Predominantly this role will require the drafting and recording of Parliamentary questions (PQ'S) and Freedom of Information requests, working with teams across the Department to provide accurate and relevant responses within set timescales. In addition you will undertake (but not exclusive to) the following: Providing a professional first point of contact for enquiries, advice, and information to stakeholders both within and outside of the department. Building and maintaining effective working relationships with Ministerial Private Office, Permanent Secretary Private Office and colleagues across the department, creating a network of subject matter experts (SME) whom they will be able to call on as required. Setting a clear context and rationale for what is needed and by when. Responding to media enquiries and Ministerial cases, ensuring that statements and background information are clear, factual, and accurate and highlighting any issues or inconsistencies at the earliest opportunity. Providing briefing for both routine and ad-hoc requests (e.g. Select Committees) for Ministers and Senior Officials, and ensuring that this is tailored to the needs of the audience, is factual, accurate and consistent with Departmental steers. Own and improve the FOI/PQ process for Finance function, ensuring the points of contact are updated intermittently and logging and tracking of requests are accurately completed. All documents for guidance are updated and available including all process maps. Management of 35-40 Government Internal Audit Agency (GIAA) colleagues through a single operating platform (SOP), point of contact for escalations or guidance. Optimisation of FG Assets - Approval for DWP and GIAA laptops for FG and management of leavers and returning of equipment. Co-ordinator for Payment Services & Financial Control Learning and Development. Cover for local communications and business commission as and when required. Person specification Essential Criteria The successful candidate will have to demonstrate clearly in their personal statement: LEAD CRITERIA Experience of writing and quality assuring draft proposals and responses on behalf of leaders at executive level. The ability to compose accurate and timely responses within tight deadlines, making recommendations and requesting stakeholder intervention when required Experience of managing staff via a standard operating platform The ability to show resilience whilst working under pressure, demonstrating sound judgement and strong analytical skills Excellent inter-personal and communications skills, both written and oral, and the capacity to build effective relationships and networks, whilst working autonomously and taking independent decisions to proactively manage your workloads Demonstrate the ability to be a self-starter with the flexibility and resilience to adapt quickly to new demands, and lead, and work effectively with others to deliver a high-quality outcome under pressure. Ensuring the accuracy of documents/ information provided Ability to adapt positively to various tasks, manage multiple items and have a pro-active approach to complete tasks Demonstrate being a team player who can work collaboratively within a small team and understand the need for transparency and effective communication Have strong analytical skills and sound judgment Please note this is a Full time position with limited flexibility due to cover and nature of the role. Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Communicating and Influencing Making Effective Decisions Working Together Delivering at Pace Benefits Alongside your salary of 37,497, Department for Work and Pensions contributes 10,862 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: Although this is a full time only role, other roles in the Civil Service can offer 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 This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience. Sift You will be asked to provide a personal statement of no more than 1000 words, that demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria outlined in the advert. Should a large volume of applications be received, the vacancy holder may undertake an initial sift on the lead essential criteria. "Experience of writing and quality assuring draft proposals and responses on behalf of leaders at executive level. The ability to compose accurate and timely responses within tight deadlines, making recommendations and requesting stakeholder intervention when required". Should this be the case, only candidates who pass the initial sift will be progressed to full sift. Only candidates who pass the full sift will be invited to interview. Interview Candidates who pass the sift stage will be invited to an interview via MS TEAMS. You will be assessed against the behaviours listed in the advert at interview. Further details on how to access an online interview will be shared with those who are invited to this next stage. Sift will be undertaken from 16th January 2025 onwards Interviews will be planned for 27th January 2025 onwards Results will be expected to be received by candidates from February 2025 onwards These dates are a guide and are subject to change. Further Information Find out more about Working for DWP A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 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.grscabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading. 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 applicants 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.grscabinetoffice.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 youre 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) (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) .