Senior Web Accessibility Specialist

Job summary

Are you a skilled and experienced Web Accessibility Specialist, who is ready for a senior role?

Do you have a good mix of technical expertise and leadership ability?

The Accessibility Standards and Strategy Team is creating an inclusive culture, within DWP, by empowering colleagues so they deliver products, services and internal communications, which are accessible, inclusive and comply with the accessibility legislation.

We research, document and share best practice to educate DWP. We monitor, document and report on compliance across our services and hold teams accountable when they do not meet the standards expected of any Public Sector Body.

We are looking for a Senior Web Accessibility Specialist to join our established team and help us to continue our mission and ensure the highest levels of digital accessibility for both our customers and colleagues in DWP. You will lead on web accessibility, including auditing and reporting on compliance, delivering training and providing consultancy for the most complex queries, involving ARIA and JavaScript.

You will work across DWP Digital, with colleagues at a range of role levels to embed accessibility into all products, services and communications.
Job description

Coach and mentor more junior colleagues.
Input into accessibility standards and strategy across DWP Digital.
Create and deliver accessibility training.
Engage with teams across different levels and capabilities.
Manage a team of Accessibility Specialists.
Engage with and contribute to the cross-government accessibility community.
Raise awareness and provide support, training and auditing to improve compliance with relevant legislation.
Lead on support and consultancy for product teams, using your knowledge of programming languages, frameworks and techniques, to make content accessible for all users.
Create and deliver bespoke training on how to create accessible products.
Check and validate the quality and accuracy of audit results, reports and action plans produced by accessibility specialists and external companies.
Lead on the strategy for technical testing and user testing of digital products for accessibility or assistive software.
Assure the delivery of procured digital products to meet accessibility requirements.
Keep up to date with technological developments and take responsibility for own professional development. Lead on capability for Accessibility Specialists, identifying professional development opportunities.

Person specification

When giving details in your personal statement you should highlight your experience in line with essential criteria below:

Lead criterion - Expertise in Web accessibility which includes HTML, CSS, JS, ARIA.
Expert knowledge of the Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
Expertise in using a range of assistive software (screen readers, screen magnifiers & voice recognition software) and automated tools for testing, training and demonstrating.
Strong leadership experience, creating and engaging others in a shared vision, and valuing difference, diversity and inclusion to ensure fairness and opportunity for all.
Expertise in making effective decisions and giving advice, based on evidence, a consideration of alternative options, and understanding of risk.

If you would like to learn more about the role, please contact Sam.hackett@dwp.gov.uk.
Benefits

Alongside your salary, the Department for Work and Pensions contributes 28.97% towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

We also 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.

This job 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. The number of days that anyone will be able to work at home will be determined primarily by business need but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be taken into account. If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working, including whether a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for you, will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.

Salary Information

New entrants to the Civil Service will join on band minimum.

Existing Civil Servants who secure a new role on lateral transfer should maintain their current salary.

Existing Civil Servants who gain promotion may move to the bottom of the grade pay scale or 10% increase in salary whichever would be the greater.
Things you need to know
Selection process details

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Stage 1: Application

Your application will consist of two parts:

1. A Personal Details application form.

2. Personal statement up to 1000 words. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

When giving details in your personal statement you should highlight your experience in line with essential criteria listed in the Person Specification.

The sift panel will use the information in your personal statement to assess your experience, skills and knowledge against the essential criteria above.

An initial sift may be conducted using the lead criterion stated above. Candidates who pass the initial sift will progress to a full sift.

Important Information

Personal details that could be used to identify you including your name, contact details and address must be removed for your application to be considered.
If your personal statement contains any personal details your application will be withdrawn.

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Stage 2: Interview

If you’re successful at sift stage you will be invited to a video interview via Microsoft Teams. There, you will be assessed against the experiences listed in the essential criteria.

You will be asked to do a (10 minutes) technical exercise on a specific topic. Further details will be provided to candidates invited to interview.

Interviews will take place from early-November 2024.

To help you prepare and settle into the interview you will be sent the interview questions in advance of the interview, at least 5 days prior to your interview. These questions should be treated as confidential and should not be shared. The interview panel may ask you other questions which will not be shared in advance, including follow-up questions, and those about your experience and abilities. Candidates may be asked further probing questions if their response is deemed to require further information to determine suitability for the role.

Candidates are strongly encouraged to secure their interview slot promptly to ensure fairness in preparation time with the questions provided in advance.

Further information:

Find out more about Working for DWP

For Hints and Tips on completing your application visit Applying for jobs at DWP Digital.

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

Reserve list candidates will be posted in merit order by location.

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. Applications will be screened and if evidence of plagiarism or copying examples/answers from other sources is found, your application will be withdrawn. Internal DWP candidates may also face disciplinary action.

Reasonable Adjustment

At DWP we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce.

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 Government Recruitment Service via DigitalRecruitment.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.

For further information on reasonable adjustments, terms and conditions and how we recruit visit the How We Recruit, page