Here at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), we work on things that make a real difference to people’s lives.       

Whether it's through the homes we live in, the work of our local councils, or the communities we’re all part of, our work is at the top of the political agenda. We have ambitious and far-reaching outcomes to achieve this year and, if you’re thinking of joining us, there’s never been a more exciting time.      

We have circa 3,500 staff who are based in 20 offices across the UK and are delivering several services, projects and programmes within the Digital directorate to support our staff as they deliver Departmental objectives.  

Within our technology team we are building capability in several areas involving engineering, architecture, and application support/development. DLUHC are entering an exciting new era of technology led change in which data and information plays an essential role.  Data management and governance will become a crucial part of Digital delivery alongside data integration and interoperability and as a result we’re seeking a small data team to support our colleagues across the Department. 

We’re currently looking for a Senior Data Engineer to join our Spatial Data Unit team, to work closely with the business to apply data management skills to develop richer better data and provide more timely access. This role offers the opportunity to contribute to an ambitious and innovative agenda working to design, support and provide guidance in all aspects of data management. You will be somebody who is passionate about data, analytics and data management systems to drive forward this work. 

as a senior data engineer you’ll: 

• lead work streams on developing and delivering business-as-usual data, reporting and analytics output for data products and digital services. 

• work closely with Data analysts and scientist colleagues to develop robust processes for managing and automating regular outputs. 

• feed into development priorities to understand potential efficiencies and savings in automated processes, to deploy and manage resources appropriately. 

• communicate plans and timescales to enable onward management of key stakeholders and provide regular updates. 

• Embed improved ways of working with data across the wider team, including automation of manual tasks and data assurance. 

• develop and implement new technologies to support robust and accurate data management, ensuring documentation, data dictionaries, and data lineage information is readily available across a range of stakeholders. 

• provide robust data models to support required reporting and ensure data processes are efficient and reliable. This will include ensuring accuracy of data by implementing a robust quality assurance framework to guarantee decisions and actions are based upon reliable and accurate data. 

• lead on the delivery of physical data models and views to enable visualisation of metrics and the provision of insightful analysis for data science projects. 

as a senior data engineer, you’ll have:  

• experience working as a Data Engineer within an enterprise environment  

• extensive working knowledge and experience with ETL and data integration, including use of APIs and data exchange with various source data systems, transforming data against required business rules and data models, or data storage and analysis requirements, and loading data in various storage platforms. 

• experience of communicating effectively with operational business and analytical teams to define data requirements, analyse data, and develop data models and metrics that meet requirements. 

• strong skills in analysing, defining, sourcing and capturing data across strategic business systems, processes and areas of an organization 

• strong experience of working with data and databases, ideally involving the development of new and existing data sources in a Data Warehouse environment. 

• an understanding of Data Warehouse techniques, including dimensional data modelling and relational database design and concepts. 

• SQL experience and technical database expertise using relational databases such as Oracle Database & PL/SQL or Microsoft T-SQL. 

• experience of standard development practices including code versioning and reviews, and ensuring coding standards are applied and met. 

• experience of defining and documenting data workflows across systems and operations, including capturing and documenting complex data definitions and business rules. 

• experience of applying data governance and metadata principles. 

• experience of line managing, setting expectations to meeting evolving customer needs and ensure BAU activities 

• experience of using Azure or AWS to deliver data services to internal and external users 

In addition, whilst not essential it would be nice if you have: 

• experience of writing parameterised code in either a programming or scripting language such as SQL/PL-SQL and/or Python/Spark and experienced in delivering metadata driven development processes. 

• experience of building pipelines in cloud technologies such as Azure Data Factory/Databricks. 

• experience of using CI/CD techniques and processes DevOps/Git repository code promotion and change management experience. 

  Behaviours

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

  • Seeing the Big Picture

  • Communicating and Influencing

  • Managing a Quality Service

  Technical skills

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

  • At sift, through your CV we will be assessing Experience. Experience will be based on your CV against the criteria and specification as stated in the job advert At sift, Technical will be assessed through a technical question.

  • At interview, Technical will be assessed through Presentation.

  Benefits

  Alongside your salary of £54,280, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities contributes £13,418 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

  • Learning and development tailored to your role

  • An environment with flexible working options

  • A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity

  • A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

  
  

  Transfers across the Civil Service on or after 4 October 2018: 

  Any move to DLUHC 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 https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk. 

  For further information about the benefits available to DLUHC employees, please see the attached Candidate Pack. 

  Things you need to know

  Selection process details

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

  We are for everyone 

  At DLUHC we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce. We promote equality of opportunity in all aspects of employment and a working environment free from discrimination, harassment, bullying and victimisation. 

  We would strongly recommend that applicants get in touch with the vacancy manager to find out more information about this role. 

  We are for everyone 

  CV Declaration 

  We recruit based on your knowledge and skills, and not background, gender or ethnicity - this is called name blind recruitment. 

  Please remove references to your: 

  • name/title

  • educational institutions

  • age

  • gender

  • email address

  • postal address

  • phone number

  • nationality/immigration status

  Most of our campaigns utilise multiple assessors and so it is possible that your application would be viewed by different assessors. 

