Location

Quarry House, Leeds, LS2 7UA, Kings Court, Sheffield, S3 7UF, Caxton House, London, SW1H 9NA

About the job Summary

We are recruiting for a variety of Policy roles across our 3 DWP Policy Group hubs:

• Quarry House, Leeds, LS2 7UA
• Caxton House, 1-11 Tothill St, London, SW1H 9NA
• King’s Court, Hanover Way, Sheffield, S3 7UF

When applying for these roles, you will be required to state in preference order which of the three Policy Group Hub locations you can work from. Please be aware these roles can only be worked in the UK and not overseas and your office base must be one of the three Policy Group Hubs.
To ensure improved representation and to meet Policy Groups aspiration for a 50/50 split of roles in our Northern and London hubs, we are likely to be offering more opportunities in Sheffield and Leeds. By indicating your preferred location(s) in your application you are stating that you are willing to accept a post in any of your chosen location(s) and are able to work from any of your chosen locations for an average of at least 40% of your working time.

The Department is committed to promoting flexible ways of working, whilst enabling the business to operate at maximum efficiency and will expect colleagues to work from a blend of locations, including some time working at home, as required.

Certain job roles 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.

The corporate hub location will be the designated place of work and any remote or home working arrangement does not constitute a change to your designated place of work or contractual Terms and Conditions.

Job description

About the job

Summary

DWP works on some of the most important and exciting policies in government. We are proud of our work and want to offer you the opportunity to get involved in our ambitious agenda to improve outcomes for millions of citizens in the UK; throughout their lives, in the workplace, and in retirement.

We have a variety of policy and strategy roles available for skilled, adaptable and inspiring people. We are looking for people with all sorts of real-life experience, who have worked in all kinds of jobs and have a real passion and ability to make a difference.

As a Policy Adviser, you will need to be flexible and confident in using different types of information, communicating in different ways to suit the audience, and understanding people’s varied perspectives. Being an SEO in Policy Group means working with and delivering through others, building strong and effective relationships across your team and the wider department, with other government departments and across a wider stakeholder community.

We are committed to investing in our people and offer a range of training and qualifications, coaching and mentoring opportunities. You may be offered the opportunity to undertake an Apprenticeship or professional work programme to support you in further developing your professional knowledge and skills for your role and future career development.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates as they are under-represented groups and applications from people able to work from our Leeds and Sheffield hubs.

Responsibilities

The precise responsibilities will vary according to the specific roles. Some roles will have line management responsibilities.

Regardless of where people work in Policy Group, common to all our SEO roles are:

•Owning a policy area with empowerment over how you plan and organise your area of work.
•Working across organisational boundaries, and with key partners, to deliver outcomes.
•Problem solving to achieve outcomes for citizens.
•Supporting a Team Leader by contributing to policy development as well as the management of the wider Division and strategic management of Policy Group.
•Advising on decisions affecting the direction and delivery of the work area, assessing risk and advising on mitigation, including assessing the consequences of proposed changes, both internally and externally.
•Successful candidates will not be able to state a preference for any specific role and posts will be offered according to the business need at the time of posting.

To understand more about DWP and Policy Group you must read the attached Candidate Pack.

Please note that offers of a Higher Executive Grade (HEO) role, may be made to candidates who do not meet the Senior Executive Grade (SEO) standard, but meet the standard required for a HEO post.

Experience Key Criteria

For the first part of your application requiring a personal statement we will assess you against the set of Essential Key Criteria during the sift.

Key Criteria:

• The ability to quickly understand complex issues, gather and analyse information, develop a range of solutions, appraise options, and advise confidently about the right course of action, taking account of the wider context. (Lead criteria)

• You are an effective communicator who conveys complex information succinctly and clearly to senior stakeholders to gain their agreement and can take account of a range of views and address issues to reach a desired outcome. You have good drafting and verbal communication skills with the ability to present arguments and numerical information in a logical and persuasive way, tailored to the audience and using the most appropriate method.

• You have experience of building strong working relationships, working collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders, demonstrating an open, supportive, and inclusive attitude. You challenge where appropriate and are an advocate your organisations position.

