JOB SUMMARY

The DWP Apprenticeships Team offer over 40 apprenticeship programmes from Level 2 (GCSE equivalent) to Level 7 (post-graduate qualification) across a range of professions, with around 2500 apprentices on programme across the organisation at any one time.
As the existing Civil Service Apprenticeship Strategy comes to an end in March 2025 and the Government seeks to reform apprenticeships through the new Growth and Skills Levy, we are currently developing DWP’s future apprenticeship strategy and delivery model.

There are currently three G7 roles in the team:

• Apprenticeship Programmes (this role), covering procurement of apprenticeship training providers and partnering with our professions.
• Apprenticeships Governance, Planning and Strategy, covering strategy, communications, and routeways (Social Mobility Apprenticeships and T-Levels).
• Apprenticeships Experience and Delivery, covering forecasting, finances, learner and line manager experience, administration of apprenticeship levy, and other processes to deliver apprenticeships.

You will lead the Apprenticeships Programme Team (currently 1 Senior Executive Officer and 2 Higher Executive Officers), who work alongside our Professions and the business to understand their skills and capability needs to identify the best apprenticeships programmes to meet DWP’s future capability needs and to work alongside Commercial colleagues to procure appropriate apprenticeship training providers to deliver these programmes. The team also works alongside Experience and Delivery to contract manage our providers and to address any commercial issues that arise.
The team is embarking on a period of transformation, and the future structure of the team is under review, so your role may change to meet our future needs.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Providing leadership and direction for the Apprenticeships Programme Team (1 Senior Executive Officer and 2 Higher Executive Officers), who are responsible for working alongside professions and commercial colleagues to identify appropriate apprenticeship standards and frameworks for DWP and to procure the best training providers to deliver those programmes.

Working alongside the G6 Head of Apprenticeships and other G7s to lead and deliver the DWP Apprenticeship Strategy by:

• Promoting the DWP Apprenticeships offer to colleagues across DWP contributing to the delivery of our apprenticeship strategy.
• Partnering with key internal stakeholders including Heads of Professions, Professions Capability Teams, Resourcing Account Managers, HR Business Partners and our Apprenticeship Leads community to understand the future roles, skills and capability needs of DWP and to identify appropriate Apprenticeship standards or frameworks to meet these needs. Act as a critical friend and provide challenge where necessary.
• Working alongside DWP Commercial colleagues, security supplier risk colleagues, and business leads to manage procurements of new training providers in a compliant, timely and effective manner, balancing risk to the organisation alongside departmental priorities.
• Developing a realistic Procurement Plan that prioritises commercial activity to ensure good coverage across a range of professions, apprenticeship levels and standards and attracts a selection of suitable apprenticeship training providers.
• Owning and managing all DWP apprenticeship training provider contracts from a commercial perspective, working alongside Experience and Delivery colleagues to address issues and improve provider performance.
• Working alongside professions workforce planning teams to understand future demand for apprenticeships and to support with direct recruitment of new apprentices, providing advice on apprenticeship eligibility and attraction.
• Partnering with external stakeholders including Cabinet Office, Department for Education, Skills England, and Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) to better understand the apprenticeships policy environment, occupational standards, training provider market, and provide feedback or input on the DWP experience.
• Providing leadership, direction and support to all team members, working alongside the SLT to make DWP Apprenticeships and the wider Talent and Apprenticeships team a great place to work.

NATIONALITY REQUIREMENTS

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements

There are currently three G7 roles in the team:

• Apprenticeship Programmes (this role), covering procurement of apprenticeship training providers and partnering with our professions.
• Apprenticeships Governance, Planning and Strategy, covering strategy, communications, and routeways (Social Mobility Apprenticeships and T-Levels).
• Apprenticeships Experience and Delivery, covering forecasting, finances, learner and line manager experience, administration of apprenticeship levy, and other processes to deliver apprenticeships

Key Criteria for the role:

• Working knowledge and understanding of Apprenticeships in England and/or Devolved Nations, including awareness of the changing policy environment and the apprenticeship training provider landscape [Lead Criteria].
• Understanding of government commercial frameworks, procurement and contract management, including a relevant Contract Management qualification (Foundation Level Accreditation) or equivalent experience in a commercially-focussed role.
• Experience of leadership and management of people working within geographically dispersed and remote teams, including supporting colleagues through periods of significant change and ambiguity.
• Experience of working collaboratively with peers to lead and influence the team in delivery of our key priorities, building team credibility across DWP and with external partners, role-modelling positive behaviours.
• Ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels, having the confidence to provide appropriate challenge, advice, and guidance, as a critical friend.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to carefully draft narrative to support business cases and present evidence in papers, as well as facilitate and deliver workshops or briefings in person or on MS Teams.
• Proven organisational skills, attention to detail and drive, with the ability to plan and prioritise work to balance multiple competing priorities, manage risk and maintain a high level of service, quality and accuracy in delivery.
• Be a methodical and proactive problem solver, with a focus on continuous improvement, learning and curiosity to fully understand and diagnose issues and identify solutions to future challenges.
• You must have achieved CIPD Chartered membership or be willing to work towards this upon commencement of your role