Policy Officer

LocationBristol, Darlington, Leeds, Manchester, Wolverhampton

About The Job

Job summary

The Office for Local Government (Oflog)'s vision is to help make local government even better. We will increase understanding about the performance of local authorities, warn when authorities are at risk of serious failure, and support local government to improve itself. To do that, Oflog's strategic objectives are:

• inform - to increase understanding - among citizens, civil society, central government and local government itself - about data on the performance of local authorities;
• warn - to help identify local authorities that are at risk of serious failure but have not raised the alarm themselves;
• support - to support local government to improve performance, productivity, and value for money: championing best practice, improving data capability and rationalising a complex data landscape.

Oflog is a key priority of the Secretary of State. It is an office of DLUHC, meaning all staff are DLUHC civil servants. The government committed in the Levelling Up White Paper that Oflog would be independent, and Ministers have asked us to act with a spirit of independence and have committed not to exercise influence over our outputs (other than approving our recommendations for new metrics). We look forward to Oflog's increasing independence.

Oflog is a mixed-discipline team, including policy and local government experts, and analysts from a range of disciplines. This is a unique time to participate in setting up a new organisation from the ground up. While supporting the aims of Oflog, the successful candidate will have an opportunity to work in a nimble organisation and to shape the overall organisation and its culture.

Job Description

We are looking for a HEO policy officer, desirably with experience of working in the environment of the data landscape and data capability. This is an exciting role with a particular focus on shaping the support strands of Oflog’s work.

This role will play a key part in ensuring best use of data by Oflog, Central and Local Government.

As a policy officer, you will support work in the areas of data landscape and data capability. In doing so, you will work with many different teams within Oflog, across Whitehall, Local Government and other sector bodies.

You will be comfortable in taking a flexible approach to tasks. You will have good organisational skills and enjoy researching various subject areas.

You will also have the opportunity to help develop Oflog’s newly emerging culture and environment; we encourage all colleagues to play a role in the growth and development of Oflog, and bring about the work ethos they want to see.  

Person specification

We are looking for a candidate with experience and skills in the follow areas.     

 Essential  

• Strong oral and written skills including the ability to communicate detailed information succinctly and clearly.
• Ability to work collaboratively, build consensus and influence outcomes, both within and outside HM Government.
• Experience of undertaking research and summarising findings succinctly.
• Track record of demonstrating resilience and flexibility under pressure with the ability to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances.
• Ability to balance competing demands whilst delivering high quality outputs.
• Strong organisational and management skills.

An interest in the local government sector in the broad sense, passionate about ensuring good outcomes for the current and future sector and partners, and eager to help drive DLUHC’s contribution to delivering Levelling Up.

Desirable

• Knowledge and demonstrable understanding of the local government sector.
• Good understanding of the data and digital environment.

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

• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing

BenefitsAlongside your salary of £32,178, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities contributes £8,688 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• 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%

Things you need to knowSelection process detailsThis vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) , and will assess your Behaviours and Strengths.

We are for everyone

At DLUHC we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce. We promote equality of opportunity in all aspects of employment and a working environment free from discrimination, harassment, bullying and victimisation.

Please contact the vacancy manager if you have any questions about the role.

As part of our pre-employment checking process we will be using your CV to confirm your job history. Please note that by providing us with your CV you are consenting to us using the information enclosed as part of the checking process.

We are for everyone

DLUHC want to bring in a diverse workforce at all levels.

Our application system is designed to remove as much bias as possible from the recruitment system – this means that a hiring manager does not know your name, your details, see your whole application in one go (or have your CV at review stage unless stated otherwise).

At application stage you will be asked to upload a CV document. Unless stated otherwise in the advert, your CV will not form part of the assessment but will be used for information purposes and only shared with the panel at interview stage.

Your answers are randomised and chunked up. This means that each assessor views sets of responses to questions for example all candidates’ responses to ‘Seeing the Big Picture’ rather than seeing a candidate’s full application. The science behind this is that recruitment can be subject to ordering and fatigue effects and we want to reduce this as much as possible.

Most of our campaigns utilise multiple assessors and so it is possible that each of your answers would be viewed by different assessors.

