Child Maintenance Service Senior Design Lead
Department for Work and Pensions
Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 18th November 2024
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About the job
Job summary
Family separation is never easy. The Child Maintenance Service helps parents, who are unable to make a private financial agreement in support of their child(ren)’s living costs, ensure and at times enforce, the legal responsibility to provide financial support. Our mission is to ‘get money to children’ because it makes a real difference to children’s lives.
Child Maintenance Service is not only undergoing a significant period of change as we drive forward our transformation agenda, but in tandem, we continue to deliver a politically significant and fundamentally crucial service to millions of separated families around the country who depend upon the work we do. Our story over the last two years is one of impressive progress and improvement.
Despite the progress we’ve made, we are unashamedly ambitious about what more we can achieve and the difference we can make for the families who need us. Child Maintenance Service is an amazing place to work. Walk into any one of our service centres and you will be overwhelmed by the passion and commitment that our people have for supporting our customers.
This is a high profile role within a fast paced, changeable and demanding environment.
Job description
This is an excellent opportunity to lead the CMS Design team within CMS Delivery Assurance, working with senior stakeholders to set strategic direction and influence and deliver change that supports CMS Modernisation (part of DWP Service Modernisation Programme business as usual and policy change.
You will be an experienced Business Analyst and will work across boundaries to lead process and system design in an Agile environment, develop user stories for digital change, determine priorities, plan deployment and work with partners to assure deliverables and benefits. The successful candidate will work closely with technical and business stakeholders and be able to demonstrate excellent stakeholder engagement skills, analytical ability, sound decision making, and the ability to deliver at pace whilst providing excellent customer service. You will work on a range of services of varying size and complexity balancing relative priorities to ensure delivery.
You will be responsible for:
- Providing visible, resilient and effective leadership, working in a virtual environment to take a personal lead in engaging with a wide variety of stakeholders at all levels and facilitate development of a joined up work plan across the organisation.
- Leading a team of CMS business analysts, using appropriate tools and techniques, working across the product lifecycle to define solutions to business problems which deliver value in a complex and fast paced data driven environment. Challenging current practices and processes through engagement with stakeholders and front line colleagues engendering a culture of innovation.
- Leading senior stakeholder engagement supporting the impacting of proposed changes, progressing development, securing governance and influencing effective and balanced decisions and prioritisation based on CMS strategic priorities. Communicating effectively across senior technical and business stakeholders to ensure understanding of issues and requirements.
- Overall responsibility for the business analysis and design of the business changes, ensuring that they meet CMS strategic objectives.
- Working collaboratively with Benefits Realisation teams to socialise the changes within delivery scope, explain projected benefits, agree measurement and review progress.
- Working with Project Managers and Digital colleagues to jointly and effectively develop CMS systems changes, agree enablement activity and socialise discovery activity.
- Making effective use of internal and external insight, using governance forums and operational analysis to influence customer and user centric design.
- Providing engaging and effective leadership and line management for the Design team, supporting them in understanding the strategic direction, encouraging a collaborative approach to change development and ensuring the right mechanisms are in place to support innovation and the delivery of change at pace. Encouraging and promoting Agile methodology and standards and supporting team development.
- Motivating and encouraging teams to operate flexibly, seeking feedback, listening and acting on this, effectively using People Performance principles to embed performance standards whilst continuing to build capability through coaching, development and learning.
Person specification
This is what you will be assessed against, and should align your personal statement to. Your evidence will be assessed against the following essential criteria. You must ensure you provide specific examples to demonstrate these criteria in your personal statement. Candidates will be able to demonstrate the following:
Essential Criteria
- Excellent business analysis/design skills with business analysis qualifications and significant business analysis experience with proven track record of designing and delivering large scale process and system changes within a complex project environment. Ability to critically analyse products and processes whilst seeing the bigger picture. (Lead Criteria)
- Knowledge of the design lifecycle, ability to critically analyse proposals to ensure that solutions meet business needs within an Agile environment.
- Experience of working at pace in a challenging environment, meeting demanding deadlines, working flexibly to meet changing priorities, managing a diverse workload and delivering to challenging deadlines.
- Strong collaboration and influencing skills with the ability to build and maintain strong effective relationships with partners and stakeholders to drive innovation and change and persuade and influence decision making. Proven ability to communicate complex topics with clarity, conviction and enthusiasm with colleagues, partners (including digital) and stakeholders at all levels.
- Being innovative and data driven with the ability to be resilient in overcoming difficulties. Demonstrating the use of a range of tools and techniques to identify improvements.
- Confident decision maker, ability to present data, analysis, findings and recommendations to stakeholders and governance forums, responding confidently to questions and feedback.
- An inspirational and resilient leader with a proven track record of successfully leading a team with varied and complex responsibilities. Ability to lead through uncertainty.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Changing and Improving
- Leadership
- Delivering at Pace
- Working Together
Benefits
Working for DWP will include benefits such as learning and development tailored to your role, an environment with flexible working options, a culture encouraging inclusion and diversity and a Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%, Civil Service pension.
CMS is committed to the Wellbeing of all colleagues, support includes Wellbeing conversations, dedicated Wellbeing Advocates in each Service Centre to develop and deliver health and wellbeing initiatives and ‘Hotel CMS’, our own Intranet site offering a wealth of information, guidance and support.
