Senior Business Strategist

Job summary

Working towards sustainable futures. Championing diversity in the workplace. At the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), 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.

The Department for Work and Pensions is one of the largest Departments in Whitehall, managing the delivering of benefit payments to citizens totalling over £200bn annually. Working in Finance Group in Government, your role is to protect public funds and add value through finance assurance activities.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join the DWP Business Strategy Directorate (BSD). The Business Strategy Team sits in Finance Group but works very closely across the Department and with our Digital and Transformation Group, providing stewardship of the department’s transformation ambitions. Business Strategy is made up of strategists rather than Finance professionals. Business Strategy sets and embeds the long-term vision for the Department and how it delivers its services. Whilst policy teams focus on what we deliver, we focus on how DWP can transform delivery of our services to improve customer experience and drive greater efficiencies.

Now is an exciting time to join BSD. Having recently agreed the Department’s Strategy for 2030, we have a vital role to play in ensuring the Department successfully realises the ambitions contained within it. This role could be suited to Policy Professionals or Change Professionals, but we welcome applications from all candidates who can demonstrate skills and capability in strategic thinking and a proven ability to drive change.

Job description

The Business Strategy Team will be key in supporting and enabling the department through a period of significant change as we move from having established our 2030 strategy to supporting the Department to deliver it. Our current focus is broadly two-fold:

• Supporting and enabling the Department to deliver the 2030 Strategy: working across the Department to support the mobilisation of our 2030 strategy and transformation ambitions; communicating the strategy to senior leaders across the Department; working with leaders to co-create work to ensure it delivers the intent of the strategy; and ensuring senior leaders in the Department understand our progress towards delivering the strategy and where there are gaps.
• Ensuring that the department’s 2030 Strategy remains‘live’: be a thought leader across the organisation, maintaining an excellent understanding of the strategic landscape of DWP and working across the Department to ensure the Strategy is updated to reflect any developments in DWP’s environment.

As one of the two Strategy Grade 6s (G6) in the team (there also 2 G6-led teams that focus on thedesign of the business, using specialist ‘business architect’ techniques), you will be responsible for leading significant pieces of work that support the Department to move the dial on its transformation ambitions. For example:

• Providing an assessment to our executive team on the extent to which departmental plans lead to the realisation of our 2030 Strategy and where there are gaps.
• Working with communications colleagues to ensure our 2030 Strategy is communicated properly to all colleagues across the Department.
• Support senior executive leaders to understand and co-create a programme of work to set the conditions of success for transformation in the Department.
• Work with senior leaders in the department to assess alignment of a major programme of work to our strategy – or shape the creation of a piece of work to align and enable it.
• Collaborating with other strategic leaders in DWP to align the Business Strategy with our long term financial planning and our wider policy development.
• Providing horizon scanning on the external environment, working with academics, think tanks and industry to identify emerging trends and bring an understanding of leading practice into the organisation.

You will also manage a small-to-medium-sized team and be an active member of the Business Strategy Senior Leadership Team, working to ensure your team and the wider directorate are set up for success and live for values of DWP.

Hybrid working

This role may be 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.

If a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for the role and for you, you will normally be required to spend a minimum of 60% of your contracted working hours from your DWP office.

If you have a disability, caring responsibilities, or other circumstances that may affect your ability to meet the minimum office attendance requirement, please discuss this with us using the contact details in this advert.

Visas

For these vacancies, we strongly recommend that applicants consult with an immigration specialist or qualified advisor to assess their eligibility for Visa Sponsorship before deciding to apply. Please note that while we consider sponsorship requests in accordance with current DWP guidance and Home Office policy, sponsorship cannot be guaranteed.

Locations

You will be asked for your preferences for up to 3 locations, these will tell us where you would prefer to work if you are successful. Please do not select a location unless you are prepared to accept a role in that location.

Selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit, on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles here.

Successful candidates will be posted in merit order based on your location preferences, where appropriate, and the geographical requirements of the business. Dependent on your position on the merit list, if none of your location preferences remain at the point we make a job offer DWP may offer you a role at an alternative advertised location. If we are unable to offer you a role in any of your preferred locations, and you are unable to accept a role at an alternative advertised location, we will add you to the reserve list if one is being held.

