Workforce Planning Manager
Department for Transport
About the job
Job summary
We recognise the challenges that people with protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups, including ethnic minorities, people with a disability, and people with gender diverse identities.
Do you have experience of workforce planning approaches and methods?
Would you relish an opportunity to use your expertise to shape and drive a robust strategic workforce plan?
If so, we are looking for a Workforce Planning Manager to join our Passenger Services Business Management Team, and we would love to hear from you.
Job description
As Workforce Planning Manager you will be responsible for the accurate planning of resource requirements, understanding our current workforce capability, forecasting future needs, and ensuring we have a mid to long-term strategy plan to bridge any gaps.
This role provides exposure working with a range of senior leaders across our Senior Management, Programme Office planning team, Central Finance, Human Resources and the Rail Portfolio Office to ensure the strategy is deliverable.
You will have line management responsibility for our Programme Workforce Officer and one Apprentice who work closely with the programme to identify its requirements, and produce the relevant management information to drive timely decision making.
If you would like to find out more about what it's like to work at DfT Rail, please click here.
In this role, your key responsibilities will include:
- Leading on the identification of resource levels, skills and competencies required and skill gaps for new and existing staff.
- Advising directors and senior managers of any implications and opportunities, and undertaking regular capability reviews, and monitoring availability/supply of critical skills and roles.
- Leading on resource planning and budget management, ensuring the production of robust workforce delivery plans based on capacity and business developments.
- Developing and owning the delivery of a strategic workforce plan, using the business’s outputs which identify and address major workforce risks.
- Developing the resource management function and improving outcomes to meet future policy or organisational needs, and supporting strategic business change.
- Developing and leading stakeholder relationships to manage programme resources.
Person specification
About you
You will bring a breadth of experience of implementing workforce planning approaches and strategies and will demonstrate a strong strategic awareness to anticipate issues, provide solutions and plan accordingly.
You will be an engaging and trusted adviser, with the credibility to influence and challenge effectively to support decision making and strategic objectives.
With outstanding interpersonal skills, you will have the capability to build positive relationships with internal teams and senior leaders across the Department. You will be a confident presenter with the ability to tailor your delivery to suit your audience.
You will demonstrate a high degree of discretion, maintaining confidentiality and a sensitive approach towards information/data.
Additional Information
A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace, although requirements to attend other locations for official business, or carry out detached duty in another DfT workplace, will also count towards this level of attendance. Occasional travel to other DfT offices will be required.
You will have the option to be either based in our London office attracting the London salary, or in Leeds or Birmingham attracting the National salary.
Whilst we welcome applications from those looking to work with us on a part time basis, there is a business requirement for the successful candidate to be able to work a least 30 hours per week.
This post is offered on a Fixed Term Appointment (FTA) basis to cover maternity leave.
For permanent Civil Servants, this role is only available on loan, so you must have your home departments approval to return to them at the end of the loan before you apply. There is no opportunity for a permanent Civil Servant to take on this role as a fixed term appointment. OGD applicants will be appointed on an inward loan and subject to the terms of the agreed inward loan. Internal candidates will return to their previous post at the end of the loan period, which will need to be agreed with your line manager in advance.
If you're employed by a non-departmental public body (NDPB) by moving jobs this will involve a change of employer and you may break the statutory rules on Continuity of employment.
Benefits
Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits. We offer generous annual leave, attractive pension options, flexible working, inclusive working environments and much more to support a healthy work/life balance.
Find out more about what it's like working at the Department for Transport.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.How to apply
When considering your experience, please tailor your CV and Personal Statement (maximum word count 750) to provide evidence of the following:
- Experience of leading demand driven resource and capability management activities on complex projects/programmes (or non-project environment).
- Experience of working collaboratively with and building relationships with a range of stakeholders.
- Experience of supporting a workforce planning process during an organisation or structural change.
The sift is due to take place from 02/04/2024.
Interviews/assessments are likely to be held week commencing 15/04/2024.
We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.
The selection process will be designed specifically for the role. As a result, your assessment will include:
- an interview and a presentation exercise.
This interview could be conducted online via Teams or face to face at one of our offices. Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.
Reasonable Adjustments
As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Document Accessibility
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you cannot access the information on our website for any reason, please email DRGComms@dft.gov.uk for assistance.
Further Information
For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit the How We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.
Pre-employment Checking
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.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
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
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.