The Selection Process
You will receive an acknowledgment of your application through the online process.
The interview panel will then assess your application, selecting those with the best fit against the essential criteria. Failure to address any or all of these points may affect your application. The timeline outlined in the apply section indicates the date by which decisions are expected to be made and the assessments required for each role. Dates may be subject to change.
Staff Engagement Exercise
If you are shortlisted, you may be required to take part in a staff engagement exercise (which,if they take place, will contribute to the overall assessment). Full details of the assessment are outlined in the apply section of the application.
GDS chats
Shortlisted candidates will have the opportunity to speak with a member of the leadership team to learn more about the role and the organisation. Please note this is not part of the formal assessment.
Panel interview & short presentation
Shortlisted candidates will be asked to attend a face to face panel interview at an agreed location to discuss your previous experience and professional competence. Candidates invited to the panel interview will be asked to give a short presentation. Full details of the assessment process will be made available to all shortlisted candidates at a later date. Travel expenses, relocation costs are not provided.
Interview panel
Please refer to Job Description for more details.
COVID-19
Please note, this process may change depending on the evolving situation with COVID-19. Interviews and assessments may be conducted via Video Conferencing. We will endeavour to keep all candidates updated throughout the process.
Reserve list
A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made. Candidates placed on a reserve list will be considered for similar posts and appointed based on merit.
Redeployment Interview scheme
Civil Service employees (including Senior Civil Servants and Crown Arms Length Bodies) who are at risk of redundancy and who meet the minimum selection criteria in the job specification are guaranteed to progress to the next stage of the recruitment process.
This could either be an interview or technical/practical assessment. Selection will be on merit and at-risk candidates will be able to self-identify during the application stage.
For all guaranteed interview schemes, there may be exceptions made on reasons of time/resource for high-volume recruitment where the vacancy manager may decide to select the candidates who best meet the minimum criteria rather than all of those that meet the minimum criteria.
Assignment Length
Across the Civil Service, we recognise the importance of retaining skills and experience and ensuring our staff remain in post to see key projects through to completion. This is not only essential to the crucial work we are undertaking but also helps in the development of our individual team members. In order to meet this need more effectively, we want to clarify our expectations of standard assignment lengths which should be a minimum of three years unless stipulated otherwise.
An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions.
Please note this is an expectation only, is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the Department or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and the department’s business needs and, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above. If you have any concerns or questions about this please contact the vacancy manager.