G7 Transformation and Change Manager

Job content

Planning reform is a top priority for Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) and the Government. The Planning for the Future White Paper (published August 2020) proposes significant reform to the planning system.

The users of the planning system are vast and diverse, and successful implementation of the reforms will require us to work closely with delivery partners across local government, external bodies and the private sector.This is a chance to work at the heart of this exciting and high-profile agenda.

This is a fast-paced, strategic role with a focus on developing the change strategy and framework to support the successful implementation of these planning reforms.

The role holder will report to the G6 Head of Stakeholder Relations and Change, working closely with G7 Technical Implementation Lead, G7 LA Capacity and Engagement and G7 Senior User Researcher. You can expect to have engagement with Ministers, Special Advisers and senior officials within DLUHC.

We are looking for experienced change management practitioner with a proven track record of delivering transformational, organisational change with strong project management, communications, influencing and coordination skills.

We want our workforce to reflect the diversity of the community we serve and actively encourage and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. DLUHC is a friendly, open and supportive place to work. Not only will you have a chance to make a difference, but you will also have the opportunity to develop your skills and talents to build a rewarding career with us.

Apply a structured methodology and lead change management activities to support the successful implementation of planning reform.

Design the strategic approach to how we will deliver change activities and drive sector wide adoption and behavioural change.

Evaluate the change impact and sector readiness providing actionable guidelines on reducing the risk and impact.

Evaluate resistance in adopting the change at the user, process, and technology level and develop the approach to mitigating this.

Support training, engagement, and communication activity as part of change management to build readiness and understanding.

Project manage the change portfolio including defining and measuring success metrics to monitor change progress.

Develop understanding of change management methodology across the wider teams.

The skills that we are seeking;

Essential;

We Are Looking For An Experienced Change Practitioner Who Can Demonstrate Knowledge And Experience In One Or More Of The Following

Change management principles, methodologies and tools

Behavioural change - How people and diverse organisations go through a change and the change process

Large-scale multi-sector transformational change

Organisational development and design

In addition, the role holder should be able to demonstrate:

Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal

Ability to influence the actions and behaviours of others.

Strategic thinker with problem solving and root cause identification skills

An effective collaborator who will build strong relationships and partnerships with colleagues within the Department, elsewhere in Whitehall, and with external stakeholders.

Strong organisational skills and the ability to work with independence in a fast-paced and dynamic environment

Desirable

A qualification in change management/leadership (APMG, government OD&D or equivalent).

Experience of leading change activities with local government

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
  

We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Describe a large transformational project you have worked on. What change management methodologies did you apply? How did you adapt these methodologies to fit the project and what was the outcome?
• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pensionSuccessful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check.
  

See our vetting charter.People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.We are for everyone

At DLUHC we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce. We promote equality of opportunity in all aspects of employment and a working environment free from discrimination, harassment, bullying and victimisation.

We would strongly recommend that applicants get in touch with the vacancy manager to find out more information about this role.

We are for everyone

DLUHC want to bring in and bring on a diverse workforce at all levels.

Our application system is designed to remove as much bias as possible from the recruitment system – this means that a hiring manager does not know your name, your details, see your whole application in one go (or have your CV at review stage unless stated otherwise).

Your answers are randomised and chunked up. This means that each assessor views sets of responses to questions for example all candidates’ responses to ‘Seeing the Big Picture’ rather than seeing a candidate’s full application. The science behind this is that recruitment can be subject to ordering and fatigue effects and we want to reduce this as much as possible.

Most of our campaigns utilise multiple assessors and so it is possible that each of your answers would be viewed by different assessors.

When Writing Your Application, Remember

• The assessor won’t be reading your answers sequentially.
• Do not assume that the same assessors will have read all of your answers.
• If talking about something in your first answer, make sure that you write the second answer as if you had not written the first (and so on!)
  

At Sift, We Will Be Assessing

Technical 1 (Lead Criteria) - Describe a large transformational project you have worked on. What change management methodologies did you apply? How did you adapt these methodologies to fit the project and what was the outcome?

Behaviour 1 – Seeing the Big Picture

Behaviour 2 - Leadership

Behaviour 3 – Communicating and Influencing

There is a 250-word limit per question.

In the event that we receive a large number of applications, we may conduct an initial sift based on the lead behaviour.

The interview will be of a blended nature consisting of behaviour, experience, technical and strength based questions as listed in the advert. The strength-based questions will require natural responses from the candidates. Candidates will also be expected to deliver a presentation at interview stage, the details for this will be provided upon invitation.

In full the campaign will test the below Success Profile Elements:

Behaviours: (1) Seeing the Big Picture, (2) Leadership and (3) Communicating and Influencing

Experience: Yes

Technical: Yes (Criteria at application stage; Presentation at interview stage)

Strength: Yes

We do not consider direct CV applications to our Recruitment mailbox – you must apply for this role via the application link on Civil Service Jobs

Please note that near miss offers may be made at the lower grade to candidates who do not meet the grade criteria for this campaign

Benefits

Transfers across the Civil Service on or after 4 October 2018:

Any move to DLUHC 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. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk.

For further information about the benefits available to DLUHC employees, please see the attached Candidate Pack.

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION:

• London
• Wolverhampton*
  

There may be opportunities for candidates to work flexibly depending on the business needs. This will be discussed with the vacancy manager on a case-by-case basis if you are successful for the role.

• Please note: DLUHC is opening a new office and second headquarters in Wolverhampton, the opening date for which will be confirmed soon. Ahead of opening, candidates who wish to be based in the Wolverhampton office will be expected to work from home in the interim before moving to the new office in Wolverhampton. There may also be opportunities to work from our Birmingham office prior to the opening of the Wolverhampton office. Further information can be found in the announcement here.
  

Sift And Interview Dates

Sifting is envisaged to take place W/C 7th October 2021 with interview dates to be confirmed. All interviews are currently being held remotely via videocall.

Reserve List

In the event that we identify more appointable candidates than we currently have posts available, we will hold applicant details on a reserve list for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made. This may include roles at a lower grade. Candidates placed on a reserve list will be informed of this. Due to the length of time CTC checks can take, our HR Shared Services team will contact reserve list candidates for London based roles to commence CTC checks. Those candidates who do not wish to remain on the reserve list should contact recruitment@communities.gov.uk to be removed from the reserve list.

CTC (Counter-terrorism Clearance)

Important note

Successful candidates for roles based in our 2 Marsham Street building must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check and the process can take up to 8 weeks to complete.

Please note that successful candidates will need to pass the CTC security checks – this requires you to have been resident in the UK for the past 3 years. Please refer to the DLUHC Notes on Security Clearance section of our Candidate Pack for further information on Counter Terrorism Clearance (CTC). Thank you.

Candidates should also note that with effect from 1st August 2018 the department will also check all applicants who are successful at interview, against the Internal Fraud Database (IFD) held by the Cabinet Office. In accordance with the Civil Service Internal Fraud Policy, any applicant who is included on the IFD will be refused employment by DLUHC. Please see the Candidate Pack for further information on the Internal Fraud Database.

Terms & Conditions Statement

• Please note that existing DLUHC staff currently within their probation period would still need to complete their probation should they be successful for the role.
  

Grade 7 salary

The salary for this role is £53,132 (London) or £48,197 (National).

For existing civil servants, the usual policy on level transfer and promotion will apply and is non-negotiable.

Candidate Pack Information

Please see attached Candidate pack for further information and guidance on:

• Internal Fraud Database
• Reserve List
• Notes on Security Clearance
• Additional Information on Modernised Terms and Pay
  

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups

• UK nationals
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

Further information on nationality requirements 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.