Length of employment: Job Summary: Are you experienced in successfully delivering high profile programmes in a large, geographically dispersed organisation?Would you enjoy working at pace in a changing environment with conflicting priorities and influencing cross Government decisions to ensure DWP's views are represented? Do you enjoy building successful stakeholder relationships across a large organisation and wider? Are you able to draw information from a variety of sources and draw and communicate clear and concise conclusions, tailoring the narrative to meet the needs of the audience? Would you relish the opportunity to lead a high-performing multi-disciplined team focused on successfully delivering the demands of a fast-paced programme setting clear expectations and delivering at pace with a high degree of autonomy? Do you want to learn more around the possibilities of AI and development of user cases in HR and be ready to lead this across the People Function? If so, this is a fantastic opportunity to join the Personal and Professional Learning (PPL) team within the Capability Learning and Talent Directorate part of the People and Capability Group. PPL leads the agenda to create a culture of continuous learning and to act as a Centre of Expertise to enable everyone in DWP to build the flexible skillsets and capabilities to respond to our ever-changing context to better serve our customers. Job Description: The post holder will be responsible for the safe implementation and delivery of the One Big Thing programme across DWP for 2025 and future years. The role will also include the development of expertise and strategic co-ordination of Artificial Intelligence capability related matters on behalf of the wider directorate and People and Capability Group. The role is strategic with a strong delivery focus and a requirement for excellent stakeholder management skills. The role reaches across the Department and wider Government with successful delivery achieved through the mobilisation of networks of stakeholders and establishment of a multi-disciplinary team. This is a challenging and exciting role in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, working with senior colleagues in the organisation and across government. One Big Thing is an annual initiative providing a universal learning opportunity for all Civil Servants. The post holder will be responsible for the successful delivery of One Big Thing 2025 (OBT25) for DWP by: Providing strong leadership to a multi-disciplinary team, setting the vision for the team, providing strategic direction and ensuring high performance through an empowering and inclusive leadership approach. This is a hands-on role that may occasionally involve coaching. Building strong stakeholder relationships within DWP and across the Civil Service, delivering through others to ensure successful outcomes are achieved. Leading a Senior Stakeholder Group for OBT, setting the agenda to ensure it remains meaningful and outcome focused. Developing a range of communication and marketing activities, using a variety of different channels, to ensure that OBT remains visible and high profile, working closely with Cabinet Office and DWP Communications to ensure that Comms Strategies are aligned and relevant to DWP people. Ensuring a robust project plan is in place with key milestones identified and tracked, risks and relevant mitigation in place. Influencing the testing phase to ensure quality standards are met and product resonates with wider DWP colleagues. This will involve working directly with developers, monitoring progress and providing guidance where needed. Working with relevant DWP stakeholders to develop a suite of management information and data to allow tracking of the OBT25 programme, reporting this regularly to DWP senior leaders and Cabinet Office and briefing the Permanent Secretary. The jobholder also needs to have a critical influence on the design of One Big Thing initiatives in future years ensuring DWP' s views are reflected at every opportunity. As Artificial Intelligence lead the jobholder will provide strategic coordination of all AI capability related matters by: Co-ordinating Artificial Intelligence (AI) related initiatives and learning within PPL and across People and Capability, including developing business cases for licences when appropriate. Working closely with relevant directorates to support the development of a practical and effective PandC AI strategy. Working with Digital Group to explore further use cases across the HR Function. Being the People and Capability AI strategic lead and expert providing advice and guidance and horizon scanning for future developments. 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. Candidates should be able to demonstrate the Key Criteria as outlined below. Key Criteria: Implementation and successful delivery of a high-profile programme: Strong experience and proven ability to set a strategic direction and to translate that into deliverable plans to facilitate successful delivery of a high-profile programme in a fast-paced environment. Effectively managing substantial workloads and competing priorities to deliver high-quality outcomes, often to very short deadlines. ( Lead Criteria) Stakeholder management: Experience of engaging and influencing to build successful stakeholder relationships across a large organisation and wider. Proven ability to communicate effectively to provide a collective vision while maintaining strong and influential relationships to deliver shared objectives and outcomes. Analytical Skills: Proven ability and confidence in working with complex data and to use statistical tools and software to analyse data, look for patterns, trends, and correlations. Ability to use insights gained from the data analysis and a desire to learn and explore new things to develop innovative solutions. Communication: Proven ability to work with complex data, with the ability to draw and communicate clear and concise conclusions, tailoring the narrative to meet the needs of the audience. Excellent drafting skills and experience of reporting key matters to senior stakeholders in a clear, concise manner. Experience of communicating using a multi-channel approach. Leadership: A strong track record of leading a multi-disciplinary, geographically dispersed teams, setting clear expectations. Must be able to work proactively with a high degree of autonomy. Proven experience in coaching to support individual growth and improve team capabilities. Working knowledge of AI and its applications in HR would be an advantage. You must have achieved CIPD Chartered membership or be willing to work towards this upon commencement of your role. Written Sift: To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process outlined below: A personal statement of a maximum 1000 words, explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities, and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role against the key criteria in the person specification. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form. If we receive a large number of applications, we will conduct an initial sift on the lead criteria: \" Implementation and successful delivery of a high-profile programme :Strong experience and proven ability to set a strategic direction and to translate that into deliverable plans to facilitate successful delivery of a high-profile programme in a fast-paced environment. Effectively managing substantial workloads and competing priorities to deliver high-quality outcomes, often to very short deadlines.\" [LEAD CRITERIA] If you pass the initial sift, you may be progressed to a full sift or directly to interview. If high application volumes are received, the benchmark for candidates to proceed to the next stage may be raised. In line with our commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS), we aim to advance all candidates applying under the DCS who meet the minimum standard. However, we may only progress those candidates who best meet the required standards. We recognise that AI may be helpful when applying for this role, but it is important to use it in the right way. Read the DWP AI Candidate Guide to understand how you can make the best use of GenAI while ensuring your application remains authentic and effective. Interview: Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an interview lasting up to 45 to 60 minutes via MS Teams. The interview panel will be a minimum of two people and they'll assess Behaviours, Strengths and Technical Skills. The interview aims to be more of a conversation exploring the candidate's capability for the role. During the first 5 minutes of your interview, you will be asked to deliver a presentation which will assess the technical skill - AI Awareness and Potential Implementation. Please note that visual aids will not be permitted. To help you prepare and settle into the interview you will be sent the presentation topic 5 days prior to your interview. This should be treated as confidential. The interview panel may ask you follow-up probing questions. Sift and interview dates to be confirmed. After the interview Once all interviews have been completed, candidates will be notified of the outcome by email and through their Civil Service Jobs account. Successful candidates for the initial posts offered will be contacted regarding their preferred location based on the role being offered. If you are able to accept this provisional offer, pre-employment checks will commence and once they are cleared, the vacancy holder will contact you with details of a start date. Please note that for some of the locations currently listed in this vacancy, we may not be able to immediately offer a position based on the needs of the business at the time. Further Information Find out more about Working for DWP. A reserve list may be held for a period of 12months 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. 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/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 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 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email 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. 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 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. 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