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Location
About the job
Job summary
At the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), we encourage applications from everyone, particularly groups currently underrepresented in our workforce. We pride ourselves on the positive impact diversity has and promote inclusivity and equality of opportunity for all. Our recruitment process is anonymised, which means that your name, date of birth and other personal details will not be seen by the sift panel.
Do you have a degree in a STEM subject or are soon to graduate?
Are you interested in learning to code in an agile software team using modern languages and cloud technologies?
Our department within DVLA has a proven track record of developing people with a passion for software development and building digital services.
This is a phenomenal opportunity to be a part of the scheme. This role will shape your career and take you to the next level of becoming a successful Software Engineer!
Job description
We are looking for 12 driven individuals to get involved in this exciting Graduate Development scheme. Furthering your education and being a part of a fast paced and encouraging workforce. You will be based in our Information Technology Services (ITS) department, working closely with experienced Software Engineers who will guide and support you to develop your career.
This is the fourth time we have run this MSc Graduate Programme within the DVLA, and our results speak for themselves. We are continuing to innovate; we want you to help shape our future and earn whilst you learn.
If you have a 1st or a 2.1 relevant Honours Degree in Computer Science or STEM subjects, then this would be an excellent opportunity for you. Candidates with a 2.2 and relevant additional experience may be considered and assessed.
Would you like to find out more about the role, the digital team and what it’s like to work at DVLA? If so, we are organising a familiarisation session where you can virtually 'meet the team' on 25th March 2024 at 11am.
Please click here to book on.
Responsibilities
Key accountabilities of the role include:
- Work with other developers to write application code and tests
- Build your knowledge of Software Engineering
- Follow a test-driven approach
- Write code that is automatically tested
For a full list of responsibilities please see the attached role profile.
Additional information
You will be required to attend a local university as part of your programme. This will include an initial full time learning block followed by day release throughout the programme. The remainder of your time will be embedded in one of our DVLA engineering teams, gaining hands-on experience.
This role will be based in Swansea, and we will be operating a hybrid working model that allows you to work between home and on-site giving you greater flexibility about where and when you work, subject to business needs and this also allows for ongoing support, development, and collaboration with colleagues.
Therefore, the expectation is that you will spend a minimum of 60% of your working time based at your principal workplace (DVLA). We would encourage you to discuss the working arrangements for this role with us during the recruitment process.
Person specification
To become successful in the role you will need to have a passion for learning, developing your current IT skills, and enjoy being a part of a fast-moving environment. We will look to you to actively engage with your colleagues, getting involved in various projects.
You will need to be someone who takes pride in their work, being able to prioritise your tasks effectively whilst continuing to study. You will have an eye for detail, being able to analyse data providing your recommendations to the team and senior leaders.
To enable you to join us in this outstanding opportunity, we will need you to be available to start on 23rd September 2024.
About The MSc Programme
This is an exciting time to join us, as one of the agile, cloud and technological leaders within the government, we are constantly pushing boundaries to find, develop and introduce new and innovative technological advancements. We work with a range of industry leading solutions including Docker, Kubernetes and Spinnaker, as well as cloud based and serverless technologies. This unique opportunity will allow successful candidates to undertake the academic training required to complete an MSc in Software Engineering within a 24 month period, alongside on the job development. This will be achieved via a specific tailored workplace learning approach within DVLA’s Software Engineering community.
This approach will ensure successful candidates are fully job ready at the end of the programme. Throughout the 24 month MSc, successful candidates may be asked to complete distinct project work to embed their learning.
The Programme will allow you to grow your wider skill base in areas such as team work, resilience, communication and problem solving skills, whilst maximising your future employability opportunities.
The Development Programme will be made up of attendance at University, periodic certification exams, and on-team training. There will be regular assessment points to evaluate the progress and proficiency of candidates. Your learning portfolio will be assessed at checkpoints throughout the programme, failure to successfully meet the standard during checkpoints could result in 3 months’ notice being provided to cease employment.
Candidates who do not secure a permanent role will exit at the end of their Fixed Term Appointment as planned. However, the programme will have provided you with the skills, experience and certifications that you would have developed throughout the two years coupled with experiences such as interview techniques to support your future employment.
We reserve the right to seek full or partial repayment of costs from you associated with your qualification, should you not contribute to the programme, or deselect yourself from the programme or agency at any point before completion. This may include related costs such as exam fees, membership fees or materials.
