Length of employment:
Job Summary:
Anchored in DWP, this is an opportunity to join a cross-government team, providing support to the Operational Delivery Profession (ODP) and to Peter Schofield in his capacity as Head of Profession. Find out more about ODP
The ODP talent team is looking for an SEO Talent Manager for a cross-government role directly supporting the profession.
The individual will sit within DWP People and Capability directorate and work with colleagues from the wider ODP team based in HMRC.
The impact of the role is wide-ranging, impacting ODP talent across the civil service and including regular engagement with senior leaders. Understanding feedback and insight from direct and indirect engagement with SCS, Heads of Talent and wider stakeholders, to improve and iterate the SCS talent offer.
A new ODP strategy launched in April 2025, meaning there will be opportunities to consider new, broader and varied talent work.
It is key the successful candidate will use their HR/talent management expertise to support the development of a robust and diverse talent pipeline for senior operational delivery roles, delivering against key priorities to support our business plan objectives.
We welcome applications from candidates who demonstrate experience in talent management with strong communication skills. You will need to be able to develop strong, collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders and have good data management skills, with the ability to identify and lead the development of new capability products and talent interventions. In addition, a curious and proactive approach with experience of planning and managing own workload contributing to a small team.
Job Description:
Successful candidates can expect to be involved in a range of the following:
* Reporting to the Grade 7 (G7) Head of Senior Civil Servant 1 (SCS1) Talent, supporting both the Heads of SCS1 and SCS2 Talent to shape and deliver talent management objectives and planning for 2025/26 and beyond.
* Leading on the delivery of specific talent workstreams and projects, identifying challenges, opportunities for new talent work as part of the new ODP strategy, considering risks, and acting on them in a timely way to support the wider work of the team.
* Overseeing the management and maintenance of the team's data, ensuring data is available, accessible and supports decision making.
* Representing ODP talent team at various calls, boards, and events across government, often with senior stakeholders.
* Facilitating and presenting at talent team sessions including self-led action learning groups, workshops and webinars.
* Connecting and working with the wider ODP Central team, Cabinet Office, Government People Group, Heads of Talent, other professions and functions and a wider network of stakeholders across government to ensure alignment and join up, developing and maintaining strong relationships.
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.
Key criteria for the role:
* Experience in the development and delivery of measurable, talent strategies and plans that deliver impact, meeting the needs of the profession.(Lead criteria)
* Strong adaptable communication skills, both in verbal and written formats, including the confidence to communicate and influence professionally and across a variety of levels.
* Experience of leading, facilitating, and motivating groups to achieve collaborative outcomes.
* Excellent stakeholder management skills with the ability to build and maintain relationships with a range of internal and external (cross-government) stakeholders and colleagues at a Senior Civil Servant (SCS) level, supported by strong verbal and written communication skills.
* Proven analytical skills, able to distil large amounts of information and present into concise and easy to understand formats suitable for senior audiences.
* CIPD Associate membership or be willing to work towards this upon commencement of your role.
Selection will be by a written sift, followed by a virtual video interview.
Written Application and Sift
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, and a Personal Statement of no more than 750 words which will be assessed against the Key Criteria listed earlier in this advert. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Your Personal Statement should be based on evidence of what you did and how you did it in order to achieve the outcomes notified.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the Lead Criteria only:
\"Experience in the development and delivery of measurable, talent strategies and plans that deliver impact, meeting the needs of the profession. (Lead Criteria)\".
Candidates who pass the initial Sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to interview.
CV
The CV is an on-line tool accessed through the Civil Service Jobsite and there is no requirement to upload your personal CV. Our CV element is short and allows an initial check of eligibility. This will be for information purposes only and will not be scored.
Therefore,please put the main content of your evidence and skills in your Personal Statement.
Personal Statement
When completing your personal statement,please read and understand the KeyCriteria thoroughlyas this is what your written evidence will assessed against.
Please ensure you evidence the key personal requirements and what you have done that relates to these requirements.
You don't have to explain the whole process, just what you have done and the skills and experience you have used.
Share with us why you are most suited to this role, what you can do, the skills you have that are transferable to the key requirements, and the life experiences or passion you have that are linked to this role.
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.
If you withdraw your application at any stage, it will not be progressed any further.
Interview Process
After the sift is complete, shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend a virtual video interview on MS Teams.
The overall interview will last around 45-minutes and you will need to use your personal device to access the video link.
The interview will assess Behaviours and Strengths.
The interview aims to be more of a conversation exploring the candidate's capability for the role.
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 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.grs@cabinetoffice.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 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 DWPRecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.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 you're 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.