About the job

Job summary

As a Vocational Assessor and Business Manager you will be responsible for a dedicated cohort of delegates undertaking The Service Standard Assessor Accreditation Programme.

The Service Standard accreditation qualification aims to maximise assessor capability to help ensure that the Digital Service Standard is applied accurately and consistently across Government.

The Service Standard helps teams to create and run great public services and it plays a crucial role in ensuring that Government develops high quality digital services that meet user needs.

The Service Standard is made up of 14 criteria covering five themes of user research, design, analytics, technology, and agile ways of working.

You will assess delegates against the Accreditation criteria using a variety of assessment methods, providing support and guidance tailored to delegates according to their needs, to ensure timely progression and completion of the qualification. 

Additionally, the accreditation will enhance our assessor capabilities and ensure that all assessors are given the support required to be the best they can possibly be as well as promote continuous professional development.

You will manage and report on the delivery of the Accreditation programme, budget requirements and cohort scheduling.

Job description

Key responsibilities include:

• leading the accreditation programme and qualification ensuring compliance with awarding body requirements.

• leading a team of vocational assessors, supporting delegates through the accreditation programme, applying different methods and approaches to validate assessor competence and quality of support provided.

• developing, maintaining and implementing policies and procedures of the accreditation programme.

• identifying issues with the progression of delegates/trainee assessors, content of the accreditation and quality of the assessors and intervening appropriately where necessary.

• assessing delegates’ progress and likely consequences of assessment outcomes, utilising analysis of available information and evidence of delegate development to tailor support as required.

• formulating authoritative and expert advice for assessors seeking continuous professional development opportunities and other professions looking for direction.

• building and maintaining collaborative, constructive and productive engagement with stakeholders, to deliver quality outcomes.

• having proven leadership skills, experience of line management and ability to work remotely with minimum supervision.

Person specification

When giving details in your employment history and personal statement you should highlight your experience in line with essential criteria below:

• Experience of supporting and assessing delegates through their learning journey.
  
• Substantial experience in delivering vocational qualifications.
• Strong planning and organisational skills.
• Strong Interpersonal skills and a proven ability to communicate effectively with individuals at all management levels.
• A proven ability to work under pressure to tight deadlines and with competing priorities.
  

If you would like to learn more about the role, please contact caicy.sandford1@dwp.gov.uk.

Benefits

• An employer pension contribution of up to 28.97% 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.

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.

HASSRA

DWP colleagues will have the opportunity to join HASSRA, a vibrant and successful organisation that provides a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly). It also has an important part to play in helping us achieve a healthy work-life balance and wellbeing in the workplace.

Salary Information

Pay for this role is from £40,201 to £43,347.

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.

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.

When giving details in your employment history and personal statement you should highlight your experience in line with essential criteria listed in the 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 criteria above.

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

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 also be expected to provide evidence that you currently have the qualifications listed in the advert.

You will be asked to do a 5-minute presentation, answering the following:

What strategies do you use to ensure your delegates/learners successfully complete their respective qualifications, taking into account their individual needs and justifying the impact of your strategies upon the individual and the organisation.

Interviews will take place from Late-July onwards. 

Candidates will be posted in merit order by location. 

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.

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

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. 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.