We strive to ensure that DVLA is a great place to work where everybody can be their true self, be treated with dignity and respect, and according to their individual needs. We have a number of staff network groups run by staff to support their colleagues.
Working for the DVLA Digital Team
At the DVLA, licensing is just the start. Every project you implement, touch and deliver has a ripple effect that’ll wash across the entire nation. Here the work you’re doing has the capacity to change the way 50 million people interact with our services. As we aim to keep our roads some of the safest in the world, our innovative, transformative digital-led services help optimise an entire nation of individuals and business every single day. That’s huge. No two ways about it.
To see how our people are transforming our digital services, head over to our DVLA Digital Services Blog and, to understand more about the great opportunities and benefits of working at DVLA read our Inside DVLA blog.
Due to the evolving nature of the business, vacancies can become available at any time. Therefore, this campaign may create a reserve list to fulfil demand if it arises which will be held for a period of 6 months.
Qualifications
Have as a minimum a 1st or 2:1 degree in Computer Science or any of the following STEM Subjects.
- Science
- Technology
- Engineering
- Mathematics
Candidates with a 2.2 and relevant additional experience may be considered and assessed.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Delivering at Pace
- Working Together
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Apprentice Developer: Modern Standards Approach (Skill level: Awareness)
- Apprentice Developer: Programming and build (Software Engineering) (Skill level: Working)
Benefits
Passionate, reliable and always willing to push yourself and those around you, you’ll continue to seek improvement in your own role and challenge us too. Because we pride ourselves on how we approach your development. From training courses to specialist skills workshops and opportunities to grow your expertise, we thrive when you thrive. We are firm believers that diverse organisations have the most diverse impact on society, we welcome and encourage applications from absolutely everyone. You can find out more about all of the above here alongside a full list of our benefits:
- Best in class learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues
- Generous employer contribution of at least 26.6%, depending on rate of salary and chosen pension scheme
- Digital communities with clear career frameworks
- On-site gym plus personal training available
- On-site nursery, restaurants and coffee bar
- 25 days holiday (plus bank holidays), increasing by 1 each year (up to 30) & 1 extra day for the King’s birthday
- Free parking
- Ability to buy and sell annual leave
Things you need to know
Selection process details
How to Apply
For this role you will need to submit a CV and personal statement of up to 750 words.
For your CV - Please provide your qualifications details (and any relevant experience if attained a 2:2) .
For your personal statement - Please provide detailed evidence of your experience of the following:
- Explain your exposure to, and your current skill level in IT, as well as what attracted you to the Development Programme? Please consider: Any learning or qualifications you have undertaken in IT, and what things interest you in this field you wish to work? How will the opportunity help you reach your career goals? (250 words).
- Tell us about a time when you have faced a difficult challenge and explain what you learnt from it? Please consider: What the challenge was and how you overcame it? Could you have done anything differently? (250 words).
- Describe a time when you have been proactive in developing yourself/skills and shared this with your wider team/community? Please consider: Why you chose that development? What you did to develop? How did you share your learning? How you and your team have benefited from the learning? (250 words)
Click here for further guidance on writing a CV and personal statement.
The sift is due to take place on Wednesday 3rd April 2024.
Interviews will be held week commencing Monday 15th April 2024.
This interview will be conducted via a video interview, details of which will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.
We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.
If invited to interview, this may consist of a range of question types. These could include questions around behaviours and how you would respond in any situation as well as specific examples of things you have done.
The selection process will be designed specifically for the role. As a result, your assessment will include:
- An interview
The Department for Transport alongside other Government Departments recruit using Success Profiles. This means for each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate in order to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.
For further information on Success Profiles visit our Careers website.
Please take note that DVLA does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.
For permanent Civil Servants, this role is only available on loan, so you must have your home departments approval to return to them at the end of the loan before you apply. There is no opportunity for a permanent Civil Servant to take on this role as a fixed term appointment. OGD applicants will be appointed on an inward loan and subject to the terms of the agreed inward loan. Internal candidates will return to their previous post at the end of the loan period, which will need to be agreed with your line manager in advance.
If you're employed by a non-departmental public body (NDPB) by moving jobs this will involve a change of employer and you may break the statutory rules on continuity of employment.
Reasonable Adjustments
As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, 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 during the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Document Accessibility
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you cannot access the information on our website for any reason, please email DRGComms@dft.gov.uk for assistance.
Further Information
For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit the How We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.
Pre-employment Checking
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.
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
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).
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
Recruitment team
Further information
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website Here
