Details
Reference number
421237
Salary
£42,614 - £45,081
Pay award pending.
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP
Job grade
Senior Executive Officer
Contract type
Permanent
Business area
DWP - Universal Credit Job Centre - Universal Credit Scotland
Type of role
Operational Delivery
Working pattern
Full-time, Job share, Part-time, Part year
Number of jobs available
2
Contents
* Location
* About the job
* Benefits
* Things you need to know
* Apply and further information
Location
Aberdeen, Elgin, Inverness
About the job
Job summary
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is responsible for welfare, pensions and child maintenance policy.
DWP is responsible for:
* helping people to move into work and supporting those already in work to progress, ensuring employment opportunity for all
* helping people to plan and save for later life, while providing a safety net for those who need it now
* providing effective, efficient, and innovative services to the millions of claimants who rely on us every day, including the most vulnerable in society
* improving experience of our services while maximising value for money for the taxpayer
You will be at the heart of our operational delivery, with the proud aim of improving people's day to day lives, helping build financial resilience and a more secure and prosperous future.
These are key roles that require flexibility and versatility, to help us deliver excellent customer service, make sound decisions, implement change and lead others.
This job would be ideal for people who have a passion for public service. It is a great opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of the people of Scotland.
Job description
Our Senior Operational Leader roles require strong leadership skills in an operational environment.
We are looking for transformational leaders – inspiring colleagues through difficult situations, setting high standards for leadership, and building high performing teams. You will monitor and drive performance, lead, coach and empower teams and make sound decisions.
You will be responsible for the line management responsibilities of staff, over multiple sites. We value visible leadership, taking a personal lead in engaging with and communicating key messages and implementing corporate change. You will be office-based (these are not hybrid / home-working roles), frequent travel between Jobcentres and within the community will be a feature of all roles.
A candidate pack is attached to the advert. Please read this pack thoroughly as it contains further information relating to the application process, including details of the Candidate Information Session which we encourage all interested candidates to join
Various Senior Operational Leader roles will be offered, which may include
Customer Service Leader
* Lead and support multiple Jobcentres, coaching local leaders to deliver excellent customer service.
* Use data and feedback from customer and colleagues to monitor performance and share good practices across teams and with senior leaders.
* Work with partners and employers to improve services and meet customer needs.
* Successfully implement change within your team.
* Create an inclusive workplace, encouraging staff development, innovation and valuing diverse perspectives.
Business Manager
* Lead and coordinate planning across the District ensuring activities are aligned with Scotland's priorities and delivered accurately and on time.
* Champion colleague engagement and culture, supporting and coaching leaders to help teams feel informed, valued and connected.
* Deliver clear, tailored communications and share best practices to drive innovation, efficiency and a strong team identity
* Support performance and resource planning, using governance and reporting structures to coach teams, monitor progress and guide improvement.
Senior Employer Relations Leader
* Build strong, effective relationships with employers, acting as an ambassador for the DWP employer offer and agenda.
* Proactively seek new opportunities, using labour market insights to identify and develop partnerships that support customer needs and enable employability
* Align employer engagement with DWP policies and government priorities to support business delivery
* Partner with senior leaders, challenging and supporting their delivery to ensure employer engagement is embedded across the business.
Person specification
Key Criteria
You have strong and effective leadership experience with an ability to communicate with clarity, conviction and enthusiasm with colleagues, partners and stakeholders to drive positive outcomes. (Lead criteria)
You are a confident decision maker, taking a leading role in proactively managing performance, whilst demonstrating a firm and fair approach to line management responsibilities, in accordance with policy and procedures.
You can demonstrate proactivity in designing, developing and delivering high quality outcomes that meet customer needs/improves customer service and deliver value for money ensuring you find ways to gather and respond to customer feedback.
You have the ability to understand and lead change, inspiring and obtaining commitment from colleagues by encouraging discussion, innovation and ideas in support of organisational objectives.
You are an excellent networker, using your influencing skills to build and establish effective relationships to deliver on shared goals.
You have sound analytical skills, and the ability to effectively interpret and use data to make informed decisions and manage risk.
You actively promote, empower and encourage equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace, demonstrating support and care for colleagues and creating opportunities for all.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Leadership
* Managing a Quality Service
* Communicating and Influencing
* Working Together
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £42,614, Department for Work and Pensions contributes £12,345 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 (pro–rata 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 year's 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 Women's 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, and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
How to Apply, Civil Service Careers (civil-service-) provides advice and tips on applying for roles in the Civil Service.
Stages for applying See Candidate Pack for fuller details about each stage.
* Stage 1 – Civil Service Judgement Test. This is an online test which provides a measure of behavioural potential (the potential to perform behaviours effectively in the role) and self-assessed potential to progress (career aspirations and work engagement).
After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Judgement Test. If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application.
Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 23:55 on 9th September 2025. If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.
Our online test supplier will be performing scheduled maintenance between 4:00pm and 7:00pm on Saturday 30th August 2025 There will be up to 1 hour during this time where candidates will not be able to access tests.
All online tests will be affected.
Impact for candidates
Candidates who are taking a test when the downtime starts will have their test paused. They will be able to pick up where they left off after the downtime. They can do this by accessing the test again from their application centre.
Candidates will not be able to launch new tests during the downtime.
* Stage 2 - Written Sift – If you pass the Civil Service Judgement Test you will be invited to complete your application using a Personal Statement of 1250 words, which will be assessed against the Key Criteria. In the event of a large number of applications we may only use the Lead Criteria in the person specification section to initially assess your application at the sift stage. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to the next stage.
* Stage 3 - Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an assessment centre. This will be a face to face session in our city centre offices in Glasgow or Aberdeen, in October 2025. More information regarding the assessment centre will be issued to those candidates who are invited to attend.
* Stage 4 - Successful candidates will be posted in merit order based on your location preferences and the geographical requirements of the business.
Sift and assessment dates to be confirmed.
Further Information
Find out more about Working for DWP
A reserve list may be held for a period of 3 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; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.
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 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 you're deaf, a Language Service Professional.
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 Scotland 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- stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email
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.
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.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
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.
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)
* 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
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.
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 and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .
Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
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 : UC Scotland Recruitment Team
* Email :
Recruitment team
* Email :
Further information
Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact DWP by email: HR..GOV.UK.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission. Click here to visit the Civil Service Commission.