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Location
About the job
Job summary
The South West Scotland Service Leaderrole is a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives, through the power of work. Delivering through the geographically vast area, which extends across 6 Local Authorities ranging from North Ayrshire through to the Borders.
You’ll be at the heart of delivering on the UK Governments employment ambitions. Leading and inspiring dedicated teams of multi-disciplinary professionals to improve opportunities for all through work and tackle poverty by maximising employment. Ultimately delivering a high-quality welfare system that leaves no one behind. To achieve this, you will need to engage and influence, at senior levels, the wider UK Government, Scottish Government and Scottish Local Authorities.
Job description
- Lead the South West District made up of 464 staff across 18 job centres and 1 Service Centre, using full range of levers to drive the delivery of a high-quality welfare system.
- Accountable for the quality, performance and leadership of multi-disciplinary teams including Job Centre, Service Centre, and Employer & Partnership Teams.
- Lead our Employer and Partnership Strategy focused on bringing the concurrent powers of the UK Government and Scottish Government to bear on our labour market to improve opportunities for all, through work.
- An active member of the Scotland Senior Leadership Team. Including driving forward the DWP priorities, transforming and modernising our services, visible senior leadership, developing the strategic narrative, and owning communications with clarity and conviction.
- Build effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders, at Director level, to influence and drive forward DWP strategic priorities.
- As a Senior Leader, you will role model DWP values and behaviours to create an environment that is inclusive, where people can be their best.
The above covers the main duties and requirements of the South West Scotland Service Leader role. This job description is not exhaustive and may change over time depending on Departmental priorities.
This role requires the successful candidate to be in the office 5 days per week, with regular visits to all site across South West District: - Cambuslang, East Kilbride, Hamilton, Lanark, Rutherglen, Annan, Ayr, Cumnock, Dumfries, Girvan, Irvine, Kilbirnie, Kilmarnock, Saltcoats, Stranraer, Hawick, Galashiels and Eyemouth.
The Successful candidate will be based in either Ayr JC, Kilmarnock JC or Hamilton JC.
Travel will also be required across Scotland as part of Scotland Senior Leadership Team.
Person specification
- You’ll be a proven senior leader, able to lead teams across multiple locations, disciplines, and grades through complex and challenging work by building high performance and a positive work culture.
- You’ll have strong experience of delivering a high quality, cost-effective service. Using a fully array of data and insight to drive continuous improvement.
- You’ll be able to develop and articulate a strong strategic vision which engages people and provides clear directions, to deliver against DWP priorities.
- You’ll have strong leadership experience of delivering exception customer service and outcomes through the teams you lead.
- You’ll have strong experience of working collaboratively with key stakeholders, both internally and externally, at senior levels to influence and gain commitment to DWP priorities.
- You’ll be experienced in leading and managing organisational change, at senior levels. Providing coaching and leadership interventions to develop the leaders in your teams.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Communicating and Influencing
- Managing a Quality Service
- Working Together
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Presentation at Interview.
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
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
On-line candidate guidance is available through Gov.uk which provides information on Success Profiles and the Behaviours Framework. Please use the following link for further information: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles
We will be hosting a candidate information session on:26/03/24 2.30pm to 3.30pm
This will be held on Microsoft Teams, and you can register by contacting < uc.scotlandrecruitment@dwp.gov.uk. More information on the candidate information session can be found in the candidate pack, at the very bottom of this advert.
Sift
Stage 1 of selection process, the sift, will be made up of two parts, A: a short CV and B: A written sift.
- The CV is an on-line tool accessed through the Civil Service Jobsite, there is no requirement to upload your personal CV. Please focus the CV on both your experience and achievements you have had in your roles. Please use no more than 1200 words in total.
- The written sift will be conducted using evidence from your responses to the following key questions:
Q1. How have you lead senior teams to drive positive cultural change, including any setbacks you have faced, while maintaining strong customer outcomes? (300 words)
Q2. How have you built effective relationship with senior stakeholders, including influencing key decisions, to improve customer outcomes? (300 words)
Q3. How have you used a fully array of different data and insight to drive continuous improvements to service quality, in a large-scale operational environment? (300 words)
Please answer each of these three questions, using no more than 300-words in response to each individual question. Please ensure you fully consider the Person Specification, above, when answering these questions.
When considering your responses, it may help to use the STAR model to explain:
S = situation. What was the overarching strategic aim and connection to organisational priorities.
T = task. What were the critical action that had to happen?
A = action. Your personal impact, your leadership
R = result. What the outcomes were. Not output, but outcomes.
Interview
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend a blended interview lasting up to one hour. This will be a face-to-face interview in Inverness. The interview panel will be made up of three people and will assess: Behaviours and Strengths. The interview aims to be more of a conversation, exploring the candidate’s capability for the role.
Behaviours to be assessed are:
- Leadership
- Communicating & Influencing
- Managing a Quality Service
- Working Together
You will be asked to provide a 5-minute presentation on a specific subject, which you will be provided with in your invitation to interview. You will be allowed to use one single slide if you wish. Please note, this is not mandatory, and you will not be negatively impacted should you choose not to use a slide.
To help you prepare and settle into the interview you will be sent the behaviour questions in advance of the interview, 5 days prior to your interview. These questions should be treated as confidential. The interview panel may ask you other questions which will not be shared in advance, including follow-up questions, and those about your strengths and technical abilities.
Candidates will be asked further probing questions to determine suitability for the role.
Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
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.
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 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.
Security
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. Click here to visit the Civil Service Commission.
