Overview
Service Leader – Jobs and Careers Service Operations at Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). We’re looking for a dynamic leader to head our Jobs and Careers Service Operations in the West Midlands, overseeing services and around 1000 colleagues across 15 Jobcentres with senior responsibility for one of three areas in the district.
We welcome different backgrounds and leadership styles—what matters is your ability to influence, inspire, and deliver change. If you thrive in a fast-paced, people-focused environment and want to shape the future of public service, we want to hear from you.
This is your chance to shape a service that reflects the diversity and ambition of the region, influence policy, inspire teams, and deliver results that change lives. You’ll also join a national leadership community committed to excellence, inclusion, and public service.
Details
Pay: £72,664 to £77,740, plus 28.97% pension contributions
Location: Any convenient DWP location in the West Midlands region.
Travel: Frequent travel across the region is required. We support flexible working to help you balance commitments.
Responsibilities
* Lead services and partnerships that help people into work, improve lives, and strengthen communities.
* Oversee 1000 colleagues across 15 Jobcentres with senior responsibility for one of three areas in the district.
* Manage high unemployment and economic inactivity by delivering exceptional services to citizens, especially among young people and those facing barriers to work and opportunities.
* Work with mayoral and local authorities, employers, and other statutory and community services to deliver targeted, place-based solutions.
* Lead Jobcentre teams to help individuals overcome barriers (e.g., health conditions, skills gaps) and use data to focus support where it’s most needed.
* Influence policy, inspire teams, and deliver results within a modern, versatile operations leadership approach.
* Engage in cross-government relationships and partnerships to drive improvements and share insights across the West Midlands leadership team.
Qualifications
* Essential: Strong track record of working in partnership across organisational boundaries and complex stakeholder landscapes, with external organisations to deliver shared goals.
* Proven ability to lead and motivate large, geographically dispersed operational teams, delivering excellent performance and customer service.
* Skilled in influencing and communication strategies to address conflict, engage teams in behavioural change, and build collective ownership of outcomes at all levels, including peers.
* Strategic leadership experience using frontline insight to shape departmental direction, set a compelling vision, and deliver organisational change.
* Authentic, inclusive leadership focused on people development, wellbeing, and building trust across teams.
* High personal resilience with the ability to prioritise and manage outcomes at pace while maintaining quality.
* Desirable: Experience of working in or with local government, combined authorities, or other devolved or community-based delivery models.
* Understanding of labour market dynamics, social policy, or public service reform.
* Civil Service Pension with contributions of 29% (worth over £23,000 a year).
* 26 days leave, rising to 31 days (plus public holidays).
* Flexible and family-friendly working options and policies.
* Opportunity to bring your authentic self to work with 'I Can Be Me in DWP'.
* Discounts and savings on shopping, activities, and more.
* Interest-free loans for a bike or season ticket.
* Access to professional development and coaching; focus on people development and growth within the West Midlands Leadership team.
* Brilliant career opportunities within DWP and across the Civil Service.
Next steps
Click through for full information and to start an application, or contact the recruiter to discuss this opportunity.
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