About the job

Job summary

At DWP we are committed to creating a great place to work for all our colleagues; an inclusive and respectful environment that reflects the diversity of the society we serve.

We want to maximise the potential of everyone who chooses to work for us, and we offer a range of flexible working patterns and support to make a fulfilling career at DWP accessible to you.

Diverse perspectives and experiences are critical to our success, and we welcome applications from all people from all backgrounds with the experience and skills needed to perform this role.

As one of the largest government departments, almost every individual in the UK is a direct customer of DWP at some point in their lives. DWP’s mission is to improve people’s quality of life, both now and in the future. We do that by focussing on delivering excellent services that make a difference to millions of people. We trust and empower our people to deliver these services to customers every day, including the most vulnerable in society.

We seek to be an exemplar of the modern Civil Service, and to build on our achievements for the benefit of those we serve. When we are at our best, we care, we deliver, we adapt, we work together and we value everyone, and we seek to ensure that these values guide the way we serve our country, our communities, and our fellow citizens.

Postings

Posting will be made in merit order by location, this will be based on the geographical requirement at the time.

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

Successful candidates will be posted to a specific role and will have the opportunity to express a preference as part of the selection process, although final decisions may come down to business need, and the skills and development needs of candidates. Standard promotion rules will apply, and successful candidates will be placed on the pay scale and terms and conditions of DWP.

The roles available will be based in:

Birmingham 3 Arena Central, Bridge Street, Birmingham B1 2AX

Blackpool Peel Park, Brunel Way, Blackpool FY4 5ES

Leeds – Quarry House, Quarry Hill, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7UA.

Manchester – 2 St Peter’s Square, Manchester, M2 3AA.

Newcastle – Benton Park View, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE98 1BA.

Sheffield – Hartshead Square, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S1 2FD

Job description

This is a challenging and high-profile post at the centre of the department’s Payment Systems and Financial Control (PSF) Directorate, which is part of the wider Finance Group. 

The role of a DWP Supplier Manager touches every part of the Department, including payments to DWP benefit customers, DWP staff and our suppliers, and underpins many DWP financial processes. 

The successful candidate will be posted to a role within the Shared Services Supplier Management Change Team (SSSMT) , which will also include Line Management responsibilities for a small team of HEO Supplier Managers.   

The successful candidate can expect to be involved in a range of the following activities: 

• Supporting the management and delivery of a Change Management process, ensuring changes are progressed in line with the contracts, maintaining governance routes and accurate audit trails
• Examining existing ways of working to identify future improvements. Sharing good practice to improve processes and customer service 
• Continually monitor and develop Stakeholder relationships, including seeking and responding to feedback 
• Representing the team in DWP, Supplier or Cross Government Forums
• Providing general support to the wider team
• Line management responsibilities.  

Places for Growth and Social Mobility

As part of the Places for Growth Programme, we are committed to delivering a more geographically diverse Civil and Public Service that will better serve the public and ministers.

As part of this initiative, we are continuously reviewing how we recruit into each location.

Person specification

The Successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the following essential criteria:

• Recent experience of working on high profile work, business changes, or contract management, identifying risks and conflicting priorities, developing improvements and solutions (LEAD CRITERIA) 
• Proven ability to build and maintain constructive stakeholder relationships, demonstrating sound interpersonal skills and a proven ability to collaborate and communicate effectively, persuade and challenge with confidence 
• Ability to gather, interpret and evaluate information and data, using a range of business tools. Utilising this information and data to influence groups of senior stakeholders enabling evidenced based decisions
• Proven ability to work inclusively and collaboratively at pace, respond to changing demands and manage competing priorities to meet challenging deadlines
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to get to the heart of issues and challenges and communicate succinctly to a range of audiences, including senior colleagues
• Strong organisational skills with proven ability, resilience, and flexibility to work at pace both independently and leading through others to deliver against multiple competing priorities.

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

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 arrangements 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.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Application

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a Personal Statement of no more than 1250 words. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Your Personal Statement should showcase your skills and demonstrate how you meet the Essential Criteria and your suitability to the role. 

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead criteria:

• Recent experience of working on high profile work, business changes, or contract management, identifying risks and conflicting priorities, developing improvements and solutions (LEAD CRITERIA) 

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Sift stage

The sift panel will use your Personal Statement to assess your skills and experience against the essential criteria listed for this position.  

Interview stage

If successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an online interview via Microsoft Teams which is expected to last in the region of 45-60 minutes (Interview slots will be made available via Civil Service Jobs) please be aware you will need: 

• Access to a laptop/device with working camera and microphone 
• To produce photo ID at the video interview 

The video interviews are structured as follows: 

• Introduction to the panel and ID verification 
• Civil Service Behaviour questions against those listed in the advert
• Civil Service Strength questions. 

Further information will be provided to those who are invited to interview.

Application sift is planned to be carried out WC: 29th January 2024 

Interviews are planned to be carried out WC: 12th February 2024 

Please note that these dates are subject to change. 

Further Information

Find out more about Working for DWP

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

Any move to DWP 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

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be 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 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 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.

Before applying for this vacancy, current employees of DWP should check whether a successful application would result in changes to their terms & conditions of employment, e.g. mobility, pay, allowances. Civil Servants that would transfer into DWP from other government organisations, following successful application, will assume DWP's terms & conditions of employment current on the day they are posted, unless DWP has stated otherwise in writing.

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

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 DWPRecruitment.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.

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.