About the job

Job summary

Do you have strong analytical skills to collect data and communicate your findings to a number of stakeholders?

Do you have excellent communication and organisational skills?

If so we’d love to hear from you!

DVSA are looking for an experienced Workforce Planning Manager to join their team.

Job description

The Workforce Planning Manager will provide support to the Head of Strategic Workforce Planning (SWFP) in the development, implementation, and management of DVSA Strategic Workforce Plans. The post holder will work in partnership with leaders across DVSA to identify workforce Impacts, develop assumptions and workforce models, and facilitate effective improvement activities in planning and assurance. They will with Finance and HR Business Partners to support business areas in their quarterly planning to develop their long-term Strategic Plans and the underlying modelling/assumptions. The jobholder will also play a supportive role in the wider work of the People directorate, as we build our focus on continually improving the delivery and support of our front-line services. 

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Manage the SWFP Team in developing and embedding SWFP solutions to meet the Agency’s future people needs, following engagement with appropriate stakeholders to accurately reflect the DVSA change agenda.  
• Oversee specialist input to the creation of planning assumptions/models using Excel. Utilising a technical understanding of use of formula’s, mathematics and graphical representations to develop models that are accurate, user friendly, reflect DVSA needs and provide outputs that are audience friendly.  
• Assessment and coordination of opportunities for Workforce planning activities to meet the long-term strategy as endorsed by ExCo and as set out in business and directorate plans.
• Maintain and develop expertise areas through networking, participating in activities to maintain and develop own and team capability. Leadership & Communication.
• Maintain a network of Workforce Planning Leads from all Directorates, providing leadership, guidance, and support in their delivery of Directorate Workforce Plans.

For more information about the role and responsibilities please see the attached Candidate Pack.

Person specification

We are looking for individuals with:

• Experience of Workforce Planning and/or assumption making, modelling frameworks, and tools (Excel etc).
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to derive insight from multiple data sources, use of data to support debate, statistical analysis and problem solve complex challenges. 
• Strong drafting/writing skills with the ability to produce Board level papers; corporate communication messages; and tools and guidance that are fit for purpose.  
• Skilled in building strong working relationships to understand customer needs, deliver complex information and generate ‘buy-in’ from key stakeholders. 

Additional Information

This role can be based in Swansea, Nottingham, Bristol, or Newcastle, where your presence at one of these locations will form part of the working arrangements agreed with you. We operate a hybrid working model giving you greater flexibility about where and when you work. Our current expectation is that you will spend a minimum 40% of your time at your base location. Visits to other DVSA sites or work locations count towards the 40%. Please be aware there is a Civil Service wide expectation to increase office attendance to 60% and we are working on our implementation plan.

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 at least 30 hours per week.

Development Opportunities

Once appointed into post, you will be willing to work towards attaining CIPD qualification within 18 months of being in post.

About Us

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) helps keep Britain moving, safely and sustainably. 

 

We do this by helping people through a lifetime of safe and sustainable journeys, helping them keep their vehicles safe to drive, and protecting them from unsafe drivers and vehicles. 

We’re working hard to:  

• Make roads safer
• Improve services for our customers
• Make road transport greener and healthier
• Harness the potential of technology and data
• GFrow and level up the economy

We’re committed to giving all our colleagues purpose, professionalism and pride in what we do. We work in supportive, diverse and inclusive teams where everyone is valued. You can grow, develop and progress, and make a real difference to society. 

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice and welcome and encourage applications from everyone, such as ethnic minorities, women, disabled people and those who identify as LGBT+. 
 
To find out more about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace and making DVSA a great place to work visit our Careers website.  

Benefits

• An environment with flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance 
• Exceptional pension with an employer contribution of an average of 27% 
• Generous Annual Leave - 25 days holiday, increasing by 1 each year of service, up to 30 
• 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday  
• Latest IT and Tech devices  
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues 
• Excellent learning and development tailored to your role including paid apprenticeships up to Masters level 
• Wide range of discounts schemes on high street names 
• Employee assistance program for health and wellbeing  
• Cycle to work scheme and Gym membership offers 

For more information see visit our careers page

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

As part of the application process you will be asked to provide a  CV and Personal Statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

For your Personal Statement, please provide detailed evidence of the following:

• Experience of Workforce Planning and/or assumption making, modelling frameworks, and tools (Excel etc).
• Experience of strong analytical skills, including the ability to derive insight from multiple data sources, use of data to support debate, statistical analysis and problem solve complex challenges. 
• Experience of strong drafting/writing skills with the ability to produce Board level papers; corporate communication messages; and tools and guidance that are fit for purpose.  
• Experience in building strong working relationships to understand customer needs, deliver complex information and generate ‘buy-in’ from key stakeholders. 

Your personal statement will be limited to a maximum of 1000 words.

The selection process will be designed specifically for the role. As a result, your assessment will include:

• An interview.

The sift is due to take place week commencing 24th March 2024.

Interviews are likely to be held week commencing 15th April 2024.

This interview could be conducted via a video interview, details of which will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.

We’ll try to meet the dates we’ve set out in the advert. But there may be occasions when these dates will change. We’ll give you plenty of notice of any important dates.

If you would like to find out more about what it’s like to work for DVSA and how to apply, we will be holding virtual sessions to find out more. Please click here to secure your place at one of our upcoming events.

You’re encouraged to become familiar with the candidate pack as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within.

The Department for Transport recruits using Success Profiles. For each role, we consider what you need to demonstrate to be successful.

This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

You can read more about Success Profiles here.

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

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.