Vacancy -- End User Computing Engineer x2

Working for the Civil Service

The Welsh Government's recruitment processes are underpinned by the principle of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles.

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

Vacancy Details

Permanent Secretary's Group
DDaT / ICT Services Division
EO - £26,900 - £30,610
£25,030
Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)
Permanent
Pan Wales
'Pan Wales' means that the location in which the vacancy can be based is flexible, subject to the needs of the business. Please note it may not always be possible to accommodate a preference for a specific office location, but requests will be taken into consideration.
TBC

Purpose of Post:

The Welsh Government has made significant improvements to its ICT technology over the last few years and is considered to be one of the leading UK public sector organisations in terms of Digital and ICT capability. WG has recently completed a number of ICT projects such as the move to Exchange 365, the transition away from GSI email, the rollout of new laptops to all WG staff (enabling flexible working) and the completion of a major application migration to Microsoft Azure. This has been captured in a GDS case study on best practice examples of Cloud migration (see https://www.gov.uk/government/case-studies/how-the-welsh-governmentmigrated-their-technology-to-the-cloud).

The End User Computing Engineer role is part of the Digital Data and Technology (DDaT) Profession in Welsh Government (WG). The End User Computing Engineer is primarily responsible for the technical analysis, specification, documentation, implementation and maintenance and troubleshooting of end user computing services in order to support mission critical business processes for the organisation. The End User Computing Engineer will focus on excellent prioritisation, responsiveness and customer service.

Key tasks:

As End User Computing Engineer, your roles and responsibilities will include:

  • Deployment of application packages to users
  • Manage system administration of desktop asset management
  • Review and test deployment updates through SCCM (Software Change and Configuration Management)
  • Operating System deployment
  • Desktop Compliance Audit
  • Client Network Connectivity
  • Desktop software installation and configuration management
  • Maintenance and monitoring through standard daily activities of SCCM and Intune
  • Ensure awareness of Azure Platform, managing subscriptions, RBAC (Role Based Access Control), Resources Groups, Resources, networking, load balancers, availability sets, NSGs (Network Security Groups)
  • Monitoring client status and health reporting; monitoring and compliance reporting
  • As required, manage to completion Service Requests, including IMACs (installation, moves, additions and changes)
  • Incident queue/Resolver group review and management
  • Identify trends that may indicate Major Incident or Urgent Incident (P1)
  • Maintain a high degree of customer service for all support queries and adhere to all service management principles
  • Developing trends by monitoring and analysing incoming calls, issues and support requests
  • Raising awareness of possible problems to Problem Manager
  • Incident queue/Resolver group queue management
  • Systematic error analysis and problem recovery
  • Recording, managing and escalating service problems as appropriate
  • Analysing historical data to identify and eliminate potential incidents before they occur
  • Identifying underlying causes of incidents and preventing recurrences
  • Ensuring the Knowledge Database is populated accordingly
  • Developing workarounds or other solutions to incidents
  • Submitting change requests to Change Management as required to eliminate known problems
  • Actively updating the Knowledge Database with relevant technical documentation
  • Use the Knowledge Database as a part of Incident/Problem Management process
  • Ensure full knowledge of the core WG ICT processes at all times
  • Administration of Intune
  • Configuration and administration of email accounts in Exchange and Exchange Online
  • Managing/creating and monitoring user accounts for ICT Services that are logged as Service Requests, including detail changes, starters, movers and leavers
  • Creating groups within Active Directory to resolve Service Requests
  • Technical collaboration and engagement with relevant 3rd parties

Development opportunities:

You will form part of Welsh Government’s Digital, Data and Technology profession. This is a growing profession within Welsh Government and you will have to opportunity to be part of the community and to develop the role of that community within WG.

Closing Date:

04/05/2021, 16:00

Eligibility

Posts recruited to as part of this recruitment campaign are broadly open to UK nationals, those with right to remain and work in the UK and those that meet the Civil Service Nationality Rules only. Check your eligibility here:

Prior to appointment, all successful applicants will be required to produce original, acceptable documents as part of the pre-employment checks. If it becomes apparent at a later stage in the process that you aren’t eligible to apply, your application will be withdrawn, or offer retracted.

Equality and Diversity

The Welsh Government is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and which promote equality of opportunity. This is underpinned by the Equality Act 2010 and will be adhered to at each stage of the recruitment process. Our goal is to ensure that these commitments are also embedded in our day-to-day working practices with all our customers, colleagues and partners.

We are committed to being an anti-racist organisation and increasing diversity in the Welsh Government by removing barriers and supporting all our staff to reach their potential. We are committed to recruiting Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people and disabled people who are currently under-represented in Welsh Government.

We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, marriage and civil partnership (both same sex and opposite sex), impairment or health condition, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, gender identity or gender expression.

