You will be responsible for: Building a strong relationship with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and the Minister for Pensions and advising them on key policy priorities on state pensions, welfare spend, carers and devolution Identifying strategic priorities within your directorate ahead of fiscal events and playing a crucial role in developing our strategy to manage welfare spending Developing the policies that provide support to over 12 million pensioners including some of DWPs most vulnerable customers, and for playing a key role in the Governments response to the strategic challenge presented by an ageing population; Maintaining excellent relationships with colleagues working in the relevant operational arms of the Department. You will also lead our strategic relationship with colleagues who are transforming the Departments services and improving customer experience; and Support to those with caring responsibilities and pensioners with disabilities and lead the Departmental relationship with Department for Health and Social Care on social care; The Departments relationship with the Devolved Administrations in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, acting as the lead Departmental Director for the Governments Union Strategy. This includes for both the policy and implementation of the social security provisions in the Scotland Act 2016, which this transfers responsibility for the provision of many DWP benefits to Scottish customers from DWP to the Scottish Government, most notably those supporting disability, carers, and industrial injuries; Working with colleagues in the Private Pensions directorate to lead the Governments review of the pensions system; Leading the policy co-ordination for uprating benefits and pensions means you will be central to one of the most important annual events for the Department which affects the lives of many millions of people; Build and maintain important strategic relationships with colleagues in other Government Departments, particularly No. 10, HM Treasury, the Cabinet Office, Devolved Administrations and key stakeholder groups. Person specification Essential Criteria Willingness to work closely with job share partner to provide a seamless service to the Department and team whilst harnessing the skills and energy of both partners A track record of successful senior leadership and management with proven skills in setting direction, effective delivery through multi-disciplinary teams, building team capability and culture, and business planning A breadth of strategy and policy capability gained through recent experience in leading policy-making and development in a complex environment, and at a senior and strategic level Experience of working closely across professional boundaries, especially with service delivery and programme management professionals; Building mutually beneficial and collaborative relationships, with the ability to negotiate and influence at the highest levels, operating with sensitivity and political astuteness, and remaining calm under pressure; Benefits Alongside your salary of 117,000, Department for Work and Pensions contributes 33,894 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 (prorata 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 years 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 Womens Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more. Things you need to know Selection process details To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process outlined below no later than 12:00pm (noon) on 31 January. 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 1250 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities, and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria in the person specification. 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. 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. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window). See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). 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) .