Performance Manager (HEO)

Job summary

Working towards sustainable futures. Championing diversity in the workplace. At the Department for Work and Pensions, it’s all in a day’s work. From HR to Finance, Policy to Communications, this is work that sustains and supports, where everyone’s voice is heard, and our customers are at the heart of everything we do. For a career packed with possibility, a comprehensive benefits package, where we live by our values and have the opportunity to improve the lives of people across the UK, look no further.

Supporting people who need it most. That’s our purpose. Start your own career today. Find out more and apply here.

DWP is looking to fill 1 Performance Manager role in Contract Management and Partner Delivery (CMPD). The role available will be based in one of the offices below:

• Taunton – Brendon House, 35-36 High Street, Taunton, TA1 3NY

• Exeter - Clarendon House, Western Way, EX1 2DA

• Bridgwater - Hanover House, Northgate, TA6 3HG

Overview of Contract Management and Partner Delivery (CMPD)

The responsibility of managing health and employment contracts sits within CMPD, as well as supporting and challenging local authorities to deliver Housing Benefit and various types of local welfare provision, allocating and managing billions of pounds in funding.

CMPD sits within Finance Group (FG) and works closely with a wide range of colleagues including DWP Operations, Digital, Estates, Commercial, Finance, Policy, Strategy, Counter Fraud and Compliance, as well as local authorities and contracted suppliers.

CMPD work with professionalism and commitment to be an exemplar in driving third-party performance to deliver the Department’s goal of helping those that can work and supporting those that can’t. Our people are empowered to continuously improve our processes and work in partnership with our providers, local authorities and internal stakeholders. This enables us to drive high-quality outcomes for our customers and value for money for the public. Where relevant, staff working within CMPD will be supported to gain professional qualifications / training.

To find out more about working for DWP: BSL – Why join the DWP? Watch our recruitment video.

Job description

This exciting opportunity has arisen within Employment Account Division (EAD) which is part of CMPD. EAD is responsible for the Relationship, Performance, Budget, and Compliance Management of DWP’s contracted and grant funded employment provision, delivered by external Suppliers and Local Authority led Accountable Bodies and delivery partners.

The Division performance manages contracts for a range of programmes, including Restart, Work and Health Programme, and Access to Work as well as responsibilities for managing grants in Connect to Work.

As a Performance Manager, you will be required to support delivery of CMPD aims and objectives and actively support and promote the DWP vision.

Key Accountabilities

• Ensure that external partners’ service delivery standards are constantly measured, business targets and objectives met in line with original assumptions/contractual obligations.
• Monitor performance against targets and service levels, producing performance reports and briefing material as required.
• Engaging with stakeholders to fully impact performance challenges.
• Challenge and inspire external partners to drive performance improvements where needed, identifying innovative solutions and escalating risks as appropriate.
• Identify ways in which the Department should mitigate and manage potential risks to performance.
• Support Grade 7, Senior Performance Manager (SPM) and other HEOs across the country to optimise cross-programme performance.
• Develop a strong understanding of external partners processes and ensure their requirements are considered in DWP planning activity.
• Project a clear understanding of provision/ or grant requirements to ensure provision aligns with expectations.
• Maintain strong and effective working relationships with a wide range of internal/external stakeholders.
• Collaborate with external partners on opportunities to improve both the performance and value for money.
• Identify potential risks to the successful performance and ways in which the Department should mitigate and manage these risks.
• Attend/contribute to governance meetings, providing appropriate challenge to ensure robust scrutiny of external partners’ performance.
• To be accredited or prepared to work towards foundation level with the Cabinet Office Operational Supplier Management (OSM) programme.

This is a partnering role and there will be significant travel to visit provider sites and other CMPD and DWP sites as required which may include overnight stays.

This role is suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in their DWP office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and your office will be your contractual place of work. The number of days that anyone will be able to work at home will be determined primarily by business need, but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be taken into account. If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working, including whether a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for you, will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

Lead essential Criteria:

• Demonstrable engagement and influencing skills with a strong focus on building collaborative working relationships with colleagues and stakeholders across the team, department and with external providers.

Other essential Criteria:

• Proven ability to lead by example and provide inspiration, direction and support to colleagues and internal/external stakeholders by communicating with clarity and purpose and challenging in a professional manner.
• Demonstrable ability to work flexibly to meet changing demands and manage multiple competing priorities in a complex and challenging environment.
• Proven experience of producing excellent communications with the ability to assimilate and interpret information quickly and explain complex propositions simply and clearly.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Working Together
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Demonstrable engagement and influencing skills with a strong focus on building collaborative working relationships with colleagues and stakeholders across the team, department and with external providers.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £38,772, Department for Work and Pensions contributes £11,232 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

DWP have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:

• Working patterns to support work/life balance such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
• Generous annual leave – at least 23 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (pro–rata for