Software Developer

Location

Birmingham, Cardiff, Darlington, Edinburgh, London, Salford

Job Summary

About the job

Our Mission

At BEIS, we are leading the UK’s recovery from coronavirus and are building a stronger, greener country. Our varied work makes a real difference to people across the UK and internationally. This is a fantastic opportunity to become part of the BEIS team and our exciting mission!

We lead on the UK’s commitments to tackle climate change and drive green economic growth. We support businesses to create jobs and increase opportunity in regions across the UK. We also encourage investment and innovation to make the UK a science superpower producing research that will improve lives.

Our Inclusive Environment

We are building an inclusive culture to make BEIS a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, not only because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because it will help us be more innovative and make better decisions.

We offer first-class flexible working benefits, excellent employee well-being support and a great pension. We are fortunate to have a range of excellent staff networks and are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We will support talented people from all backgrounds to build a career and thrive.

We actively welcome applications from anyone who shares our commitment to inclusion. We will fully support candidates with a disability or long-term condition who require adjustments in our recruitment process.

Job Description

The role

As a Software Developer in BEIS Digital, you will work in a multidisciplinary team, alongside user researchers, designers, product managers, and technical experts. You’ll use C#, Typescript and JavaScript as well as PowerShell to code and develop digital tools. Our immediate priority is supporting the energy projects of the Department, where we build public facing services to allow for members of the public to apply for funding towards their energy bills.

The team

There are circa 180 people in Digital, Data and Technology at BEIS, working across a range of specialisms, in agile multi-disciplinary teams.

We build and operate tools that provide support to businesses across the UK. Our public-facing services are visited millions of times each year and the tools we’re developing for our staff will become an essential part of their daily working lives.

The team is looking to grow to meet the department’s ambitions. To do so, we are placing a strong emphasis on developing our staff, providing opportunities for learning, and encouraging a good work-life balance.

Your development is important to us. So, we’ll offer a comprehensive learning commitment through the cross-government Digital, Data and Technology profession. Come and join our diverse and growing software development community where you can play a significant part in projects such as Net Zero and the Energy Support Scheme.

Read more about BEIS Digital on https://beisdigital.blog.gov.uk/ and find us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkNdJJem13o

Person specification

Day to day may see you working on:

• Developing software to meet user needs
• Writing clean, secure, and well-tested code
• Following best-practice guidelines and help to improve guidelines
• Operating services you build and identifying issues in production

You might use some of the following tools or languages at times in this role: Microsoft ASP.NET, C# , SQL, TypeScript, PowerShell, React, Microsoft Dynamics, Javascript, Node.js and Azure.

Essential Criteria

Skills and Experience

You will need to demonstrate the following:

• Software development experience using the following languages: C#/ JavaScript/ PowerShell
• Applying a modern standards approach and guide colleagues and other stakeholders to do so
• Build and test simple interfaces between systems
• Collaborate with user researchers and can represent users internally
• Support products and investigating issues

Desirable criteria

• You have experience building web applications
• You follow best DevOps practices and have experience creating build and release pipelines
• You have experience using and developing Microsoft technologies: MS Teams, SharePoint, Dynamics 365

It is unusual that all candidates will meet all the desired criteria. If your skills and experience look slightly different from what we have identified and you think you can bring value to the Software Developer role and the team, we strongly encourage you to apply.

Technical Skills

To be Assessed:

Modern standards approach – You can competently apply a modern standards approach and guide others to do so. (Skill level: practitioner)

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/software-developer#developer

Programming and build (software engineering) – You can collaborate with others when necessary to review specifications. You can use the agreed specifications to design, code, test and document programs or scripts of medium-to-high complexity, using the right standards and tools. (Skill level: practitioner)

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/software-developer#developer

Systems integration – You can translate logical designs into physical designs. You can produce detailed designs. You can effectively document all work using required standards, methods and tools, including prototyping tools where appropriate. You can design systems characterised by managed levels of risk, manageable business and technical complexity, and meaningful impact. You can work with well-understood technology and identify appropriate patterns. (Skill level: working)

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/software-developer#developer

Service support – You can help fix faults following agreed procedures. You can carry out agreed maintenance tasks on infrastructure. (Skill level: working)

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/software-developer#developer

User Focus – You can collaborate with user researchers and can represent users internally. You can explain the difference between user needs and the desires of the user. You can champion user research to focus on all users. You can prioritise and define approaches to understand the user story, guiding others in doing so. You can offer recommendations on the best tools and methods to use. (Skill level: practitioner)

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/software-developer#developer

Technical Skills

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

• Modern standards approach
• Programming and build (software engineering)
• Systems integration
• Service support
• User Focus

Benefits

BEIS offers a competitive mix of benefits including:

A culture of flexible working, such as job sharing, homeworking and compressed hours.

Automatic enrolment into the Civil Service Pension Scheme , with an average employer contribution of 27%.

A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.

An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities, which all staff are actively encouraged to pursue.

Access to a range of retail, travel and lifestyle employee discounts.

A hybrid office/home based working model where staff will spend a norm of 40-60% of their time in the office (minimum of 40%) over a month with flex dependent on balancing business and individual need (from September 2021, depending on how the public health guidance evolves).

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Experience and Technical skills.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Please use your personal statement (in no more than 500 words) to explain w hat attracts you to this opportunity and how does your experience make you suitable for this role?

You can find tips about how to write an effective personal statement in Civil Service Careers: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/how-to-write-your-ps/

Applications will be sifted on CV and Personal Statement.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the personal statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

The interview will consist of technical questions.

Expected Timeline subject to change

Sift dates: from 10/01/2023

Interview dates: w/c 30/01/2023

Interview will be held using Microsoft Teams.

Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via [email protected] as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
• Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Further Information

This vacancy is being offered on the DDaT Pay Framework: London £34,410 to £36,900 and National £31,120 – £33,300 depending on skills, qualifications, and experience. Further details can be found on https://www.gov.uk/guidance/software-developer

After interview, a single merit list will be created and you will only be considered for posts in locations you have expressed a preference for. Appointments will be made in strict merit order.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Any move to Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at here

A location based reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Should another role become available within that period you may be offered this position.

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

BEIS does not normally offer full home working (i.e. working at home); but we do offer a variety of flexible working options (including occasionally working from home).

Please note that BEIS does not hold a licence to sponsor visa applications.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service /Disclosure Scotland on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing [email protected] stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email [email protected]

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

BEIS wants to be accessible for all, and this includes offering assistance to attend interviews. The offer is targeted toward those from a lower socio-economic background, or who struggle to cover the cost of attending an interview. Please see the attached guidance document at the bottom of this Civil Service Jobs advert. Embedded in the document on page 5, are 2 documents that must be completed and returned to the email addresses listed on the forms to claim an expenses payment. If you have any issues accessing these documents please contact us at [email protected]

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.

Nationality Requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

Further information on nationality requirements

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles .

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment .

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Penelope Kopala
• Email : [email protected]

Recruitment team :

• Email : [email protected]

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the recruitment principles, and wish to make a complaint, then you should contact in the first instance [email protected]. If you are not satisfied with the response that youreceive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: Click here to visit Civil Service Commission/Complaints