  At sift, through your CV we will be assessing: 

  Experience

  At sift, through technical questioning we will be assessing:

  Technical - Please provide an example of when you have built a data pipeline to solve a problem. What were the key design choices you made and implemented? How did you test your approach was successful?  

  The interview will be of a blended nature consisting of the following success profiles elements:    

  Behaviour 

  Technical - Presentation:  You’re tasked with building a data pipeline for public expenditure data that is currently stored in the DLUHC accounting software system. This data will be used by data scientists. How would you do it?  How would you evaluate if you've been successful? 

  In full the campaign will test the below Success Profile Elements: 

  Experience: Experience will be based on your CV against the criteria and specification as stated in the job advert. 

  Technical: At sift, will be based on technical question. At interview, will be based on Technical Presentation. 

  Behaviours:  

  We do not consider direct CV applications – you must apply for this role via the application link on Civil Service Jobs: 

  Please note that near miss offers may be made at the lower grade to candidates who do not meet the grade criteria for this campaign 

  Group 1 DDaT roles

  DLUHC has implemented the DDaT capability framework for Group 1 roles. Applicants that are successful at the sift stage will be required to complete a capability assessment at interview.

  DLUHC will honour completed capability assessments for this role from other Government Departments for existing Civil Servants. Please provide a copy of your capability assessment to the Hiring Manager when applying. If you have any queries on pay, please contact the Hiring Manager.

  Salary is determined by performance at interview, within the range advertised. Each experience or technical skill is assessed between 1-3, representing working towards, at or above the job level requirements. You are awarded a proficiency level accordingly, and you will be given opportunities at least once a year to re assess your capability and progress through the pay scale within your grade. An additional digital allowance may be payable depending on level of assessed capability.

  Candidates moving from another government department have the option to retain their current salary where the principle for implementation is there is no detriment where existing pay exceeds the indicative level. Where individuals are at a lower salary than their assessed level, they will receive an upward adjustment.

  G7 Group 1 DDaT salary

  • The salary for this role will between £54,280 - £58,862 (National) £59,305 - £63,977(London). depending on the proficiency level assessment.

  • An additional digital allowance may be payable depending on the level of assessed capability up to £9,000

  • For applicants in receipt of existing allowances, we will assess each case individually and aim to match the digital allowance implemented with no detriment.

  • For existing civil servants, the usual policy on level transfer and promotion will apply and is non-negotiable

  Location

  London, Birkenhead, Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Darlington, Exeter, Hastings, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle Upton Tyne, Nottingham, Plymouth, Truro, Warrington, Wolverhampton

  Sift and Interview dates

  Sifting is envisaged to take place W/C 28/08/2023 with interview dates to be confirmed. All interviews are currently being held remotely via videocall. 

  Reserve List 

  In the event that we identify more appointable candidates than we currently have posts available, we will hold applicant details on a reserve list for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made. This may include roles at a lower grade. Candidates placed on a reserve list will be informed of this. Those candidates who do not wish to remain on the reserve list should contact recruitment@levellingup.gov.uk to be removed from the reserve list. 

  SC (Security Check)

  Important note

  Successful candidates for roles based in our 2 Marsham Street building must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Security Check and the process can take up to 8 weeks to complete.

  Please note that successful candidates will need to pass the Security Check – this requires you to have been resident in the UK for the past 5 years. Please refer to the DLUHC Notes on Security Clearance section of our Candidate Pack for further information on Security Check (SC).

  Candidates should also note that with effect from 1st August 2018 the department will also check all applicants who are successful at interview, against the Internal Fraud Database (IFD) held by the Cabinet Office. In accordance with the Civil Service Internal Fraud Policy, any applicant who is included on the IFD will be refused employment by DLUHC. Please see the Candidate Pack for further information on the Internal Fraud Database.

  Before starting your application it’s very important to make sure that you are eligible to apply and meet the Civil Service nationality requirements. All candidates are expected to read the information provided in the DLUHC candidate pack regarding nationality requirements and rules 

  Candidate Pack Information 

  Please see attached Candidate pack for further information. 

  Internal Fraud Database 

  The Internal Fraud function of the Fraud, Error, Debt and Grants Function at the Cabinet Office processes details of civil servants who have been dismissed for committing internal fraud, or who would have been dismissed had they not resigned. The Cabinet Office receives the details from participating government organisations of civil servants who have been dismissed, or who would have been dismissed had they not resigned, for internal fraud. In instances such as this, civil servants are then banned for 5 years from further employment in the civil service. The Cabinet Office then processes this data and discloses a limited dataset back to DLUHC as a participating government organisations. DLUHC then carry out the pre employment checks so as to detect instances where known fraudsters are attempting to reapply for roles in the civil service. In this way, the policy is ensured and the repetition of internal fraud is prevented.  

  For more information please see- Internal Fraud Register 

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

  Security

  Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

  Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).
  
  See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

  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.

  Apply and further information

  This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

  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 :Denise Gartenfeld

  • Email :denise.gartenfeld@levellingup.gov.uk

  Recruitment team

  • Email :ddatprofessions@levellingup.gov.uk