A1 Head of Profession - Education
Reference: DFIDJOB-0221
Closing date: 09 July 2012
Interview date: Not Specified
Number of vacancies: 1
Salary: £57,148 - £68,221 per annum
Location: Either Abercrombie House, East Kilbride or Palace Street, London
Appointment Terms: Permanent
Working Arrangements: Full-time
Specific requirements:
Brief description: DFID is moving towards a far greater emphasis on identifying the strength of existing evidence for what it does, and where the evidence base is weak, filling these gaps. This requires a change in the emphasis of skills in the professional cadres. The Heads of Profession are developing the capacity to respond to this within their cadres. Specifically the Head of Profession for Education will have primary responsibility for professional development of their cadre, will contribute significantly to thought leadership in education, and be responsible for the development and delivery of professional excellence in education across DFID. Jointly (within and beyond their professional family group) the Head of Profession for Education will develop and deliver a more standardised approach to professionalism and continuing professional development across DFID. Representation of the Education cadre in DFID and with external stakeholders will also be a responsibility of the postholder. This will entail engaging with Ministers, Directors and Heads of Office and Department and outwards, representing DFID in external fora and with stakeholders in Whitehall and beyond.
Background
DFID is moving towards a far greater emphasis on identifying the strength of existing evidence for what it does, and where the evidence base is weak, filling these gaps. This requires a change in the emphasis of skills in the professional cadres. The Heads of Profession will develop the capacity to respond to this within their cadres.
Job Description/duties
The Head of Profession will have primary responsibility for professional development of their cadre, and will be expected to contribute significantly to thought leadership, technical excellence in policy development and external representation in their specialist area.
The Head of Profession will have primary responsibility for the development and delivery of professional excellence, within their designated professional discipline, across DFID. The Heads of Profession will be working to develop their professional cadres and ensuring that professional advice is embedded throughout all aspects of DFID’s work on policy, planning and programming. They will work with other HoPs and their Chief Professional Officer to advance the objectives of their Professional Group.
Heads of Profession will have delegated authority for management and technical capability of their professional cadre. This will entail lead responsibility for the recruitment, promotion, accreditation for all advisers in their cadre.
Jointly (within and beyond their professional family group) the Head of Profession will develop and deliver a more standardised approach to professionalism and continuing professional development across DFID.
Representation of the cadre in DFID and with external stakeholders will be an additional responsibility of the post. This will entail engaging with Ministers, Directors and Heads of Office and Department and outwards, representing DFID in external fora and with stakeholders in Whitehall and beyond.
Personal Qualities and Skills Required (Person Specification) - Describe the type of person needed to do the job including skills/abilities, knowledge, experience.
Areas of Responsibility and Delivery
Note: Within the boundaries of the job description, new projects and work areas are likely to be incorporated into the role over time or as the role develops.
Key Responsibilities
Heads of Profession will work with Chief Professional Officers by:
Managing their cadre:
- delivering workforce planning, recruitment, deployment, performance management, professional accreditation, promotions, professional development activities - all in a uniform and standardised manner and drawing on the Chief Professional Officer or an appropriately qualified member of the SCS if necessary
- developing a framework for continuing professional development and setting standards, setting and updating technical competency frameworks and continuing professional development (CPD) guidelines, with external verification where possible and appropriate
- overseeing the delivery of appropriate training and development, including the content of training
- organising mentoring arrangements and providing career development advice
- engaging in decisions made by line managers on postings and recruitment and working closely with HR staff in accreditation and technical promotion panel
- Assisting in the identification of reviewers for the peer review of business cases
Thought and knowledge leadership within their professional discipline:
- contributing to world class policy leadership, particularly in the delivery of results based on evidence and best practice
- helping DFID to deliver policy, shape best practice in implementation, secure value for money and communicate results
- creating communication channels within and between the advisory groups to promote lesson learning and policy implementation
- providing significant input to managing resource centres (exact role to be determined following the outcome of the Knowledge and Information Management Review Phase 2)
- quality assuring the evidence used by their cadre, answering for this to CPOs, CSA and CEA
Representation, networking and influence in DFID, Whitehall, the UK and internationally:
- ensuring that their professional discipline is appropriately represented across DFID and is understood by and influential with DFID Senior Management
- enhancing DFID’s reputation and influence in development thinking through external representation in professional networks and the provision of high quality advice relating to their discipline
- being seen externally and internally as at the leading edge of knowledge in their area
Corporate Management:
- contributing to the delivery of RED Delivery Plans
- working with the HoPs and CPOs as a team to deliver on DFIDs professional staffing requirements and management practices in line with DFID’s core values
- engaging with HR procedures, such as strategic workforce planning, and restructuring processes across DFID to ensure professional aspects are given appropriate consideration
Essential Knowledge, Experience, Skills and Competences
Knowledge and Experience
- Fulfil the criteria for full accreditation to the cadre, and demonstrate credibility with wider professional networks
- Demonstrate breadth and depth in all technical competencies for the cadre
- Relevant professional experience in developing countries
- Post graduate qualification in a relevant discipline
- Relevant professional experience working effectively in a multidisciplinary context
- Clear understanding of the role of robust research and evidence to underpin sound policy and practice
Leadership and management
- Evidence of leadership and team management
- High performance in a range of roles including policy and developing country programmes
- Evidence of strong personal commitment to CPD
- Leadership of an issue or a process to deliver a successful outcome
Core Competences (all required to Level 4 of the DFID Competency Framework)
- Analysis and Use of Information
- Decision Making
- Influencing
- Working with Others
- Continual Improvement
Technical Competencies
- Qualifications to post-graduate level in an education-related discipline.
- Wide experience and knowledge of global education issues, organisations and context.
- Deep understanding of effective education systems, including planning and management of education, education economics and financing, pedagogy, institutional and organisational structures, monitoring and evaluation and assessment of student achievement.
- Knowledge and experience in education policy and sector development processes in developing countries and internationally; including value for money measures.
- Knowledge of how education and skills impact upon securing equitable education outcomes for poor people: economic and social returns; inclusive education; quality education; basic literacy and numeracy, linkages between education, gender, skills, growth and employment.
- Knowledge of education policy research, best practice and innovation; ability to facilitate knowledge sharing within a community of education practitioners.
- Knowledge and understanding of the shared technical competencies required for all advisers: international aid; Collating, analysing and presenting evidence/research using statistical and wider analytical skills; Economic concepts, appraisal and value for money; Evaluation and results
Desirable Knowledge, Experience, Skills and Competences
- Experience in design and delivery of CPD programmes.
- Direct experience in carrying out education research.
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