When writing your application, remember:

• The assessor won’t be reading your answers sequentially.
• Do not assume that the same assessors will have read all of your answers.
• If talking about something in your first answer, make sure that you write the second answer as if you had not written the first (and so on!)

At sift, we will be assessingBehaviour 1: Delivering at Pace (lead behaviour)

Behaviour 2: Making Effective Decisions

Behaviour 3: Working Together

Behaviour 4: Communicating and Influencing

There is a 250 word limit per question.

In the event that we receive a large number of applications, we may conduct an initial sift using the lead behaviour listed in the advert. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

The interview will be of a blended nature consisting of the following success profiles elements:

Behaviour: Delivering at Pace, Making Effective Decisions, Working Together, Communicating and Influencing

Strength: The strength based questions will require natural responses from the candidates.

In the full campaign we will test the below Success Profile Elements:

Behaviour: Delivering at Pace, Making Effective Decisions, Working Together, Communicating and Influencing

Strength: Yes

We do not consider direct CV applications to our Recruitment mailbox – you must apply for this role via the application link on Civil Service Jobs

Please note that near miss offers may be made at the lower grade to candidates who do not meet the grade criteria for this campaign.

HEO salary

• The salary for this role is £32,178 (National).
• For existing civil servants, the usual policy on level transfer and promotion will apply and is non-negotiable. If you apply for a role that requires a transfer of location, for example if you are transferring from London to a National location, your salary will be adjusted in accordance with our policy on transfer between HQ pay ranges.

Please note that the average employer pension contribution is based upon the National minimum salary for this role. Should your agreed starting salary for this role be different, the average employer pension contribution will be calculated accordingly. If you are a Secondee, this will not apply as you will remain on your home organisation’s terms and conditions. BENEFITS :

Transfers across the Civil Service on or after 4 October 2018:

Any move to DLUHC 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

For further information about the benefits available to DLUHC employees, please see the attached Candidate Pack.

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION:

• Wolverhampton
• Darlington*
• Bristol
• Leeds
• Manchester

There may be opportunities for candidates to work flexibly depending on the business needs. This will be discussed with the vacancy manager on a case-by-case basis if you are successful for the role.

• Please note: The Darlington Economic Campus (DEC) is a pioneering new cross-government hub which will bring together people across departments and public organisations to play an active role in the most important economic issues of the day. The work of the Campus will make a real difference to people both across the UK and internationally. There will be substantial career opportunities and exciting prospects - a career at the Campus means you will be working at the heart of Government, with access to the benefits and fantastic opportunities offered by the civil service.

For further information on the DEC, please take a look at the attached DEC candidate pack.

SIFT AND INTERVIEW DATES :

Sifting is envisaged to take place W/C 3 June 2024 with interview dates to be confirmed. All interviews are currently being held remotely via videocall.

Reserve List

In the event that we identify more appointable candidates than we currently have posts available, we will hold applicant details in a reserve list for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made. This may include roles at a lower grade. Candidates placed on a reserve list will be informed of this. Those candidates who do not wish to remain on the reserve list should contact recruitment@levellingup.gov.uk to be removed from the reserve list.

Candidate Pack Information

Please see attached Candidate pack for further information.

Before starting your application it’s very important to make sure that you are eligible to apply and meet the Civil Service nationality requirements. All candidates are expected to read the information provided in the DLUHC candidate pack regarding nationality requirements and rules

Internal Fraud Database

The Internal Fraud function of the Fraud, Error, Debt and Grants Function at the Cabinet Office processes details of civil servants who have been dismissed for committing internal fraud, or who would have been dismissed had they not resigned. The Cabinet Office receives the details from participating government organisations of civil servants who have been dismissed, or who would have been dismissed had they not resigned, for internal fraud. In instances such as this, civil servants are then banned for 5 years from further employment in the civil service. The Cabinet Office then processes this data and discloses a limited dataset back to DLUHC as a participating government organisations. DLUHC then carry out the pre employment checks so as to detect instances where known fraudsters are attempting to reapply for roles in the civil service. In this way, the policy is ensured and the repetition of internal fraud is prevented.

For more information please see: Internal Fraud Register

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) (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 : Gary McCann
• Email : gary.mccann@levellingup.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@levellingup.gov.uk