Policy Profession Unit Grade 7 Government Policy Fast Stream Lead
Department for Education
Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 11th November 2024
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About the job
Job summary
Policy work in government takes many different forms and requires different types of activities and skills. Typically, it involves a multidisciplinary team working on a problem or issue relating to the welfare, security or prosperity of the nation. This could be designing public services, improving education, health or environmental quality, engaging internationally, safeguarding national security, or growing the economy. The Civil Service is on a journey to embed a more formal identity for the Policy Profession and the work of its members.
Policy professionals’ core skills include understanding complex issues and bringing together multi-disciplinary teams across different professions to address them. Another key skill is the ability to understand the evidence base, and the views of stakeholders and interested parties inside and outside of government.
The Policy Profession Unit (PPU) is a team of around 40 staff, that is hosted in DfE, but which works across government to professionalise and promote policy making. We work with Whitehall departments as well as devolved governments, and government agencies to support policy professionals to build their skills, connect with each other, and progress through the Profession. PPU works with and through departmental Heads of Policy Profession and their teams and under the direct and engaged sponsorship of Tamara Finkelstein (Head of Policy Profession and Permanent Secretary at DEFRA) and Susan Acland-Hood (Deputy Head of Policy Profession and Permanent Secretary at DfE), as well as several other senior sponsors for individual programmes of activity.
Job description
About the Government Policy Fast Stream
The Government Policy Fast Stream scheme aims to support a diverse range of high potential individuals to rapidly develop the knowledge and skills they need to become effective leaders in the Policy Profession. As the largest scheme of all Fast Stream schemes, it welcomed around 280 new starters in its first intake in 2024. It has the interest of leaders at the highest levels of Government and its successful delivery is a key priority for the Policy Profession. At the heart of the scheme is the opportunity to develop professional competence through three high-quality one-year policy postings in different departments. In addition, a structured programme of profession-specific learning and development includes sessions delivered by the Policy Profession Unit as well as the opportunity to study for an accredited 30-credit Post-Graduate Award.
As the Government Policy Fast Stream G7 Lead you will lead for the Policy Profession on overseeing the successful delivery and continuous improvement of the new Government Policy Fast Stream Scheme. The work will be high impact and high profile, directly supporting the professional development of hundreds of Fast Streamers each year. It will require close working and regular contact with teams in Cabinet Office and a Director General-led Steering Group as well as with contacts in departments. The success of the new scheme is critical to the reputation of the Policy Profession.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Overseeing successful delivery and continuous improvement of the new Government Policy Fast Stream Scheme as an effective vehicle for the rapid development of a diverse range of policy professionals across the UK, in line with the Policy Profession Standards.
- Working closely with the Cabinet Office to ensure the Policy Professions’ requirements and interests are reflected fully in the design and delivery of Fast Stream processes and arrangements from recruitment and onboarding to final assessment.
- Influencing the processes by which Departments determine how many Policy Fast Steamers they will take and what the design of each role will be to ensure that every posting will offer a Policy Fast Streamer a high-quality and developmental experience.
- Overseeing a programme of high-quality learning and development including designing and delivering six days’ of training to each cohort over their three years on the scheme and managing delivery by a contracted third party of an accredited Post Graduate Award.
- Exploring how the Policy Fast Stream can support the growth of policy capability in the regions.
- Building relationships with other professions to share lessons across Fast Stream schemes and gather insights from stakeholders to inform continuous improvement of the Policy Scheme.
- Leading, managing and motivating a small team and working with other colleagues across PPU to deliver and stay resilient under pressure.
- Enabling effective governance of the policy scheme by a Director General-led Steering Group
- Additional projects, as business needs arise, to help PPU achieve its strategic objectives.
- Active membership of the Policy Profession Unit’s Senior Management Team.
- Some travel to London or other offices may be required.
Person specification
Essential criteria:
You will need to be able to demonstrate:
- Strategic thinking - ability to see the big picture and ensure a programme or service evolves to stay aligned and contributing to strategic priorities
- Strong interpersonal skills - experience of building collaborative partnerships across organisational boundaries and effective relationships with senior stakeholders
- Working at pace - experience of leading a team to develop high-quality advice and deliver high quality outputs to tight timescales and exercise sound judgement under pressure
- Excellent organisational skills - able to plan, coordinate and oversee delivery of a multifaceted project and anticipate and identify issues and drive user-centred improvement
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of the Fast Stream Scheme - or other talent programmes
- Policy making experience - a track record of successfully leading and delivering a range of complex cross-government policies
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 the application stage you will be asked to provide your CV and a Statement of Suitability.
Your CV should include details of previous roles held and responsibilities / previous skills and experience.
Your statement of suitability (max 1250 words) should demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria listed in the person specification section above.
In the event of high volumes of applications, candidates will be sifted against the first essential criteria only - 'Strategic thinking - ability to see the big picture and ensure a programme or service evolves to stay aligned and contributing to strategic priorities.'
Interview:
If successful at sift, you will be invited to attend an interview.
The interview will consist of a series of questions to further assess your experience against all of the listed essential criteria.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.
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.
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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 : Shakila Bukhari
- Email : shakila.bukhari@policyprofession.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : Centralrecruitment.operations@education.gov.uk
Further information
