustments” 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.

For further information on reasonable adjustments, terms and conditions and how we recruit visit the How We Recruit, page

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.