We are a Stonewall Diversity Champion and a Disability Confident Level 3 (Leader) organisation. Key to supporting this work and providing peer support are five Board sponsored Staff Networks (Disability Awareness and Support (DAAS); Minority Ethnic Support Network (MESN); Mind Matters (Mental health and well-being); PRISM (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex +) and Women Together.

Disability Confident

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

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

Welsh Language Requirements

The Welsh Government is a bilingual organisation and Welsh language skills are considered an asset to the organisation. We encourage and support staff to learn, develop and use their Welsh language skills in the workplace. 

The following list of language requirements represents an objective assessment by the line manager on behalf of the Welsh Government of the Welsh language skills required to undertake the duties of this particular post.

Not necessary to undertake the duties of this post

Social Partnership

In Welsh Government, the relationship between the employer and trade unions is based on social partnership. We believe our goals can best be achieved by management and trade unions working together.

Our 3 recognised trade unions are:
•         PCS
•         Prospect
•         FDA

This relationship is underpinned by a partnership agreement. This sets out how our unions work with Welsh Government on issues such as:
•         pay
•         terms and conditions
•         policies and procedures
•         organisational change.

Our Welsh Government trade union colleagues work together to give their members a real say in the workplace. They make sure that the interests of their members are promoted and protected. They also help reduce inequalities and improve terms and conditions.

The Welsh Government has an excellent track record of working in partnership with its trade unions. We encourage staff to get involved. We support you to join a recognised trade union, to ensure your voice is heard in the workplace. and to learn more about trade unions and partnership working.

Competencies / Job Specific Criteria

Competencies;

Ownership and Initiative

  • You can own an issue until a new owner has been found or the problem has been mitigated or resolved.

Problem Management

  • You can investigate problems in systems, processes and services, with an understanding of the level of a problem (for example, strategic, tactical, operational). You can contribute to the implementation of remedies and preventative measures.

Leadership

  • You understand your areas of responsibility and display awareness of the wider impact of your actions.

Managing a Quality Service

  • You identify common problems that affect service, report them and find possible solutions.

Changing and Improving

  • You regularly review your own and your team’s work and take the initiative to suggest ideas to make improvements.

Assessment Process

Throughout the entire assessment process, candidates will be assessed against Competencies from the Civil Service Success Profile and the Digital Data and Technology (DDaT) framework. Leadership, Managing a Quality Service, Changing & Improving, Communicating & Influencing, Developing Self and Others, Ownership & Initiative and Problem Management.

Sift Stage:
Your Personal Statement will be assessed in two stages:

  • An initial sift will be carried out against the two DDAT Skills included in the ‘Areas to Evidence’ section. This includes Ownership & Initiative and Problem Management.
  • The Personal Statement of candidates who have passed the initial sift will then be further assessed against the three Success Profile Competencies included in the ‘Areas to Evidence’ section. This includes Leadership, Managing a Quality Service and Changing & Improving.

Your Personal Statement should not exceed 1500 words - any content that exceeds the 1500 word limit will be discounted.
Your CV will be used to help inform the panel of your career history, however it will not contribute to your overall sift score. CV's should be no longer than 2 sides of A4.
You should use the template provided to submit your CV and Personal Statement.

If you are successful at sift, you will not be able to request your sift scores until the full assessment process has completed.

Reserve List:

Unsuccessful candidates who have achieved the minimum score across all required competencies will have the opportunity to be held on a WG ‘reserve’ list for 12 months from the date of the outcomes being issued. If additional roles become available or existing roles become vacant during this time, WG may offer the role to the highest scoring candidate on the reserve list. If they decline, WG may offer the role to the next highest scoring candidate and so on.

Assessment Stage:
All candidates that are successful at sift, will be invited to participate in an assessment event. This will consist of three parts:

  • Part 1 – Technical Exercise Preparation (to be completed by the candidate independently)
  • Part 2 – Technical Exercise Presentation (remote video session with Technical Panel)
  • Part 3 – Interview (remote video session with Interview Panel)

The competencies that will be tested at the Assessment Stage are provided below. Where a competency is tested more than once, the average score will be used as the final score for that competency and contribute to the overall score.

Part 1: Technical Exercise Preparation
1 hour before the start time of the first video session, candidates will be sent an email containing a technical exercise that is relevant to the role being applied for. Further guidance and a contact point for any queries will be provided within the email sent to candidates.

Part 2: Technical Exercise Discussion

Duration – 20 to 25 minutes
Format - remote video session with Technical Panel consisting of:

  • Candidate feedback on technical exercise (10 to 15 minutes)
  • Follow-up questions (10 minutes)

The technical exercise will allow candidates to demonstrate their ability to articulate technical information and methodology in a way that’s easy to understand.
Competencies being assessed – Ownership & Initiative, Problem Management, Changing & Improving and Communicating & Influencing.

