Location

London SW1P 3BT , Coventry CV1 2WT, Manchester M1 2WD, Sheffield S1 2JF

About the job

Summary

The multi award-winning Open Innovation Team is a cross government unit that works with academics to generate analysis and ideas for policy. 

We operate like an in-house consultancy, working at pace across a wide range of policy areas, including health, growth, policing, justice, foreign policy, digital transformation and government innovation. 

As a Policy Officer, you will be a key member of the team, supporting colleagues to research and deliver flagship projects. As well as researching a range of policy areas, you will be responsible for managing administrative and operational tasks to improve project and team management. 

You will be expected to work independently and as part of a team to research a range of policy issues and topics. You will be flexible, creative and keen to help improve the day-to-day running of the team.  

Diversity and Inclusion 

We are an innovative, professional and supportive team. We value diversity and inclusion and embrace diverse ways of working so that everyone feels they are able to flourish. We particularly encourage applications from those from backgrounds which are under-represented at senior levels in the Civil Service. This includes those: 

-from Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds 

-with disabilities 

-from lower socio-economic backgrounds 

We would encourage people from these backgrounds to contact the hiring manager Ruth Puttick (ruth.puttick@openinnovation.gov.uk) to answer any questions about the role, team or selection process.

Job description

This role is an exciting opportunity to develop your research and operational experience in an award winning team. It requires analytical skills, and preferably someone with knowledge of working in a policy making environment, as well as effective operational and administrative expertise. 

You will spend your time helping to both deliver policy projects and supporting the operational and administrative needs of the team. On policy projects, you will work with senior colleagues to engage civil servants and experts to research and produce evidence and advice for officials across government. You will be supported to learn about new policy topics, synthesise complex information, and to draw out key insights into practical advice for policy makers. 

You will also have responsibility for elements of operational and business management. You will be responsible for supporting colleagues to continuously improve processes within the team. This could include managing IT, recruitment, and data systems, and providing ad-hoc support for non-policy projects as well. 

You will often be working on several projects with tight deadlines and you will be expected to manage your own work and deliver to the highest standard. Effective organisational and communication skills are essential.

Responsibilities

Essential Criteria - You’ll have experience relevant to the following areas: 

- Researching policy projects: supporting colleagues to design and deliver projects that engage outside experts and generate high quality analysis. 

- Improving business processes: continually seeking to improve processes in the team to ensure its ongoing efficiency and impact. 

- Effective time and task management: working on several projects simultaneously - on your own or within a team - whilst meeting tight deadlines. 

- Effective written and verbal communication: clearly communicating with your colleagues to meet project needs, and with external stakeholders to positively represent the team. 

- Building networks and relationships: a curiosity to new topics and a willingness to share insights to help the team to stay on top of the latest policy ideas. 

- Delivering partner benefits: working with colleagues to deliver services for our university sponsors. This includes working with their researchers, staff and students on policy training.

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Written Skills

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. 

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 Queen’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. 

As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities.

Things you need to know

Security

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Experience and Technical skills.

Application 

We will sift applicants based on their CV and Statement of Suitability, assessing both against the key responsibilities/ essential criteria outlined above. Your Statement of Suitability should be a maximum of 750 words. 

Interview 

If you are shortlisted, your assessment will last approximately two hours. We will assess technical skills and experience. 

First, you will be asked to deliver a five minute presentation on “How the Open Innovation Team can increase its impact.” 

Second, there will be an interview where we will ask you to explain your experience and skill in the following areas: 

Researching policy projects 

Improving business processes 

Effective time and task management 

Effective written and verbal communication 

Delivering partner benefits 

Encouraging and supporting diversity and inclusion across the team 

Third, there will be a one hour written test where you will be asked to prepare a short briefing note. 

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview. 

Other Information 

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.  

For this role the department would not consider sponsoring a Certificate of Sponsorship/visa. Please note we are unable to offer advice on any Visa and Immigration cases. 

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.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

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.

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans 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 : Ruth Puttick
• Email : ruth.puttick@openinnovation.gov.uk

Recruitment team : 

• Email : Centralrecruitment.operations@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: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/recruitment-complaints/.