Head of Planning Delivery and Engagement
Department for Work and Pensions
Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 11th November 2024
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About the job
Job summary
DWP is one of the largest government departments, operating at a scale that is almost unmatched anywhere in the country.
It is at the heart of the Government’s agenda for tackling social injustice and poverty and leading our national recovery, including helping people into work. DWP touches the lives of over 22 million people every day and currently provides financial assistance of over £180 billion per year to ensure that the most vulnerable people in society are protected. DWP is one of the few Government Departments that is both a policy Department but also a front-line delivery organisation.
This is an opportunity to make a real difference to people’s lives. The Finance Group sits at the heart of the department, influencing and shaping the policy and delivery of our front-line services. The Group is responsible for shaping the future strategy of DWP; making payments; maximising the value we deliver on behalf of taxpayers from our resources; procuring commercial services for the department; and delivering services safely and securely through Risk Management, Security and Estates.
The Departmental Planning and Performance team (DPP) is a relatively small team of c18 staff made up of two G6 led teams covering: planning performance and reporting; and this post, planning delivery and engagement. DPP’s dynamic, collaborative and friendly team is responsible develop a single cross-departmental Plan to ensure the whole Department is working towards the same goals and delivery is kept on track.
We pride ourselves on making Finance Group a great place to work, where diversity is valued and celebrated, individuals feel respected, and people can bring their whole selves to work. DPP is a very diverse, supportive and inclusive team and applications are particularly encouraged from job sharers, flexible workers and those with protected characteristics.
Postings
Posting will be made in merit order by location, this will be based on the geographical requirement at the time. A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.
The roles available will be based in:
- 3 Arena Central, Bridge Street, Birmingham B1 2AX.
- Peel Park, Brunel Way, Blackpool FY4 5ES.
- Quarry House, Quarry Hill, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7UA.
- 2 St Peter’s Square, Manchester, M2 3AA.
- Benton Park View, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE98 1BA.
- Hartshead Square, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S1 2FD.
- Caxton House, Tothill Street, London, SW1 9NA.
Regular travel to London and other DWP offices is required.
Job description
Your responsibilities will include:
Outcome Delivery Plan (ODP) Development – you will be accountable for writing DWP’s ODP, and subsequent annual refreshes, an exciting opportunity as this will be the first ODP of a new administration. You will be leading a high-profile departmental process working with the most senior officials in the department to ensure the department’s activities and plans align to the Governments Missions, DWP’s strategic goals and the long-term vision of the Department. You will lead wide-ranging stakeholder engagement to plan, develop and write a clear, credible and articulate ODP that is forward thinking and achievable within DWP’s Spending Review (SR) settlement.
Deliverability - you will be responsible for quarterly deliverability assessments of the ODP, including leading the high-profile deliverability process at fiscal events to ensure that new proposals and initiatives can be safely delivered alongside existing commitments. You will be the visible leader that galvanises action and gains support by working across Directorates to bring clear coordination and collaboration across departmental functions to distill key delivery challenges and ensure the Executive Team, Departmental Board and Ministers are making sound, evidence-based judgements in managing the delivery of the Plan. You will work closely with the Risk Management Directorate and delivery teams to support the management and mitigation of relevant deliverability risks.
Planning communications - you will lead and manage a top-down communication process, engaging across the business to ensure everyone understands the ODP, are bought into the outcomes it is looking to drive and understands how they contribute. You will influence business planning processes across the organisation, to align with ODP outcomes, ensuring the benefits of doing so are understood and that accountabilities and responsibilities (including those of DPP) are understood department-wide.
Leadership and Management – you will ensure the strategic direction of the team and its activities are aligned with the wider work of the Directorate and the Department. You will manage a team comprising of 2 G7s and 5 SEO/HEOs (the team will be expanded if the role also covers the Annual Report and Accounts (ARA)) and support wider management across branches to deliver joined up products. You will build capability and adaptability in your team and empower the team to think creatively and develop innovative approaches that support them to deliver a quality service in sometimes ambiguous environments. From time-to-time, you will also be asked to lead on other cross-Directorate projects as agreed and to deputise for the Deputy Director Planning and Performance and Director Strategic Finance at key forums. You will be a core member of the senior leadership team and play an active role in the corporate leadership of DPP.
Relationship Management – You will be expected to build and maintain strong strategic relationships across DWP and to manage and influence multiple stakeholder groups up to and including Director General level.
Hybrid working
This job role 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.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
- (Lead Criteria) Excellent planning and organisational skills and an ability to bring structure and clarity to work under ambiguity and in a rapidly changing environment, as well as deliver to tight timescales on occasion.
- Clear ability to build and lead inclusive, high-performing teams to deliver clear concise quality outcomes at pace against challenging requirements.
- Strong track record in building consensus amongst stakeholders and implementing innovative solutions that deliver outcomes for customers.
- Excellent communication and influencing skills with experience of successfully interacting with Ministers and senior officials.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Delivering at Pace
- Communicating and Influencing
- Seeing the Big Picture
Benefits
Alongside your salary, the Department for Work and Pensions contributes 28.97% towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
We also have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:
- Working patterns to support work/life balance such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
- Generous annual leave – at least 23 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (pro–rata for part time employees), plus 9 days public and privilege leave.
- Support for financial wellbeing, including interest-free season ticket loans for travel, a cycle to work scheme and an employee discount scheme.
- Health and wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme for specialist advice and counselling and the opportunity to join HASSRA a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly).
- Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after 1 year’s continuous service.
- Funded learning and development to support progress in your role and career. This includes industry recognised qualifications and accreditations, coaching, mentoring and talent development programmes.
- An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join professional and interpersonal networks including Women’s Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide a Personal Statement (maximum 1000 words) against the essential criteria as outlined above. You will also be asked to provide a short CV. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Your CV should be no more than 2 pages including brief details of your work history and experience.
If there are a significant number of applicants then a first sift will be conducted against the Lead Criteria listed “Excellent planning and organisational skills and an ability to bring structure and clarity to work under ambiguity and in a rapidly changing environment, as well as deliver to tight timescales on occasion".
Candidates who are successful at the sift stage will be invited to attend a MS Teams interview.
Interview
The interview will follow a blended approach which will help us assess candidates Behaviours (Leadership, Delivering at Pace, Communicating and Influencing and Seeing the Bigger Picture ) and two Strengths.
If invited to interview you will be required to do a short presentation which will be assessed against (i) core behaviours set out in advert required (ii) how you approach the role and (iii) level of interest you show in the post. Further details of the presentation and what is required will be supplied as part of the invite to interview.
Application sift is planned to be carried out week commencing: 18th November 2024.
Interviews are planned to be carried out week commencing: 9th December 2024.
Please be advised that the above dates are indicative only and are subject to change.
Further Information
Find out more about Working for DWP
A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.
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.
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 https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
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.
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. 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.
The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. Applications will be screened and if evidence of plagiarism or copying examples/answers from other sources is found, your application will be withdrawn. Internal DWP candidates may also face disciplinary action.
Reasonable Adjustment
At DWP we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce.
We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia.
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 “Reasonable Adjustments” 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 you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
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 : Jonathan Lepper
- Email : Jonathan.Lepper@dwp.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : dwprecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission. Click here to visit the Civil Service Commission.
