Length of employment: Job Summary: DWP is responsible for some of the most important and interesting policies which impact the day to day lives of many people. This role in Decision Making and Appeals (DMA) provides an exciting opportunity to support the delivery of these critical policy areas by ensuring the legislation aligns with the respective policy intent. DMA Leeds is a motivated, friendly and supportive team and we are committed to creating a great place to work for all our colleagues; an inclusive and respectful environment that reflects the diversity of the society we serve and ensures people can develop a wide range of key skills and behaviours. DMA Leeds is a team of experts that provides specialised services to help manage DWP's legal risks, ensuring that Social Security Benefits and Child Maintenance are administered in compliance with the legislation, whilst effectively reflecting their intended policies.It sits withinDWP Services and Fraud Group, managing all DWP appeals to Upper Tribunal and the higher courts and publishes legal guidance for Decision Makers in the Advice for Decision Making (ADM), Child Maintenance Decision Makers Guide (CMDMG) and the Decision Makers Guide (DMG). We also operate a complex case guidance service for Decision Makers. The team works closely with Policy Group, lawyers, operational delivery staff and the tribunal services to help achieve accuracy, fairness and consistency in decision making. Supporting welfare delivery is another significant area of the unit's work. In advance of drafting legal guidance, this involves scrutinising ministerial submissions, instructions to lawyers and draft regulations to ensure that they are accurate, correctly reflect case law and reflect policy intent. Job Description: The Technical Team Leader is responsible for managing a team of up to 12 Executive Officers (EOs), supporting them to develop their technical skills and maintain crucial stakeholder relationships.The role involves close working with DMA Authors, Policy, Legal and Operational colleagues. Tasks include: Providing effective leadership and support to EO team members, taking responsibility for continually improving individual and team performance. Ensuring all team members are fully engaged with the Team Performance Management processes and regular 1:1s used in support of this. Supporting the delivery of the team's work to the highest quality and within established timescales, managing workload and output of the team's technical work. Working closely with DMA Author counterparts to manage work and develop the technical team's knowledge and skills. Working with a range of stakeholders, including policy and legal colleagues to identify and deliver improvements to DWP's Decision Making and Appeals work. Mentoring/coaching all team members, but particularly new EO recruits, with the ability to provide constructive feedback and develop capability. To understand more about DWP and Policy Group and full information on applying for this vacancy, you must read the attached Candidate Pack. 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. Experience and Key Criteria Lead Criteria - Experience of leading teams and working in environments that require understanding complex information, making informed decisions and evaluating their impact. This includes effectively managing attendance, performance, HR issues and identifying areas for improvement. Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence and deliver messages accurately and effectively to stakeholders. Excellent organisational and time management skills. Self-motivated and highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and support the delivery of tight timelines with minimal direction. Proven interpersonal skills to lead, empower and develop a high performing, collaborative team. Desirable Criteria A working knowledge of social security legislation. 1. Application & Sift As part of your application, you will be invited to complete a CV which should include the last 3 years of your career history, experience and qualifications. The CV is for information purposes only and will not be assessed. You will also be asked to complete a Personal Statement of no more than 1000 words, which demonstrates how you meet the Experience and Key Criteria of the job advert. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form. Your examples must show demonstrable evidence of what you did, how you did it, and what outcome was achieved. This should include the impact of your approach and evidence of your ability to take forward different approaches in different circumstances. In the event of a large number of applications, the benchmark for candidates to proceed to the next stage may be raised and meeting the pass standard for the Lead Criteria " Experience of leading teams and working in environments that require understanding complex information, making informed decisions, and evaluating their impact. This includes effectively managing attendance, performance, HR issues, and identifying areas for improvement. " will also determine if the other Experience and Key Criteria are scored. 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. Candidates will have to meet the standard required for all the Experience and Key Criteria, in order to progress to interview. Your Personal Statement must not exceed 1000 words and you are advised to take advantage of the full word count. DWP operates an anonymised recruitment process, you should remove any personal details that could be used to identify you. Failure to do so will result in your application being withdrawn. 2. Interview Stage If you are successful at the sift you will be invited to a MS Teams interview. The interview will comprise of a mix of Behaviour-based and Strength-based questions. The guidance on Success Profiles explains these selection tools. The Behaviours being assessed are detailed in the job advert. Candidates invited to interview will receive theBehaviourquestions in advance of their interview. The evidence you provide must relate to your own experiences. If evidence of plagiarism, or sharing of questions, information or answers throughout any part of the selection process is found, your application will be withdrawn. Examples of plagiarism can include: Presenting the work, ideas and experience of others as your own. Copying content from an online/published source. Using forms of Artificial Intelligence to produce application content which you present as your own. 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. The written application sift is scheduled for week commencing 14th July 2025. Interview dates are scheduled for week commencing 4th August 2025. Please note that these dates are only indicative and could be subject to change. Offer Once all interviews have been completed, candidates will be notified of the outcome by email and offers will be made in merit order. By applying you are stating that you are willing to accept a post in our Leeds hub. Quarry House, Leeds, LS2 7UA The department is committed to promoting flexible ways of working, whilst enabling the business to operate at maximum efficiency and will expect colleagues to work from a blend of locations, including some time working at home, as required. Hybrid Working Certain job roles may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in their DWP office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and your office will be your contractual place of work. The number of days that anyone will be able to work at home will be determined primarily by business need but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be taken into account. If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working, including whether a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for you, will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post. Reserve List You may be placed on a reserve list for a period of 6 months if your application is successful, but we cannot immediately offer you a post. DWP may then contact you and offer you an alternative role or location that is within reasonable travelling distance of your home. Please note: If you accept an offer of a post, you will be expected to withdraw from any reserve lists of campaigns you have applied for, with DWP, at this grade. If you are offered the role you applied for, in the location you applied for and you decline this offer, or are unable to take up post within a reasonable timeframe, you will be withdrawn from the campaign and removed from the reserve list, other than in exceptional circumstances. If DWP makes an offer of an alternative role or location to that which you originally applied for, and you decline that offer, you will be able to remain on the reserve list. Working Pattern DWP is a family-friendly employer and part time and job sharing working patterns within working hours may be available, but must meet business needs. We will do our best to let people with existing part time contracts retain their contracted hours, provided they are in line with current business needs. Applying for a lateral transfer or promotion from outside DWP Civil Servants that transfer into DWP from another government department or organisation, following successful application, will assume DWP's terms & conditions of employment current on the day they are posted, including those concerning weekly working hours, working days and times, and mobility. Exceptions may be allowed by DWP for pay, sick pay and annual leave to take account of expressed terms and conditions before the transfer. Previous service will count towards service-related entitlements. A transferee accepting a post will be taken to mean acceptance of revised terms & conditions. Civil servants applying on promotion will usually be appointed to the salary minimum or within 10% of existing salary. Further Information Find out more about Working for DWP A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 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. 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 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. Feedback