Senior Civil Service profile
Director of Business Strategy and Planning, Jobcentre Plus
Name: Ruth Owen
Time at DWP: 16 years
Education and training:
- Studied Politics at university. I completed a final year case study on the civil service. It gave me an insight into government and turned out to be good preparation!
- Joined DWP
Leadership role
I lead on strategic planning for Jobcentre Plus – the biggest of the Department’s ‘businesses’. The impact of strategic planning is felt not only by Jobcentre Plus staff, but by our 5 million customers.
“DWP offers a huge variety of roles at a senior level.”
I have a passion for making a difference to the customer. The work is very demanding and there are dark days when things don't always go as well as you would like. Overcoming the political and bureaucratic barriers is challenging, but it’s highly rewarding to know that we can make a difference to so many lives and the support you get from colleagues is really valuable.
DWP offers a huge variety of roles at a senior level. I have had secondment opportunities and seen how people can move into specialisations at different points in their careers. In DWP there are opportunities to gain wider skills and experience.
I love working in DWP, and especially Jobcentre Plus, because it has a direct impact on the end customer and a massive ability to change lives for the better.