We Value Everybody is one of our five Core Values here in CMS. We have active National Network Groups for Race, Disability, Carers, Wellbeing, Faith & Belief and Age. Our monthly People Group meeting draws these groups together to listen, act, and update CMS Directors with our plans.
CMS Colleagues have the opportunity to join HASSRA, a vibrant and successful organisation that provides a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly). It also has an important part to play in helping us achieve a healthy work-life balance and wellbeing in the workplace.
Working hours - The contracted working hours for the Department are 07:45 hours to 20:00 hours, Monday to Friday, and 08:45 hours to 17:00 hours on Saturday. Employees are contracted to work a specific number of hours per week within the above times. Employees will be required to work the number of hours per week for which they are contracted. For example, for full time employees this will be 37 hours net (42 hours gross including meal breaks). For part-time employees it will be less.
Access to flexible working hours scheme will be available.
Please refer to the candidate pack for further information contained in this section of the advert and more information in relation to the Benefits of working for DWP.
Location
Applicants should apply for suitable posts where they can travel to and from their home office location daily within a reasonable time.
Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas. Relocation costs will not be reimbursed.
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. 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.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application process
Stage 1: Application & Sift
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete an anonymised CV and Personal Statement of no more than 1250 words. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Use your 1250 word Personal Statement to describe how you meet the Essential Criteria as detailed in the job advert.
The CV is an on-line tool, there is no requirement to upload your personal CV. When giving details of your employment history, you should include details of work you have completed and projects you have been involved in. However the CV is not scored so please put the main content of your evidence and skills in your Personal Statement.
Your Personal Statement should contain no more than 1250 words. The layout is entirely your choice, you may choose narrative, bullets, etc. You may choose to address each criterion separately; however, one narrative example may cover and evidence several of the criteria. Please share with us what makes you suited to this role. We would like to find out what you can do, the skills you hold and the life experience or passion that you have that could be aligned to the criteria listed within the Person Specification.
Important Information Regarding Anonymisation
Due to the DWP’s use of anonymised recruitment practices it is not possible for applicants to upload/attach a CV; any information that you would customarily share on a CV should therefore be entered onto the application form.
When entering information relating to your employment history you will be asked to remove any personal details that could be used to identify you. This relates to name and contact details which might usually appear on your CV/Personal statement. Failure to do so will result in your application being withdrawn.
Sift
The sift panel will use the information in your Personal Statement to assess your experience, skills and knowledge against the essential Criteria outlined in the advert.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the Lead Criteria:
‘Excellent business analysis/design skills with business analysis qualifications and significant business analysis experience with proven track record of designing and delivering large scale process and system changes within a complex project environment. Ability to critically analyse products and processes whilst seeing the bigger picture.’
Candidates who pass the initial sift will be progressed to a full sift where all applications will be assessed and sifted against all the essential criteria outlined in the advert.
Please note depending on the volume of applications we may choose to invite candidates straight to interview and dispense with the sift stage. For this reason, the timeline for the interview window is subject to change depending on the approach we choose to take.
Stage 2: Interview
Unless you are otherwise informed, the final stage of the process will be a blended interview via Microsoft Teams.
The blended interview will consist of Behaviour and Strength questions. The Behaviours being assessed at interview are:
- Changing and Improving (Lead Behaviour)
- Leadership
- Delivering at Pace
- Working Together
All elements of the interview will be via video link, and the whole process should take approximately 40-50 minutes.
In addition to this candidates will be asked to deliver a 5 minute presentation as part of the interview process. Details of the subject will be sent in advance of the interview.
A blended interview aims to be more of a conversation at interview, offering a more inclusive approach. The Strength and Behaviour based questioning explores what the candidate can and has done, but also their potential.
Please refer to the Candidate Pack for further information.
Approximate sift and interview dates:
Sift Period: 19 - 22 November 2024.
Interviews: Week commencing 9 December 2024.
Sift and Interview dates are subject to change.
Tenure in post
Candidates should note that if successful in this campaign, you will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 18 months following completion of the appropriate apprenticeship unless on promotion.
Reserve lists
A reserve list may be held for a period of 3 months from which further appointments can be made. If you are placed on a reserve list if your application is successful but we cannot immediately offer you a post, please note:
- If you are offered the role you applied for, in a location you have expressed a preference for, and you decline the offer or are unable to take up post within a reasonable timeframe you will be withdrawn from the campaign and removed from the reserve list, other than in exceptional circumstances*.
- If DWP makes an offer of an alternative role or location to that which you originally applied for, and you decline that offer, you will be able to remain on the reserve list.
*Note - Exceptional circumstances could be when a candidate has requested a contractual Part Time Working Pattern and this pattern cannot be accommodated in the initial role offered or in cases of serious ill health.
Any further appointments made from the reserve list will be allocated in merit order.
Further Information
Find out more about Working for DWP
A reserve list may be held for a period of 3 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 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 applicable from: Disclosure and Barring Service/Disclosure Scotland 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.
For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk
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.
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.
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.
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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 : Christine Fulton
- Email : christine.fulton@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.
