This is a high profile, varied and diverse role providing advice and guidance for policy leads across DWP on how to work with the Devolved Governments, and to giving a view on the political sensitivities which impact on social security, pensions and child maintenance. This enables and supports policy development to the benefit of the whole of the UK.

You will need to build and maintain close working relationships with a range of colleagues working with the Devolved Governments, the UKGs territorial offices for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, Other Government Departments and DWP policy officials across all teams. You will be expected to support answering general queries and reviewing policy submissions for devolution impacts. There will be a requirement to prepare briefing and draft correspondence.

This role would suit someone who takes an interest in the political landscape across the UK.

You will also take part in delivering the devolution capability building programme across DWP, presenting awareness sessions to officials across the Department on a regular basis.

The high-profile nature of this role makes it ideal for someone looking to develop themselves in a unique area of work, it provides an excellent opportunity to build competence in a fast-paced and business-critical role. Previous experience in the legislative process, and an interest in a highly technical and detailed role would be advantageous.

Knowledge of devolution across the UK, and experience of working on legislation would be beneficial.

Person specification

Experience Key Criteria

• Ability to thrive in a high profile, ever changing, fast paced environment, using own initiative to effectively organise and prioritise a varied workload. (LEAD CRITERIA)
• Experience of drafting high quality communications and briefing products, working at pace to deliver to tight deadlines while maintaining a focus on quality.
• Building positive relationships with a range of colleagues and stakeholders, working with and earning the trust of colleagues at all levels, maintaining supportive networks and challenging constructively and influencing, when required.
• Confident use of Teams and MS Office packages, including Outlook, Word, Excel and SharePoint.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process :

Benefits

Alongside your salary of 37,497, Department for Work and Pensions contributes 10,862 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 :

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) , and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

1. Application & Sift

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and Personal Statement.The CV is for reference only and will not be scored.

A sift will be carried out using your 1000 word Personal Statement .

Your personal statement needs to set out evidence of how your experience meets all the Experience Key Criteria set out above and not the published behaviours listed in this advert.

We are not looking at how much time you have spent in a job, but rather how you have performed. Your Personal Statement must show demonstrable evidence of what you did, how you did it, and what outcome was achieved. This should include the impact of your approach and evidence of your ability to take forward different approaches in different circumstances.

The standards detailed in the Experience Key Criteria are the minimum expectations for the role and only candidates with the strongest evidence will be invited to interview. In the event of a large number of applications, meeting the pass standard for the lead criteria " Ability to thrive in a high profile, ever changing, fast paced environment, using own initiative to effectively organise and prioritise a varied workload "will determine if the other criteria are scored. Candidates will have to meet the standard for all criteria to progress to interview.

Your statement must not exceed 1000 words and you are advised to take advantage of the full word count.

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

2. Interview Stage

If you are successful at the sift you will be invited to a MS Teams interview. The interview will comprise of Behaviour-Based questions, and shorter strength based question. The guidance on Success Profiles explains these selection tools. The Behaviours being assessed are detailed in the job advert.

Behaviours :

Note that the Behaviours will be assessed at interview stageonly.

The strengths to be assessed willnotbe shared ahead of the interview.

Please be aware these roles can only be carried out in the UK, not overseas, and your office base must be our Edinburgh hub.

By applying you are stating that you are willing to accept a post in Queen Elizabeth House, 1 Sibbald Walk, Edinburgh, EH8 8FT.

The Department is committed to promoting flexible ways of working, whilst enabling the business to operate at maximum efficiency and will expect colleagues to work from a blend of locations, including some time working at home, as required

Further Information

Find out more about Working for DWP

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 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 Chec k to Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.

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 [email protected]

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 applicants 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 [email protected] 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 youre 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

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups :

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

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) .

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window) .