Specific Vacancy Information

NOTE: THIS STATEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY AND DOES NOT FORM PART OF A CONTRACT.

Introduction

DFID, the Department for International Development: leading the British government’s fight against world poverty.

One in five people in the world today, over 1 billion people, live in poverty on less than one dollar a day. In an increasingly inter-dependent world, many problems – like conflict, crime, pollution, and diseases such as HIV and AIDS – are caused or made worse by poverty.

DFID supports long-term programmes to help tackle the underlying causes of poverty. DFID also responds to emergencies, both natural and man-made.

DFID’s work form part of a global promise to:

• halve the number of people living in extreme poverty and hunger;
• ensure that all children receive primary education;
• promote sexual equality and give women a stronger voice;
• reduce child death rates;
• improve the health of mothers;
• combat HIV & AIDS, malaria and other diseases;
• make sure the environment is protected;
• build a global partnership for those working in development.

Together, these form the United Nations’ eight ‘ Millennium Development Goals’, with a 2015 deadline. Each of these Goals has its own, measurable, targets.

DFID works in partnership with governments, civil society, the private sector and others. It also works with multilateral institutions, including the World Bank, United Nations agencies, and the European Commission. 

DFID works directly in over 150 countries worldwide, with a budget of nearly £4 billion in 2004. Its headquarters are in London and East Kilbride, near Glasgow

Project Background

DFID's current business transformation programme, "Catalyst", co-ordinates and supports the delivery of IT-enabled business change in DFID. Its remit extends to all of DFID's "back office" functions that service the business and/or enable knowledge sharing and collaboration. It aims to free staff to spend more time delivering the Public service agreement (PSA) by transforming existing business processes. It is the mechanism for sequencing and co-ordination of all major change programmes.

The change projects currently comprise:

• Introduction of new finance, procurement and performance management system;
• Introduction of electronic document record management and collaborative working tools;
• Restructuring of the human resources function;
• Update of mandatory procedures & best practice guidance;
• Upgrade of IT infrastructure capacity to facilitate change.

The Catalyst programme is managed by a small team reporting to a Senior Programme Board. Their main areas of work are:

• Business process change, benefits realisation & risk management;
• Project management advice;
• Change management and Corporate Communications;
• IT design advice.

The post holder will work closely with the business process and benefits team leader. Their main tasks will be to:

• Help projects design and implement benefits realisation plans;
• Manage the Catalyst benefits realisation framework;
• Support & train projects to carry out business analysis and design new business processes;
• Liaise with Catalyst communications and change team to co-ordinate process change & monitor project benefits;
• With projects carry out review of benefits & process work to learn lessons;
• Help DFID departments to identify and prioritise new change projects deliver business improvements;
• Further develop Catalyst risk management approach;
• Develop networks with other organisations to learn about best practice approaches in key business areas;
• Establish Catalyst knowledge base of best practice business processes and bench marked costed activities.

Qualifications and Experience

You will help develop, co-ordinate and implement our business process and benefits realisation work. A first degree is essential - additional qualifications in business administration or project management desirable -and you'll bring experience of IT enabled change management, business process re-design, risk management and delivering benefits. With an understanding of public sector business best practice, you analyse information before coming to conclusions, effectively influence colleagues and other stakeholders, and take the lead in planning and organising work. You work well with others, and have flexible approach to changing environments. The post offers excellent opportunities for working at a strategic level and gaining an in depth understanding of DFID's core business functions. It could involve some travel to DFID country offices. This is a challenging role that will require knowledge of public sector business best practice and strong analytical skills.

We would also expect the candidate to show the following technical skills :

• Skilled in use of business process re-engineering & benefits realisation planning tools to deliver business improvements;
• Familiarity with PRINCE 2 project management methods;
• Experience of delivering change programmes in public sector organisations (desirable);
• Experience of developing training materials & providing training to staff (desirable).

Candidates will also need to demonstrate the competences defined below and/or the ability to develop them quickly. Each competency will be weighted equally in assessing the suitability of candidates.

Working with Others

• Interacts with others in a supportive way;
• Works constructively to build relationships with others including those outside the immediate team and non-DFID partners to achieve objectives;
• Respects the opinions and feelings of others, valuing diversity and understanding the need to balance work and private life.

Leading and managing

• Takes the lead in planning and organising work, focusing on priority issues and actively supporting the achievement of individual and team objectives;
• Encourages and motivates people to succeed giving clear direction, involving them in decisions affecting their work and treating them fairly.