Person specification

A strong candidate for this role should be able to demonstrate the following Essential Criteria:

• Lead Criteria) Demonstrable experience playing a leading role in the development of complex, whole organisational strategies, incorporating external insights, data analysis and knowledge of best practice from other industries, and using best practice strategy-setting techniques.
• A strong leader and manager, able to provide clear strategic direction and acting as an empowering line manager who enables people to deliver high‑quality results, whilst prioritising wellbeing.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal to deliver high quality and informative products for Ministers and senior officials. Ability to convey complex information clearly, concisely, and with impact.
• Proven ability to deliver high‑quality work under pressure, managing competing priorities and deadlines. Comfortable navigating and leading in ambiguity and adapting quickly in a fast‑paced environment.
• Strong relationship‑building and influencing skills, with the ability to engage confidently with stakeholders at all levels — including very senior leaders. Skilled at managing differing views and negotiating shared outcomes.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Seeing the Big Picture

Technical skills

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

• Lead Criteria listed within the advert under person specification

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £75,026, Department for Work and Pensions contributes £21,735 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

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 part time employees), plus 9 days public and privilege leave.
• Support for financial wellbeing, including interest-free season ticket loans for travel, a cycle to work scheme and an employee discount scheme.
• Health and wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme for specialist advice and counselling and the opportunity to join HASSRA a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly).
• Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after 1 year’s continuous service.
• Funded learning and development to support progress in your role and career. This includes industry recognised qualifications and accreditations, coaching, mentoring and talent development programmes.
• An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join professional and interpersonal networks including Women’s Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

Sift stage:

Initial sift – Lead Essential Criteria:

As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide evidence against the Lead Essential Criteria 'Demonstrable experience playing a leading role in the development of complex, whole organisational strategies, incorporating external insights, data analysis and knowledge of best practice from other industries, and using best practice strategy-setting techniques.’ of no more than 250 words. We are interested in what you did and how you did it, and what was the outcome, as part of your example.

Only candidates who pass the initial sift on the Lead Essential Criteria will be progressed to full sift of personal statement.

Full sift:

You will be asked to complete a Personal Statement of no more than 1000 words. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

The sift panel will use your Personal Statement to assess your skills and experience against the Essential Criteria listed for this position.

Interview stage:

If you have been successful in sift stage, you will be invited to an online interview via Microsoft Teams. You will need to produce evidence of ID ahead of your interview.

The interview will take a blended approach, and you will be assessed against the behaviours outlined in the job advert via questions and short presentation, as well as strength-based questions.

You will be required to do a short presentation at the start of your interview demonstrating the following behaviour:

• Seeing the bigger picture

Further information will be provided to those who are invited to interview.

Application sift is planned to be carried out WC: 6th April 2026

Interviews are planned to be carried out WC: 27th April 2026

Please be advised that the above dates are indicative only and are subject to change.

Further Information​

At the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce.

Find out more about working for DWP on the DWP Careers Hub.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.

If you are placed on a reserve list but we cannot immediately offer you a post, please note:

• If you are later offered the role you applied for, in a location you have expressed a preference for, and you decline the offer or are unable to take up the post within a reasonable timeframe you will be withdrawn from the campaign and removed from the reserve list, other than in exceptional circumstances (e.g. a contractual Part Time Working Pattern cannot be accommodated in the initial role offered or in cases of serious ill health).
• If DWP makes an offer of an alternative role or location to that which you originally applied for, and you decline that offer, you will be able to remain on the reserve list.

Disability Confident Scheme

If high application volumes are received, the benchmark for candidates to proceed to the next stage may be raised. In line with our commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS), we aim to advance all candidates applying under the DCS who meet the minimum standard. However, we may only progress those candidates who best meet the required standards.

Reasonable Adjustments

We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should contact the Government Recruitment Service via DWPRecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the “Reasonable Adjustments” 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.

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

Integrity, plagiarism and Civil Service Principles

The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles.

Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words.

Examples of plagiarism can include:

• Presenting the work, ideas and experience of others as your own
• Copying content or answers from an online or published source that is not your own

Disclosure and Barring Service and Internal Fraud Database Checks

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service 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 Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

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.

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

Important

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

Before applying for this vacancy, current employees of DWP should check whether a successful application would result in changes to their terms & conditions of employment, e.g. mobility, pay, allowances. If you are a current employee and are successful you must be able to be released from your current post within four weeks.

Those on protected TUPE/ COSoP terms and conditions applying on promotion or voluntary permanent level move will adopt DWP’s Terms and Conditions and this may have a different impact on pay and allowances. Please review this prior to acceptance of a role.

Civil Servants that would transfer into DWP from other government organisations, following successful application, will assume DWP's terms & conditions of employment current on the day they are posted, unless DWP has stated otherwise in writing. Accepting a post will be taken to mean acceptance of revised terms & conditions.

Civil Servants applying on promotion will usually be appointed to the salary minimum or within 10% of existing salary.

Any move to DWP 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 the Childcare Choices Website.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).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 : Simon Wood
• Email : simon.wood2@dwp.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : dwprecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact DWP by email: HR.BUSINESSASSURANCE@DWP.GOV.UK.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission. Click here to visit the Civil Service Commission.

Attachments

Senior Business Strategis. SFD DWP Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 728kB)DWP Terms and Conditions January 2024 Opens in new window (docx, 17kB)Success-Profiles-Candidate-Overview Opens in new window (pdf, 635kB)