Part 3: Interview
Duration – 1 hour
Format:

  • Remote video session with Interview Panel

The interview will involve a blend of competency and strength-based questions. The competency questions will be used to explore in detail what you are capable of and strengths questions to also explore what you enjoy and your motivations relevant to the grade requirements.
Competencies being assessed – Leadership, Developing Self & Others, Communicating & Influencing, Ownership & Initiative and Problem Management.
There is no expectation or requirement for you to prepare for the strengths-based questions in advance of the interview, though you may find it helpful to spend some time reflecting on what you enjoy doing and what you do well.
Strengths that will be tested during the interview; Change Agent, Inclusive, and Explainer.

Other Information

  • Unless stated otherwise in ‘actual starting salary’, all candidates will start at the minimum of the pay scale being appointed to (this includes existing civil servants).This is not negotiable.
  • Unless stated otherwise in ‘type of opportunity’, this recruitment advert is not open on a Loan or Secondment basis.
  • For more information on the eligibility criteria and terms and conditions for Loan and Secondment positions in Welsh Government, please see external recruitment candidate guidance.
  • Unless stated otherwise in ‘Location of Post’ the role/s recruited to via this campaign can only be worked in the UK, not overseas.

'Pan Wales' means that the location in which the vacancy can be based is flexible, subject to the needs of the business. A list of the Welsh Government's offices can be found on our website (www.wales.gov.uk). Please note it may not always be possible to accommodate a preference for a specific office location, but requests will be taken into consideration.

Whilst this is a Pan Wales post, some presence will be required at the WG Cardiff office to participate in technical reviews and briefings with third parties. The frequency of the on-site attendance will be agreed prior to the commencement of the post, in line with the latest Covid-19 guidance.

This role requires National Security Vetting to SC (Security Cleared) level. If the successful candidate does not already hold SC Clearance, the post will be offered on a conditional basis of obtaining SC clearance.

Benefits:

  • Starting salary of £25,030
  • 31 days holiday (plus 10 public and privilege holidays)
  • Permanent position
  • Personal development budget
  • Home working
  • The latest ICT kit
  • Death in service cover
  • Flexible working hours
  • Cycle to Work Scheme - a brand new bike up to £1000, saving at least 32%
  • Childcare Vouchers Scheme, saving up to £933/year
  • Contributory pension scheme


Our Commitment to Equality:

Due to current under-representation in the organisation, candidates who declare that they are disabled or from a black or minority ethnic (BAME) background will automatically be put forward to the Assessment Gateway if their application meets the minimum criteria. We can only do this if candidates provide this information in their application. Information on BAME candidates will be taken from the equality monitoring form and it is important that you complete this as part of your application.


Recruitment Adjustments:

Welsh Government is committed to the social model of disability and to making reasonable adjustments to remove any barriers in the recruitment process for staff with impairments, health conditions or who use British Sign Language.  We can make adjustments to any part of the recruitment process (the application as well as the assessment centre) and we will ensure that disabled candidates are matched to roles which are compatible with workplace adjustments. We can provide advice to staff who think they do or might need reasonable adjustments but who need to know more about the assessment process and what sort of adjustments we could make to ensure fair assessment. 

If you know you need (or think you might need) any type of reasonable adjustment in order to make an application, please contact the Priority Resourcing team as soon as possible to discuss any required adjustments.

Following the closing date for applications we will contact all candidates with details of how disabled candidates can request and have agreed any adjustments that they may need for the assessment event. This will include the opportunity for 1-1 advice sessions for candidates who are unsure whether or what reasonable adjustments they could or should ask for in order to ensure that they can perform to their best.                 



officeofthechiefdigitalofficer@gov.wales

How to apply

All applications for this vacancy should be made online via the Welsh Government's online application system.  If you have an impairment which would prevent you from applying on-line, please e-mail SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales to request an application pack in an alternative format, or to request a reasonable adjustment related to an impairment in order to submit your application.

To apply, you'll need to have an account on our online application system.  Click the 'Apply' button below, and you'll be asked to 'Log in' if you already have an account, or 'Register' if you don't yet have an account.  Registration takes just a few minutes to complete.  You'll need an e-mail address to be able to register.  Once you've registered for an account and logged in, you'll be taken to the online application form, which you'll need to fully complete and submit before the deadline on the closing date.  

If you’d like to apply for this vacancy in Welsh, please use the ‘Newid Iaith / Change Language’ link at the top of this page, to take you to the Welsh version of this advert, from which you can apply in Welsh.

For further information regarding the Welsh Government recruitment process, please see the Recruitment Guidance for External Candidates (link).

When evidencing your suitability for the post, it is recommended that you refer to the Civil Service Competency Framework (link)

Grievance and Complaints

Anyone who believes they have been treated unfairly, or has a grievance or complaint, about how the process was conducted should either write to the Head of Resourcing, Welsh Government, Cathays Park 2, Cardiff CF10 3NQ or email SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales.  If you are unhappy with the outcome of the complaint raised with the Welsh Government and feel that the principles of appointment on merit through fair and open competition have not been met you have the right to pursue your grievance with the Civil Service Commission.

This vacancy is closed to applications.