Details Reference number 366278 Salary £75,000 Job grade SCS Pay Band 1 Contract type Permanent Type of role Policy 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 Bristol, South West England, BS2 0EL : Sheffield, Yorkshire and the Humber, S1 2FJ About the job Job summary This is a highly stretching Deputy Director post, leading our work on the design and implementation of the regulation of the Higher Education Sector in England and leading on our oversight of and relationship with the independent regulator, the Office for Students. Job description This is a stretching and high-profile role spanning a wide range of senior leadership skills including policy, strategy, delivery, and relationship management. Your responsibilities would include: Sponsorship of the Office for Students (acting as deputy senior sponsor), including oversight of the relationship between the Department and the OfS, oversight of the OfS's delivery and financial performance, public appointments, statutory regulations, Ministerial guidance to the OfS, and other statutory obligations as sponsor; Oversight of how the regulatory system is delivering against Ministerial objectives, and consideration of how it needs to adapt to deliver key Government priorities, such as the Lifelong Loan Entitlement. This includes a number of areas of very high Ministerial and No 10 interest including reforms to improve the quality of higher education; to tackle franchised provision; and to secure free speech; Strategy and policy in relation to quality and regulation in higher education, including measuring and raising quality, academic integrity (grade inflation, contract cheating) , implementation of freedom of speech legislation, and leadership of our thinking on how the regulatory system needs to evolve, including our response to the forthcoming independent review of the OfS; Overseeing HE governance, including in relation to degree awarding powers/ university title, new providers, and health and safety; Delviering high quality briefing and parliamentary business responsibility for your portfolio of work; Leading a high-performing, multi-disciplinary team of c. 25 policy staff across multiple sites; Playing a full wider corporate leadership role as a senior leader within the Higher Education Directorate, and DfE. Person specification It is important that, through your CV and Statement of Suitability, you provide evidence and examples of proven experience for each of the selection criteria detailed below. This is a highly stretching Senior leadership role requiring a mix of policy, strategy, corporate leadership and stakeholder management skills. Essential criteria: An inspiring leader who can set a compelling vision and build support for it, and motivate teams of people within and external to their organization and outside their direct line management chain to deliver. An effective communicator who can present complex information clearly and concisely to different audiences, with the ability to broker and negotiate compromises with stakeholders and ministers, and make an impact at the highest level in the department and externally; An effective decision maker with sound judgement who can engage credibly on highly sensitive issues, listen to a diverse range of views and balance competing interests before recommending options and taking decisive action. The ability to build trusted and effective relationships with senior stakeholders, including relationships at CEO, Ministerial and Director General level, demonstrating resilience and ability to challenge where needed. Able to work at pace in fast moving environments, with a strong delivery mindset and a proven ability to deliver good outcomes in a demanding environment Desirable criteria: Knowledge of the Higher Education sector, in particular the regulatory system, would be helpful but is not essential. Desirable criteria will only be assessed at interview, in the event of a tie break situation, to make an informed decision. Benefits Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Department’s transfer / promotion policies. As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK, with an average employer contribution of 27%. You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years’ service. In addition, all staff receive the King's Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days’ bank and public holidays. We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours. Most DfE employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending at least 60% of their time in an office or work setting. Changes to these working arrangements are available in exceptional circumstances but must be agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role. Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DfE, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered. As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities. Things you need to know Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Strengths and Experience. Application To apply for this role, you need to complete an online application via the Civil Service Jobs portal. Applications will be accepted until 23:55 on 9th September 2024. A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years. A Personal Statement (maximum 1,000 words) setting out how you meet the selection criteria. You can choose to outline any further information you believe is relevant for the role. If applicant numbers are excessive, preliminary sifting will be done using only the first criteria (An inspiring leader who can set a compelling vision and build support for it, and motivate teams of people within and external to their organization and outside their direct line management chain to deliver). Failure to submit both documents will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification. If you are unable to apply online please contact scs.recruitment@education.gov.uk in the first instance. Please visit our career site for further information on the Civil Service application process. Please note the following: we cannot accept applications submitted after the closing date; applications will be assessed solely on the documentation provided; please refer to the advert and checklist above to ensure you have provided everything requested; applications will be acknowledged upon receipt; feedback will only be given to candidates unsuccessful following interview Interview Shortlisted candidates take part in a Staff Engagement Panel (which typically takes up to 1 hour to complete), to be held week commencing 16th September 2024. Following the above assessments, the panel will shortlist candidates for interview. The formal panel interviews will be held on the 26th and 27th September. You will be asked to prepare a presentation for the interview (further information will be shared with shortlisted candidates). You will be asked questions to further assess your experience in line with the essential criteria advertised. We will also ask you questions on the strengths that are important for this role using the Civil Service Strengths Dictionary. As part of the recruitment process, we may request references. Department for Education do not cover the cost of travel to your interview/assessment unless otherwise stated. Please note that at interview stage we may ask if you have any conflicts of interest to declare. Other Information We reserve the right to raise the minimum pass mark in the event of a high volume or strong field of candidates. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK from the location options provided and not from overseas. The government is committed to supporting apprenticeships, enabling people to learn and progress in a role whilst earning. We want to monitor the number of people who have completed apprenticeships who are now applying to progress further in their career and are asking this question to all candidates, on all vacancies. You will be asked a question as part of the application process about any previous apprenticeships you have completed. Your response to this question will not affect your application and it is not a requirement of the role to have completed a previous apprenticeship. If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe 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 circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Department of Education of your intention by emailing Pre-Employment.Checks.DFE@education.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading. Department for Education do not cover the cost of travel to your interview/assessment unless otherwise stated. A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made. Candidates will be posted in merit order based upon location preference. Where more than one location is advertised you will be asked to state your preferred location. 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. Terms and conditions of candidates transferring from ALBs and NDPBs Bodies that are not accredited by the Civil Service Commission and are not able to advertise at Across Government on Civil Service jobs will be treated as external new starters and will come into DfE on modernised terms and conditions with a salary at the band minimum. Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission but do not have civil service status will be offered modernised terms and will not have continuous service recognised for leave or sickness benefits. Salaries should be offered at band minimum, but there is some flexibility where this would cause a detriment to the individual. Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission and do have Civil Service status will be treated as OGD transfers. Staff appointed on lateral transfer will move on to pre-modernised DfE terms (unless they were on modernised terms in their previous organisation). Staff appointed on promotion will move on to modernised DfE terms. Staff will transfer over on their existing salary (on lateral transfer) and any pay above the DfE pay band maximum will be paid as a mark time allowance. Staff moving on promotion will have their salaries calculated using the principles set out in the attached OGD transfer supplementary information. Reasonable adjustment If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: Contact Department of Education via centralrecruitment.operations@education.gov.uk soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. Complete the “Assistance required” 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. Any move to Department for Education (DfE) will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming 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/ Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise. As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above. 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) (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 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. 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 : SCS Recruitment Team Email : scs.recruitment@education.gov.uk Recruitment team Email : scs.recruitment@education.gov.uk Further information The Department for Education’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the Civil Service Commissioners Recruitment Principles, which outlines that selection for appointment is made on merit based on fair and open competition. You have the right to complain if you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles. In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly with the department concerned via CentralRecruitment.Operations@education.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages
