Policy Lab Designer
Department for Education
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 20th October 2024
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About the job
Job summary
Policy Lab’s mission is to radically improve policymaking through design, innovation and people-centred approaches.
Applicants should have a strong background in a design discipline with relevant professional and degree level experience. At Policy Lab we engage in a wide range of design approaches including co-design, service design, speculative design, graphic design and strategic design. In these roles we will expect candidates to have expert practical and visual design skills, evidenced through a portfolio, with the ability to use a range of design tools to create compelling and effective visual and physical outputs.
Please note that whilst this role is located in the Department for Education (DfE) you will only occasionally work on education matters. At DfE, we are proud of the commitment we make to diversity and inclusion and of the progress we have made. We have active and vibrant staff networks, special leave policies and workplace adjustments put in place for those who need them. We are continuing to build a diverse DfE, in an inclusive environment which nurtures and realises potential in all, at all levels.
Job description
We expect the successful candidate to perform some or all of the following responsibilities at different times, and we will be looking for relevant experience accordingly as part of the application process:
- Supporting policy innovation projects commissioned by teams across the civil service and beyond with your practical design skills;
- Supporting project teams to design and facilitate workshops and participatory events, using your design expertise to create compelling materials and exercises for a wide range of audiences;
- Supporting the creation and testing of prototypes in policy delivery environments, making visual, physical, digital and speculative mock-ups of policy ideas;
- Working collaboratively with external experts (e.g. digital experts, researchers and game designers) and managing their input into projects;
- Driving forward the aesthetic and experience of Policy Lab’s outputs, including creating accessible and compelling visual, physical and digital products;
- Using practical and visual design skills to improve the Policy Lab's suite of tools, techniques and communications materials;
- Helping to bring ‘next practice’ in design into Policy Lab;
- Supporting projects with a wide range of administrative tasks and project logistics such as workshop coordination and research interview scheduling;
- Supporting a collaborative studio environment within the Policy Lab by undertaking administrative and organisational activities across the team that enable this.
If you want to find out more about the work of Policy Lab we recommend reading the Policy Lab prospectus and our blog on the work we've done over the last ten years.
Person specification
Essential Criteria:
- Strong visual design, making and/or digital skills grounded in degree level design training
- Ability to deliver varied project delivery tasks from logistics and admin to delivering workshops and creating designed outputs
- Experience designing and facilitating workshops and participatory events
- Experience deploying design skills on projects with real-world impact
- A strong interest/experience in pushing the boundaries of design practice and experimentation
- An interest in government innovation and policy
Desirable criteria
- Experience working in fast paced multi-disciplinary environments
- Experience upskilling non-designers in design
- Experience in government innovation and policy
Desirable criteria will only be assessed at interview, in the event of a tie break situation, to make an informed decision.
Benefits
Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Department’s transfer / promotion policies.
As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK.
You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years’ service. In addition, all staff receive the King’s Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days’ bank and public holidays.
We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
Most DfE employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending at least 60% of their time in an office or work setting. Changes to these working arrangements are available in exceptional circumstances but must be agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role.
Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DfE, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.
As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Step 1: Application
At this stage we will assess experience. We will ask you to submit a CV and a 500-word statement of suitability as part of the application process. Please note you will also need to upload a two page spread portfolio of your work - ensuring that no detail shows your name or personal identity.
The CV, statement and portfolio will be used to assess your Experience, especially in the context of the 'Person Specification' section of this advert. We will assess against this criteria.
Should we receive a high number of applications, then we will perform the sift based on your skills and experience in your personal statement, including your portfolio, against the essential criteria.
Step 2: Interview
If successful at sift, candidates will be assessed via interview. During the interview, you will be asked to provide further evidence of your Experience and will be questioned on your Strengths
Candidates will also need to prepare a 5-minute presentation, with reference to a physical version of their portfolio (which they should bring in).
Candidates will be asked two separate questions:
"Can you talk us through a relevant project in your portfolio"
“Three ways that design and/or making can contribute to policy are:...”
Other Information
In your application, please don’t include personal information that identifies you.
This means we can recruit based on your knowledge and skills, and not background, gender or ethnicity - it's called name blind recruitment (opens in a new window).
Please ensure that you remove from your application, all references to your:
- name/title
- educational institutions
- age
- gender
- email address
- postal address
- phone number
- nationality/immigration status
We understand that you might use AI and other resources for your application; however, please ensure all information you provide is factually accurate, truthful, and original and doesn’t include ideas or work that isn’t your own. This is so that your application is authentically and credibly your own.
We reserve the right to raise the minimum pass mark in the event of a high volume or strong field of candidates.
Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK from the location options provided and not from overseas.
The government is committed to supporting apprenticeships, enabling people to learn and progress in a role whilst earning. We want to monitor the number of people who have completed apprenticeships who are now applying to progress further in their career and are asking this question to all candidates, on all vacancies. You will be asked a question as part of the application process about any previous apprenticeships you have completed. Your response to this question will not affect your application and it is not a requirement of the role to have completed a previous apprenticeship.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe 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 circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Department of Education of your intention by emailing Pre-Employment.Checks.DFE@education.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Department for Education do not cover the cost of travel to your interview/assessment unless otherwise stated.
A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.
Candidates will be posted in merit order based upon location preference. Where more than one location is advertised you will be asked to state your preferred location.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
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.
Terms and conditions of candidates transferring from ALBs and NDPBs
Bodies that are not accredited by the Civil Service Commission and are not able to advertise at Across Government on Civil Service jobs will be treated as external new starters and will come into DfE on modernised terms and conditions with a salary at the band minimum.
Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission but do not have civil service status will be offered modernised terms and will not have continuous service recognised for leave or sickness benefits. Salaries should be offered at band minimum, but there is some flexibility where this would cause a detriment to the individual.
Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission and do have Civil Service status will be treated as OGD transfers. Staff appointed on lateral transfer will move on to pre-modernised DfE terms (unless they were on modernised terms in their previous organisation). Staff appointed on promotion will move on to modernised DfE terms. Staff will transfer over on their existing salary (on lateral transfer) and any pay above the DfE pay band maximum will be paid as a mark time allowance. Staff moving on promotion will have their salaries calculated using the principles set out in the attached OGD transfer supplementary information.
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 Department of Education via centralrecruitment.operations@education.gov.uk 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.
Any move to Department for Education (DfE) will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming 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/
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
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).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Resource Business Partners
- Email : resourcing.businesspartners@education.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : Centralrecruitment.operations@education.gov.uk
Further information
