Digital Practice Lead
Forestry Commission - Forest Research
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 17th November 2024
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Science
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Location
Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas.
About the job
Job summary
Want to work at the cutting edge of environmental science? Passionate about making a difference and playing your part in tackling the climate and nature crisis? Forest Research is all about giving top quality evidence and advice to policymakers and practitioners to make a positive impact on the ground. Internationally recognised, we need people who have the skills and passion to work on excellent science and provide practical solutions for nature.
We’re small enough that your voice is heard, yet large enough, as part of the Forestry Commission, that we have everything on hand to get the job done, as well as a variety of career pathways. Our staff are dedicated to their work and sharing it with others to bring positive change for our planet. And you will find us a flexible and inclusive employer, so you can have a work life balance that is tailor-made to your circumstances. So, whether it’s climate or carbon, pests or pathogens, behaviour or biodiversity that interests you, you can be assured of a warm welcome to the team. To find out more, visit www.forestresearch.gov.uk
FR’s Digital Strategy includes a number of recommendations intended to improve, optimise and standardise our digital products and services.
The implementation of these recommendations must support corporate strategy, while also being flexible enough to facilitate the continued delivery of world leading science and research. The Digital Practice Lead will be responsible for the planning, design and implementation of these recommendations, under the guidance of the Head of IT and in partnership with key internal and external stakeholders. Once established, the Digital Practice Lead will then be responsible for ensuring that suitable governance is implemented to ensure the continued relevance of our standards, policies, and processes. They will promote these to colleagues across the business involved in Digital delivery and encourage and support them in complying with the newly established corporate standards. Integrated with the rest of the FR IT team, they will also have direct access to our infrastructure specialists and operational support team.
Job description
To achieve this, you will support the progression of work through the digital pipeline and manage an efficient and effective service relationship with stakeholders and other service recipients. This should include identifying any constraints and challenging them where appropriate
You will help to lead and promote the development of organisational digital and data standards ensuring both good practice and compliance are at the forefront of everything we do digitally. This will include the development of a standard licensing framework for FR’s data and digital products and services, taking full consideration of intellectual property rights.
Act to ensure standards, good practice and core compliance requirements (government, legislative) are followed and identify opportunities to help develop and improve FR’s digital policies, processes and practices.
You will work with IT colleagues to help define a standard corporate product set(s) and actively engage with all members of the IT Team in the development, implementation and support of technical solutions.
Work with stakeholders to help identify solutions to complex business problems, including both new and legacy systems and then where necessary support and lead procurement and market engagement activities.
Person specification
Essential Criteria:
- Experience of communicating with a range of stakeholders (both internal and external) with varying levels of IT knowledge and technical ability in support of change and the delivery of business outcomes
- Experience working in an IT management role, working collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders, both internal and external, across different disciplines
- Demonstrable understanding of a broad range of technologies.
- An understanding of technology and the role it plays in service development and delivery
- An understanding of the standards and frameworks involved in the development and delivery of digital and data-based services. e.g ITIL (service management), AGILE (development) and Cyber Essentials (Infosec).
- A strong understanding of digital / IT legislation, in particular, accessibility law, the DPA and GDPR
- An understanding of change management, ideally with experience of delivering cultural change
- Experience of delivering IT projects and a quality service, working with customers to improve outcomes, including the ability to keep track of multiple projects and programme work-streams
- Experience of dealing with and managing third party suppliers
- Ability to work independently and thrive under pressure. The post-holder will significantly contribute to, and in some cases be responsible for, the successful delivery of key business outcomes
- Ability to advise, support and influence involving subject matter experts where necessary to help drive change across multiple business areas with conflicting priorities
Desirable Criteria:
- Experience of leveraging a wide variety of digital assets in support of successful delivery
- A strong understanding of government compliance requirements including the Technology Code of Practice and Government Digital Service requirements
- Experience in project or programme management
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Changing and Improving
- Communicating and Influencing
- Seeing the Big Picture
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Changing and Improving
- Seeing the Big Picture
Benefits
Your career
- Excellent professional development opportunities which are tailored to your role, with paid professional membership subscriptions, mentoring, and Civil Service Learning available to all
- access to world class laboratory facilities, as well as state of the art buildings within forest or science park settings
Your work/life balance
- flexible working options such as: up to two days flexi leave per month, blended working, part-time working, paid special leave, career breaks, and unpaid leave. Parents and carers will be supported to enable you to manage work and family responsibilities
- A generous annual leave allowance of 25 days on entry increasing by 1 day each year to a maximum of 30 days (pro-rata for part-timers). Plus 2.5 days of additional leave and 8 days’ paid bank/public holidays
Your wellbeing
- A culture which promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment
- A range of wellbeing benefits including Employee Assistance Programme 24/7
- We want you to feel part of something bigger and we encourage a community feel in our workplaces, with everything from cookery competitions to Pilates and fell running, plus topical talks at Wellbeing Wednesdays and Feelgood Fridays
- Paid volunteering leave of 3 days per year so you can give back to your community and charitable causes by sharing your skills and time
Your benefits
- a highly competitive Civil Service Pension of 28.97% your salary
- an employee benefits scheme offering discounts on groceries, gym memberships, holidays, days out, online retailers and high street shops
- Cycle to Work scheme and Interest free loans
- Free parking is offered on-site, alongside electric car charging ports
- With maternity, adoption, and/or shared parental leave there’s the flexibility to have up to 26 weeks full pay, followed by 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid leave. Paternity leave of up to two weeks is available with full pay.
Any move to Forest Research 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 https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Sift will take place on 18th November 202
Interviews are planned to take place on 25 Novembr 2024.
If we receive a large volume of applications, then we will sift on Experience/Technical Expertise and the Lead Behaviour, xxxx . However, candidates will be expected to answer questions on all behaviours listed at the interview stage.
We require the applicant to have a full current driving licence that enables them to drive in the UK. We will consider any proposals that would allow applicants to do the job by other means.
Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at interview may be considered for other positions in Forest Research which may be at a lower grade but have a potential skills match.
Diverse perspectives and experiences are critical to our success and we welcome applications from all people from all backgrounds with the experience and skills needed to perform this role.
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.
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.
Visa Sponsorship
FR holds a licence to sponsor Skilled Workers under the Home Office points-based immigration system. Candidates wishing to apply should note that the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship would depend on an assessment of this role against defined criteria, which include:
o Whether the Job role has been identified as being a Critical Role in FR, which has been identified in the Workforce Plan, and / or
o Whether the Job role is a known Capability gap, which has been identified in the Workforce Plan for the relevant Centre, and
o Evidence of significant recruitment challenges in filling the Job role previously
Skilled Worker sponsorship may be available, subject to an application and assessment process and the Home Office points-based system.
For further details, please refer to the Sponsorship for Skilled Workers – guidance for applicants and managers on our website.
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 : hr.services@forestresearch.gov.uk
- Email : hr.services@forestresearch.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : hr.services@forestresearch.gov.uk
Further information
