Head of Office SRO Modernisation Programme

Lead the Private Office team to support the Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) in the delivery of their objectives, priorities, long-term strategic planning, and day to day needs, ensuring the support provided is of a high quality.
Provide support to the Programme Director and wider private office team, leading on key areas of the portfolio that directly compliments the work undertaken by the Programme Director., + Lead the Private Office team to support the Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) in the delivery of their objectives, priorities, long-term strategic planning, and day to day needs, ensuring the support provided is of a high quality.
+ Provide support to the Programme Director and wider private office team, leading on key areas of the portfolio that directly compliments the work undertaken by the Programme Director.
+ Building and maintaining good working relationships with internal and external stakeholders; working closely with stakeholders and building relationships (up to senior levels) to advance the SRO’s priorities and ensure effective collaboration across the Department.
+ Commissioning and quality assurance of papers and briefings as and when required, being accountable for meeting specific deadlines, allocating tasks, collating information/data, following up with and responding to the wider business and using communication expertise and analytical skills to translate the relevant information that supports in achieving the programme outcome.
+ Leading and co-ordinating the SRO’s response to major issues, commissions and events that may be at short notice to tight deadlines, or of a sensitive nature. Includes briefing and fact checking.
+ Lead by demonstrating a strong commitment to your own self-development and the development of others. Ensure your team have the necessary skills, knowledge and capability.
+ It is vitally important that you have an overarching view of the bigger picture. You will need an understanding of the business objectives, priorities and strategy drivers and be able to access and understand the impact the Service Modernisation Programme will have.
+ Ensure the smooth running of the Director’s Private Office, including line managing a small team (including Assistant Private Secretary and Diary Manager., The CV is an on-line tool accessed through the Civil Service Jobsite and there is no requirement to upload your personal CV. Our CV element is short and allows an initial check of eligibility it will not form be part of the sift, so please put the main content of your evidence and skills in your Personal Statement.
Personal statement
When completing your personal statement of 1000 words, please read and understand the Key Criteria thoroughly as this is what your written evidence will be assessed against. Your layout is entirely your preference; you may choose narrative, bullets, etc. You may choose to address each criteria separately, however, one narrative example may cover and evidence several key criteria. You may not be able to meet all the key criteria, but please ensure you evidence: the key personal requirements and what have you done that relates to the requirements. You don’t have to explain the whole process, just what you have done and the skills and experience you have used. Share with us what makes you suited to this role and why, what you can do and the skills you have that are transferable to the key requirements, and the life experience or passion you have that are linked to this role.
1. Written Sift
The written sift will be conducted using evidence from your Personal Statement of 1000 words and will be assessed against the Key Criteria within the advert.
In the event of a large number of applications we will use the Lead Criteria to initially assess your application during the Sift stage. Candidates who pass the initial Sift may be progressed to a full Sift or direct to interview.
2. Interview
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an interview. This will include delivering a short presentation. This will be a video interview.
The interview panel will be three people The interview will assess: Behaviours and Strengths. The interview aims to be more of a conversation exploring the candidate’s capability for the role.
To help you prepare and settle into the interview you will be sent both the presentation question and the behaviour questions in advance of the interview, up to 5 working 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 abilities and strengths.
Candidates will be asked further probing questions to determine suitability for the role.
You will be assessed against the behaviours: Communicating & Influencing, Delivering at Pace, and Making Effective Decisions at level 4
It may help to use the WHO or STAR model to explain:
What the task/ work was, How you approached the task/work/situation and what the Outcomes were, what did you achieve? Or What was the Situation? What were the Tasks? What Action did you take? What were the Results of your actions?
3. Selection and Feedback
Sift and interview dates to be confirmed. We will notify all candidates as soon as possible.
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 Disclosure and Barring Service 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.
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.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
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
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:
o UK nationals
o nationals of the Republic of Ireland
o nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
o 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)
o 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)
o individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
o Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
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).

Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

+ Experience of working within and leading a team within a complex private office environment (Lead) .
+ Experience of or an understanding of supporting a project or programme through the governance process. (Lead).
+ You are able to confidently lead through uncertainty and adapt approach and plans when required for changing needs.
+ You are a strong influential leader with a continuous improvement mindset who fosters a culture of excellence and growth.
+ You are able to build strong stakeholder relationships at all levels and influence senior leaders to ensure the right outcome.
+ You have a strong commitment to self-development and the development of others., o Communicating and Influencing
o Delivering at Pace
o Making Effective Decisions

o Learning and development tailored to your role
o An environment with flexible working options
o A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
o A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%