Investigations - Operational Leader at Department for Work and Pensions in Barnsley, Eston, Halifax, Pudsey

Job summary

Do you have an inquisitive mind? Do you enjoy engaging with customers? If so, we need you!

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is responsible for welfare, pensions and child maintenance policy, and is responsible for helping people move into employment, supporting pensioners and protecting some of the most vulnerable people in our society. Counter Fraud Compliance and Debt (CFCD) aims to reduce fraud, error and debt within the benefit system, to protect the public purse.

As part of CFCD, you will be at the heart of DWP’s efforts to reduce fraud and error in the benefit system. This is a hugely important public service, and our challenge is greater than ever.

If you want to join an organisation that recognises the importance of work-life balance, where you can develop new skills and progress your career, then CFCD is the place for you.

Job description

CFCD Higher Executive Officer (HEO) Investigations Operational Leaders support the flexible, effective, personalised delivery of customer service, quality and performance across sites. HEO Investigations Operational Leaders inspire colleagues through difficult situations, transform performance, and are accountable for the effective utilisation of operational resources, delivering improved value for money and driving out inefficiencies.

Key tasks include:

• Directly line manage a team, provide clear, visible and strong leadership and engage with colleagues to drive high performance and quality.
• Create an inclusive team environment, embracing different individual needs, views and ideas, making it clear to all that bullying, harassment and discrimination is unacceptable.
• Motivate, develop and encourage teams, undertake regular performance reviews, undertake coaching, learning and development opportunities, and regular one-to-one meetings to develop capability and skills.
• Work with internal and external stakeholders, including local authorities, the police and HMRC, encouraging collaborative working between teams, building relationships and achieving mutually beneficial outcomes.
• Provide relevant information to colleagues regarding changes to DWP policy or CFCD operational instructions, legislation and statutory requirements as appropriate, and identify and implement best practice.
• Provide advice and direction to Investigation Officers to support the progression of investigations.
• Record, retain and review material gathered during criminal investigations to meet disclosure requirements.
• Conduct interviews under caution in accordance with legal guidelines under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (England and Wales) and Common Law (Scotland).
• Review prosecution cases following Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and National File Standard guidance (England & Wales) and in line with Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service guidance in Scotland.
• Attend court and give evidence in criminal cases and appeal tribunals.
• Identify risks to performance achievement and drive forward continuous improvement.
• Monitor and improve the quality of the face-to-face/telephony and end-to-end customer experience, ensuring that ‘one customer, one service, one business’ becomes a reality within DWP.
• Ensure all security matters (including information protection) are dealt with promptly and sensitively, in line with DWP policies and procedures.
• Use networking and influencing to create, maintain and improve service delivery for all customers.
• Support the identification of priorities and work collaboratively to ensure the delivery of both your own and others’ objectives.
• Promote fraud awareness across DWP and with external partners.

Webinar event

We will be holding a webinar event to let you know more about this / these roles. This will take place on 14 /10/2026 between 11 and 12noon . Please follow the link to register for the session. HEO - Investigations Operations Leader Candidate Information Session

** If the webinar page does not open, please check that pop-ups are enabled on your browser**.

Those who attend may be contacted following the event for evaluation purposes to improve our service.

Person specification

What we are looking for in our Investigation Operational Leaders:

• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills.
• A driven, energetic leader who is able to improve quality and consistency within our customer journey.
• Strong collaboration and negotiation skills, with experience of influencing and managing effective stakeholder relationships.
• Excellent communication, presentation and organisational skills.
• Able to innovate and make sound business decisions at pace, through creative thinking and a flexible, agile outlook and approach.
• Able to work at pace in an ambiguous and changing business landscape.
• Able to lead remotely, promote inclusivity and hold a solid understanding of equality and diversity and how they impact upon service delivery.
• A high level of emotional intelligence, honesty, integrity and a personal demeanour that inspires confidence and loyalty.
• Understanding of external factors affecting an organisation, and the ability to set the vision for your teams, with an awareness of wider, long-term aims for an organisation.

Travel Requirements

This role involves travel and may require attendance at:

• Briefings and operational planning meetings with external stakeholders, including police, lawyers, and barristers
• Interviews conducted under caution
• Court appearances as required
• Business and private addresses to obtain witness statements

Successful candidates must be able to travel at short notice, retrieve evidence, and be available during unsociable hours—including nights, weekends, and across various locations nationally. A departmental vehicle or hire car may be provided, subject to holding a full UK driving licence.

Learning Requirements

Successful candidates must be willing to undertake the mandatory Level 4 Counter Fraud Investigations Apprenticeship (CFIA) which is essential f or carrying out the technical functions of the role. The apprenticeship is expected to last 18 months, and all associated training will be full-time and may require travel.

Candidates who already hold one of the following equivalent qualifications will not be required to complete the apprenticeship:

• Accredited Counter Fraud Manager (ACFM)
• Professionalism in Security (PinS) Accredited Counter Fraud Officer

All colleagues are required to complete any future mandatory learning relevant to their role.

Please Note: Appointments to this role will be subject to successful completion of the above learning. Failure to achieve the required level to pass the courses may result in redeployment into another DWP role (or DWP formal procedures being used which could result in termination of contract).

Government Counter Fraud Profession (GCFP)

At DWP, we are committed to developing a skilled and professional workforce. Fraud Officers are required to attain and maintain Practitioner-level membership of the Government Counter Fraud Profession (GCFP) through an annual self-assessment, demonstrating their expertise in the role. We support all post holders with structured learning pathways and workplace adjustments to help them succeed. Failure to achieve Practitioner-level membership may result in DWP seeking an alternative role for you.

By applying, you confirm that you have read and understood the professional requirements of the role.

Candidate Integrity Declaration

Before an offer of employment is made, successful candidates will be asked to declare the following, to the best of their knowledge:

• Any previous disciplinary findings related to conduct in employment.
• Any ongoing disciplinary proceedings or unresolved notifications of potential misconduct.
• Any criminal convictions, police cautions, or legal findings—whether spent or unspent.

Please note: Disclosure of this information will not automatically exclude candidates from consideration. However, it is important for the Department to be aware of any matters that could affect a candidate’s credibility, particularly if they may be required to give evidence in court.

Civil Service Careers

The attached link will take you to the Counter Fraud, Compliance and Debt website, which provides further information about these roles: CFCD , Civil Service Careers.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £38,772, Department for Work and Pensions contributes

£11,232 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

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 and Experience.

**Ensure that you read the full information about the selection process thoroughly before starting your application**.

Please note the closing date for your full application (Application Form, CV and Written Statements) is 23:55 on 19th October 2026**

S tage 1 – Application Form

Please complete the application form with your basic information, which includes your personal details, eligibility to apply and any reasonable adjustments required.

Stage 2 - Curriculum Vitae (CV)

You will be asked to complete a CV with details of your job history, full qualification details, previous skills and experience. You are not required to upload your personal CV.

In the previous skills/experience section you should detail your employment and/or education history relevant to this vacancy (we recommend a maximum of 500 words). The CV will also cover your work history (we recommend you include up to the last 3 roles of employment history, plus any others that you feel ar