Head of Apprenticeship Programmes

Job information Head of Apprenticeship Programmes from the Company Department for Work and Pensions, this latest Head of Apprenticeship Programmes job vacancy is located in the city Newcastle upon Tyne. This latest job opening is open to job seekers who have the latest education / graduate . Job Vacancies in this Administration field have been opened and published up to the specified time.

Job Description :

Details

Reference number

392362

Salary

£55,557 – £66,058 A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97% GBP

Job grade

Grade 7

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

DWP – People and Capability

Type of role

Human Resources

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

• Location
• About the job
• Benefits
• Things you need to know
• Apply and further information

Location

Birmingham, Blackpool, Glasgow, Leeds, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Pontypridd, Sheffield

About the job

Job summary

The DWP Apprenticeships Team offer over 40 apprenticeship programmes from Level 2 (GCSE equivalent) to Level 7 (post-graduate qualification) across a range of professions, with around 2500 apprentices on programme across the organisation at any one time.

As the existing Civil Service Apprenticeship Strategy comes to an end in March and the Government seeks to reform apprenticeships through the new Growth and Skills Levy, we are currently developing DWP’s future apprenticeship strategy and delivery model.

There are currently three G7 roles in the team:

• Apprenticeship Programmes (this role), covering procurement of apprenticeship training providers and partnering with our professions.
• Apprenticeships Governance, Planning and Strategy, covering strategy, communications, and routeways (Social Mobility Apprenticeships and T-Levels).
• Apprenticeships Experience and Delivery, covering forecasting, finances, learner and line manager experience, administration of apprenticeship levy, and other processes to deliver apprenticeships.

You will lead the Apprenticeships Programme Team (currently 1 Senior Executive Officer and 2 Higher Executive Officers), who work alongside our Professions and the business to understand their skills and capability needs to identify the best apprenticeships programmes to meet DWP’s future capability needs and to work alongside Commercial colleagues to procure appropriate apprenticeship training providers to deliver these programmes. The team also works alongside Experience and Delivery to contract manage our providers and to address any commercial issues that arise.

The team is embarking on a period of transformation, and the future structure of the team is under review, so your role may change to meet our future needs.

Job description

Providing leadership and direction for the Apprenticeships Programme Team (1 Senior Executive Officer and 2 Higher Executive Officers), who are responsible for working alongside professions and commercial colleagues to identify appropriate apprenticeship standards and frameworks for DWP and to procure the best training providers to deliver those programmes.

Working alongside the G6 Head of Apprenticeships and other G7s to lead and deliver the DWP Apprenticeship Strategy by:

• Promoting the DWP Apprenticeships offer to colleagues across DWP contributing to the delivery of our apprenticeship strategy.
• Partnering with key internal stakeholders including Heads of Professions, Professions Capability Teams, Resourcing Account Managers, HR Business Partners and our Apprenticeship Leads community to understand the future roles, skills and capability needs of DWP and to identify appropriate Apprenticeship standards or frameworks to meet these needs. Act as a critical friend and provide challenge where necessary.
• Working alongside DWP Commercial colleagues, security supplier risk colleagues, and business leads to manage procurements of new training providers in a compliant, timely and effective manner, balancing risk to the organisation alongside departmental priorities.
• Developing a realistic Procurement Plan that prioritises commercial activity to ensure good coverage across a range of professions, apprenticeship levels and standards and attracts a selection of suitable apprenticeship training providers.
• Owning and managing all DWP apprenticeship training provider contracts from a commercial perspective, working alongside Experience and Delivery colleagues to address issues and improve provider performance.
• Working alongside professions workforce planning teams to understand future demand for apprenticeships and to support with direct recruitment of new apprentices, providing advice on apprenticeship eligibility and attraction.
• Partnering with external stakeholders including Cabinet Office, Department for Education, Skills England, and Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) to better understand the apprenticeships policy environment, occupational standards, training provider market, and provide feedback or input on the DWP experience.
• Providing leadership, direction and support to all team members, working alongside the SLT to make DWP Apprenticeships and the wider Talent and Apprenticeships team a great place to work.

