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- Tasks: Lead strategic workforce planning initiatives to shape DWP's future and impact.
- Company: Join the UK's largest public service department, supporting over 20 million people annually.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous leave, hybrid working, and a fantastic pension scheme.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in workforce strategy while leading a high-performing team.
- Qualifications: Experience in strategic workforce planning and strong stakeholder engagement skills required.
- Other info: Award-winning culture with excellent career development opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Head of Strategic Workforce Planning
Were looking for an exceptional Head of Strategic Workforce Planning to join our People and Capability Group, leading critical initiatives that shape DWPs future and deliver measurable impact.
DWP. Delivering with Purpose.
DWP is the UKs largest public service department, supporting over 20 million people annually.
The People and Capability Group lead on HR, Health & Safety, Organisation Development, and Learning Design and Delivery, supporting around 85,000 colleagues across 980 sites. We enable DWPs transformation and deliver its strategic priorities through our people.
Youll join the Resourcing, Workforce Strategy and Reform team as Head of Strategic Workforce Planning, leading one of DWPs key priorities: ensuring the right people, with the right skills, are in the right place at the right time. We shape resourcing strategy, employer brand, recruitment policy, and manage relationships with key partners.
Youll lead our Strategic Resourcing team, working with the Deputy Director to align long- and short-term planning, policy, and governance to ensure the department is future-ready.
Your Role and Impact
As Head of Strategic Workforce Planning, youll drive the development and delivery of DWPs workforce and resourcing strategies, enabling informed decision-making at senior levels.
Through expert leadership in workforce planning, exit strategy, contingent labour, and governance, youll influence how DWP responds to change, manages resources, and builds a capable, agile workforce.
Youll lead our centre of expertise for Strategic Workforce Planning, ensuring compliance with Civil Service Compensation Scheme protocols, overseeing governance and assurance (including supply and demand levels), and reporting to senior boards. Youll champion a culture of compliance and challenge non-compliance to protect organisational integrity.
Were looking for someone who embraces innovation and continuous improvement. Youll draw insights from across government and external partners, build capability across the workforce planning community, and lead a high-performing team to new standards of excellence.
What skills and experience do you need? How will this be assessed?
Youll complete both a technical statement and personal statement in your application. This is your opportunity to evidence examples of how you meet the following criteria:
Technical Statement:
- Demonstrable experience of Strategic Workforce Planning and Workforce Planning gained in a large complex and multi geographical organisation with evidence of the ability to manage a complex and volatile strategic resourcing landscape.
Personal Statement:
- Proven ability to quickly build effective relationships at a senior level and demonstrable experience of engaging, influencing and persuading senior stakeholders to reach consensus on complex business issues whilst offering constructive challenge.
- Strong evidence of presenting complex ideas, data, and analysis in a visually accessible way, which has enabled senior stakeholders to make informed decisions at strategic level. You must possess strong Excel skills, with an accomplished ability to interpret, manipulate and produce data modelling, this is critical due to the fast-paced nature of corporate requests.
- Strong evidence of successfully building and leading multi-disciplinary diverse teams with the ability to motivate, set direction in ambiguity, and build capability so they are recognised as professional experts in their field.
- Ability to respond to changing business requirements at pace and translate business strategy into workforce implications. (long-term workforce trends, scenario planning, and forecasting)
- Strong evidence of being a creative problem solver, with the ability to interpret complex organisational strategies and operating models. You will have used insight into long-term workforce trends, scenario planning, and forecasting to evaluate risks and develop innovative yet pragmatic solutions to complex resourcing challenges such as aligning workforce plans with estates strategy and fiscal constraints while ensuring compliance with legislative requirements.
- Be an advocate for change and innovation within strategic resourcing using evidence, insights, and best practice to continuously improve resourcing processes including supporting effective delivery of changes through ongoing engagement and evaluation.
Qualifications: Chartered Member of CIPD or willing to work towards this upon the commencement of the role
Details. Wages. Perks.
Location: Youll join us in one of our brilliant sites in Leeds, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Birmingham, Sheffield, whichever is best suited to you.
Hybrid Working: We work a hybrid model – you\’ll spend some time working at home and some time collaborating face to face in a hub.
Pay: We offer competitive pay of up to £80,267.
Pension: You\’ll get a brilliant civil service pension with employer contributions worth 28.97%.
Holidays: A generous leave package starting at 26 days rising to 31 days over time.
You can also take up to 3 extra days off a month on flexi-time. You\’ll also get all the usual public holidays.
We have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:
- An award-winning environment and culture: Employer of the Year 2023 (Women In IT Awards), Founders Award for Outstanding Digital Leadership 2023 (Digital 100)
- Flexible working including flexible hours and flex-friendly policies
- Time off volunteering and charitable giving
- Bring your authentic self to work with \’I Can Be Me in DWP\’
- Discounts and savings on shopping, fun days out and more
- Interest-free loans to buy a bike or a season ticket, so it\’s even easier for you to get to work and start making a difference
- Sports and social activities
Professional development, coaching, mentoring and career progression opportunities.
Click Apply for more information and to start an application on Civil Service Jobs.
Head of Strategic Workforce Planning in Birmingham employer: DWP
Contact Detail:
DWP Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Strategic Workforce Planning in Birmingham
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry on LinkedIn or at events. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Tailor your answers to show how your experience aligns with their goals, especially in strategic workforce planning.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Do mock interviews with friends or mentors to boost your confidence. The more you rehearse, the more natural you'll feel during the real deal.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can keep you top of mind and show your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it’s a great way to reiterate your fit for the position.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Strategic Workforce Planning in Birmingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Get to Know the Role: Before you start writing, take a good look at the job description. Understand what DWP is looking for in a Head of Strategic Workforce Planning and tailor your application to highlight how your experience aligns with their needs.
Craft Your Technical Statement: This is your chance to shine! Use specific examples from your past roles that demonstrate your expertise in Strategic Workforce Planning. Make sure to showcase your ability to manage complex resourcing landscapes and how you've influenced decision-making at senior levels.
Personal Statement Power: Your personal statement should reflect your personality and leadership style. Share stories that illustrate your relationship-building skills and how you've successfully engaged with senior stakeholders. Remember, it's all about showing how you can bring value to the team!
Apply Through Our Website: Once you're happy with your application, head over to our website to submit it. We want to make this process as smooth as possible for you, so applying directly through our site ensures you won't miss any important updates or information.
How to prepare for a job interview at DWP
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you have a solid understanding of strategic workforce planning and the specific challenges faced by large organisations like DWP. Brush up on your knowledge of workforce trends, scenario planning, and how to align workforce strategies with business goals.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that demonstrate your ability to lead diverse teams and influence senior stakeholders. Think about times when you've successfully navigated complex issues and how you can articulate these experiences clearly during the interview.
✨Data is Your Friend
Since strong Excel skills are crucial for this role, be ready to discuss how you've used data modelling to inform decision-making. Bring examples of how you've presented complex data in an accessible way to help senior leaders make informed choices.
✨Embrace Change and Innovation
DWP values innovation, so come prepared with ideas on how to improve resourcing processes. Think about past experiences where you've championed change and how you can apply those insights to the role of Head of Strategic Workforce Planning.