• You can prioritise effectively, manage conflicting demands, and overcome setbacks. You work well under pressure to deliver quality outcomes and meet key deadlines.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against four behaviours during the interview process.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension

Things you need to know Security

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Ability and Experience.

How to apply

Stage 1 The Civil Service On-Line Assessment Tests

After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete two tests:

- Civil Service Verbal test
- Civil Service Numerical test

If you successfully pass both tests you will be invited to complete the next stage of the application.

Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended) to ensure you do not experience any technical issue and fail to meet the deadline. The closing date for the tests and full application is 23:55 on Monday 30 May 2022. You must have completed both tests and submitted your full application in advance of this deadline. Do not leave it to the last minute. If you fail to complete the online tests and submit your application before the deadline, your application will be unsuccessful. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website. When you are invited to take the tests you will be sent full guidance and also a link to Practice tests which provide an authentic test-taking experience, so you can understand how the tests work.

Stage 2 Your Personal Statement

Please read the guidance in relation to Success Profiles.

Your personal statement needs to set out evidence of how your experience meets all the Experience Key Criteria set out below and not the published behaviours listed in this advert.

We are not looking at how much time you have spent in a job, but rather how you have performed. Your Personal Statement must show demonstrable evidence of what you did, how you did it, and what outcome was achieved. This should include the impact of your approach and evidence of your ability to take forward different approaches in different circumstances.

The standards detailed in the Experience Key Criteria are the minimum expectations for the role and only candidates with the strongest evidence will be invited to interview. In the event of a large number of applications, meeting the pass standard for the lead criteria ‘The ability to quickly understand complex issues, gather and analyse information, develop a range of solutions, appraise options, and advise confidently about the right course of action, taking account of the wider context’ will determine if the other criteria are scored. Candidates will have to meet the standard for all criteria to progress to interview.

Your statement must not exceed 1000 words and you are advised to take advantage of the full word count.

Experience Key Criteria

• The ability to quickly understand complex issues, gather and analyse information, develop a range of solutions, appraise options, and advise confidently about the right course of action, taking account of the wider context. (Lead criteria)

• You are an effective communicator who conveys complex information succinctly and clearly to senior stakeholders to gain their agreement and can take account of a range of views and address issues to reach a desired outcome. You have good drafting and verbal communication skills with the ability to present arguments and numerical information in a logical and persuasive way, tailored to the audience and using the most appropriate method.

• You have experience of building strong working relationships, working collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders, demonstrating an open, supportive, and inclusive attitude. You challenge where appropriate and are an advocate your organisations position.

• You can prioritise effectively, manage conflicting demands, and overcome setbacks. You work well under pressure to deliver quality outcomes and meet key deadlines.

Stage 3 Interview

If you are successful at Stage 2 then you will be invited to an interview. The interview will comprise a blended mix of Behaviour and Strength-Based questions. The guidance on Success Profiles explains these selection tools. The Behaviours being assessed are detailed in the job advert. Because of the nature of Strength-Based questions you will not be told which Strengths are being assessed.

You will also be asked to complete a presentation/written exercise focused on the lead behaviour 'Seeing the Bigger Picture'. This will be scored. Further details will be provided prior to the interview.

Sift/interview dates and location

We aim to complete the sift stage of this recruitment campaign and notify outcomes to candidates by early July 2022. Successful candidates will be invited for interview during late July 2022.

Please note that interviews will be conducted via video link using MS Teams. Full details will be provided for those applicants invited to book an interview.

We aim to release interview results around mid- August 2022.

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Other information

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 here

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

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 “Assistance required” 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 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.

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.

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

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

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.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

Further information on nationality requirements

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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.

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.

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants Job contact :

• Name :POLICYGROUP.SEORECRUITMENT@DWP.GOV.UK
• Email :POLICYGROUP.SEORECRUITMENT@DWP.GOV.UK
• Recruitment team :
• Email :dwprecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
• Further information

  Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact DWP by email: HR.BUSINESSASSURANCE@DWP.GOV.UK. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission here to visit Civil Service Commission.
   

  Attachments 200257-SEO Campaign DWP Candidate Opens in new window(pdf, 1112kB) Success-Profiles-Candidate-Overview Opens in new window(pdf, 635kB) Terms and Conditions Opens in new window(docx, 16kB)

  To Apply Please click the Apply Link