Forward thinking

• Is receptive to new ideas and is flexible to changing requirements in working methods in the job;
• Adapts to changes in organisation, environment, culture and patterns of behaviour;
• Looks to the future, anticipating the need for change and considering how change can best be implemented.

Communicating and Influencing

• Able to effectively influence colleagues, customers and other stakeholders, persuading convincingly and creating acceptance and support for ideas;
• Able to negotiate, and build useful relationships across and beyond DFID;
• Able to communicate ideas and information in a clear, concise and open manner to colleagues and non DFID colleagues.

Analytical thinking and judgement

• Demonstrates intellectual capacity and skill, analysing and interpreting information accurately before coming to conclusions;
• Also makes decisions and develops practical solutions both to every day problems and where appropriate to more strategic issues.

Delivering and Improving

• Focused on results and delivering customer/partner requirements whilst striving to achieve value for money;
• Seeks opportunities for own learning and development and provides opportunities for others to develop and grow;
• Uses learning to generate fresh ideas for improvement.

General Information

Candidates must be nationals of member states of the European Economic Area (EEA), Swiss Nationals or citizens of the British Commonwealth with the right to work and live in the United Kingdom. 

DFID is an equal opportunities employer. Applications are welcomed from all parts of the community and we actively encourage interest from women, ethnic minority groups and those with a disability. Selection is on merit. 

For more information on DFID in general and an electronic application form call 01355 84 3842 or e-mail DFIDrecruitment10@dfid.gov.uk to request an application form.

APPLICATIONS

The attached application form should be completed and returned by the closing date to:

Business Analyst
Recruitment and Selection
Room AH375
Department for International Development
Abercrombie House
Eaglesham Road
EAST KILBRIDE
Glasgow
G75 8EA 
E-mail Address : DFIDrecruitment10@dfid.gov.uk  

Please mark CLEARLY on the application form the post you are applying for and ensure that it reaches DFID by close of play on the 7th June 2005.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

If you wish us to acknowledge your postal application, please stamp and complete the enclosed card with your name, address and the title, country and title of vacancy and return it with your application.

If you submit your application by email you should receive an immediate automatic acknowledgement by email. If you do not, please firstly check the email address you’ve used is correct, and if it is correct please contact us by telephone or fax to make sure your application has been received.

SELECTION

Should you be short-listed for this vacancy you will be required to attend an assessment workshop. The assessment workshop is a process which complements our traditional technical panel interview system whereby, through a series of written and verbal exercises, we try to identify if you have the personal traits and characteristics most suited to carrying out a DFID assignment.

The workshop has been provisionally arranged for w/c 11 July 2005, in East Kilbride. Short listed applicants will be advised of the exact date when they are invited to the workshop. Applicants will be advised in the w/c 27 June 2005 whether they will be called for the workshop.

At the assessment workshop you will be asked to provide proof of nationality, identity, age and right to work in the UK. If you cannot provide this or the information you provide is inaccurate, you will be asked to repay the cost of your attendance at the assessment workshop/interview.

FEEDBACK

Please note that DFID has a heavy programme of recruitment for our professional groups and it is common for these various recruitments to run back to back, therefore we are not able to supply feedback to unsuccessful applicants who have not been short listed or even those unsuccessful following interview as our adverts attract hundreds of applicants and we are simply not resourced to give structured feedback to each one.  

AGE REQUIREMENT

DFID staff below the Senior Civil Service may retire at age 60 or may choose to serve on until age 65, subject to continued capability and satisfactory service.

Applicants would be expected to be able to give several years service, or complete a substantial amount of any fixed term appointment, before retirement. Subject to this, applications are welcome from people of all ages. Where there is a choice of candidates, at the end of the recruitment process, DFID can legitimately choose the candidate who is more likely to complete the full term of appointment.

DEPARTMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
RECRUITMENT COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE

If you have any complaints about any aspect of DFID's recruitment procedure you should address it in the first instance to:

The Head of HR Customer Services and Support
Department for International Development
AH 352
Abercrombie House
Eaglesham Road
EAST KILBRIDE
Glasgow
G75 8EA

If you are dissatisfied with our response and you believe that our recruitment practices are in breach of the Civil Service Commissioners Code (copies of which are available on request), you have the right to refer the matter to the Civil Service Commissioners provided that you do so within 6 months. Their address is:

Office of the Civil Service Commissioners
3rd Floor
35 Great Smith Street
LONDON
SW1P 3BQ

e-mail :  ocsc@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk

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