Person specification

Key Criteria for the role:

• Working knowledge and understanding of Apprenticeships in England and/or Devolved Nations, including awareness of the changing policy environment and the apprenticeship training provider landscape [Lead Criteria].
• Understanding of government commercial frameworks, procurement and contract management, including a relevant Contract Management qualification (Foundation Level Accreditation) or equivalent experience in a commercially-focussed role.
• Experience of leadership and management of people working within geographically dispersed and remote teams, including supporting colleagues through periods of significant change and ambiguity.
• Experience of working collaboratively with peers to lead and influence the team in delivery of our key priorities, building team credibility across DWP and with external partners, role-modelling positive behaviours.
• Ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels, having the confidence to provide appropriate challenge, advice, and guidance, as a critical friend.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to carefully draft narrative to support business cases and present evidence in papers, as well as facilitate and deliver workshops or briefings in person or on MS Teams.
• Proven organisational skills, attention to detail and drive, with the ability to plan and prioritise work to balance multiple competing priorities, manage risk and maintain a high level of service, quality and accuracy in delivery.
• Be a methodical and proactive problem solver, with a focus on continuous improvement, learning and curiosity to fully understand and diagnose issues and identify solutions to future challenges.
• You must have achieved CIPD Chartered membership or be willing to work towards this upon commencement of your role.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Leadership
• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £55,557, Department for Work and Pensions contributes £16,094 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

DWP have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:

• Working patterns to support work/life balance such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
• Generous annual leave – at least 23 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (pro-rata for part time employees), plus 9 days public and privilege leave.
• Support for financial wellbeing, including interest-free season ticket loans for travel, a cycle to work scheme and an employee discount scheme.
• Health and wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme for specialist advice and counselling and the opportunity to join HASSRA a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly).
• Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after 1 year’s continuous service.
• Funded learning and development to support progress in your role and career. This includes industry recognised qualifications and accreditations, coaching, mentoring and talent development programmes.
• An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join professional and interpersonal networks including Women’s Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Application Process and Sift

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, and a Personal Statement of no more than 1250 words which will be assessed against the Key Criteria listed earlier in this advert.

Your Personal Statement should be based on evidence of what you did and how you did it in order to achieve the outcomes notified.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the Lead Criteria only:

“Working knowledge and understanding of Apprenticeships in England and/or Devolved Nations, including awareness of the changing policy environment and the apprenticeship training provider landscape [Lead Criteria]“

Candidates who pass the initial Sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to interview.

CV

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. This will be for information purposes only and will not be scored. Therefore, please put the main content of your evidence and skills in your Personal Statement.

Personal Statement

When completing your personal statement, please read and understand the Key Criteria thoroughly as this is what your written evidence will assessed against.

Please ensure you evidence the key personal requirements and what you have done that relates to these 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 why you are most suited to this role, what you can do, the skills you have that are transferable to the key requirements, and the life experiences or passion you have that are linked to this role.

If you withdraw your application at any stage, it will not be progressed any further.

Interview Process

After the sift is complete, shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend a virtual interview on MS Teams.

The overall interview will last around 45-minutes and you will need to use your personal device to access the video link. The interview will assess Behaviours and Strengths. The interview aims to be more of a conversation exploring the candidate’s capability for the role.

During the interview, you will be asked to deliver a 5-minute presentation related to the behaviour Communicating and Influencing. The presentation question will be shared with candidates 5 working days prior to their interview.

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

After the interview

Once all interviews have been completed, candidates will be notified of the outcome by email and through their Civil Service Jobs account.

Successful candidates for the initial posts offered will be contacted regarding their preferred location based on the role being offered. If you are able to accept this provisional offer, pre-employment checks will commence and once they are cleared, the vacancy holder will contact you with details of a start date.

Please note that for some of the locations currently listed in this vacancy, we may not be able to immediately offer a position based on the needs of the business at the time.

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 here

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/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

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:

• 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)
• 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
• 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

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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 . 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 and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans 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.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : clt.recruitmentanddeployment@dwp.gov.uk
• Email : clt.recruitmentanddeployment@dwp.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : dwprecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact DWP by email: HR.BUSINESSASSURANCE@DWP.GOV.UK. 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