ServiceNow Developer

Job summary

We are MHCLG

Here at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), we work on things that make a real difference to people’s lives. Whether through the homes we live in, the work of local councils, or the communities we are all part of, our work is at the top of the political agenda.

MHCLG is strengthening its internal Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) capability to build sustainable ownership of strategic digital platforms, reduce reliance on external suppliers and improve service governance, assurance and value realisation. ServiceNow is a critical enterprise platform supporting IT Service Management, service operations, digital workflows, configuration management, service request fulfilment, automation and future service transformation initiatives across the department. The ServiceNow Developer will provide senior hands-on technical capability for the ServiceNow platform.

The postholder will design, build, test, integrate, support and improve ServiceNow solutions, working closely with the ServiceNow Product Owner, SaaS Operations, Service Management, suppliers and business stakeholders. This role is intended to build internal capability during transition from supplier-led development towards a more sustainable in-house ServiceNow engineering model. It combines senior software development capability with application support, platform management, DevOps and ITIL-aligned service management awareness.

This role will play a key part in establishing MHCLG's long-term internal ServiceNow engineering capability, supporting knowledge transfer from suppliers, and helping build a sustainable in-house capability for platform development, automation, and continual service improvement.

Find out more about our Digital teams and what they are working on through our MHCLG Digital blog . Please note that MHCLG do not offer visa sponsorship and applicants will need a valid visa for the duration of your employment.

Job description

As a ServiceNow Developer, you’ll: -

• Develop, configure, support and maintain ServiceNow capabilities that meet user needs, service outcomes, departmental priorities and service management requirements
• Plan and lead development of ServiceNow enhancements, features, defect resolution and technical improvements across the platform.
• Design, build, test and document ServiceNow solutions, including workflows, integrations, catalogues, dashboards, automation and platform configuration
• Work with Product Owners, Business Analysts, Service Managers and stakeholders to translate business requirements into secure, maintainable and supportable technical solutions
• Develop and improve ServiceNow ITSM capabilities, including Incident, Problem, Change, Request, Knowledge, CMDB, Service Catalogue and related service workflows.
• Operate and support live ServiceNow services, including fault diagnosis, defect resolution, upgrades, integrations and platform stability improvements
• Apply modern development standards and ServiceNow best practice, including secure coding, testing, release management, documentation, configuration control and technical debt reduction
• Provide technical leadership, mentoring and knowledge transfer across internal teams and suppliers, helping grow MHCLG’s internal ServiceNow capability.

Person specification

As a ServiceNow Developer, you’ll have:

• Proven experience as a Developer, Senior Developer, Application Engineer or Technical Specialist working with ServiceNow or comparable enterprise SaaS platforms
• Experience developing, configuring, supporting and maintaining applications or platform services within a live operational environment
• Experience of JavaScript and ServiceNow development, including client scripts, business rules, UI policies, workflow automation, API development, systems integration and technical documentation
• Strong understanding of Agile delivery, software development lifecycle practices, testing, release management and controlled deployment approaches
• Ability to analyse requirements, design practical technical solutions and deliver secure, maintainable and supportable platform changes
• Experience diagnosing, troubleshooting and resolving application-related incidents, defects and root causes, including improvements to reliability and operational supportability
• Understanding of secure software development practices, information security principles, service resilience, automation and maintainability
• Strong communication, stakeholder engagement and mentoring skills, with the ability to work across product, service management, operations, technical and supplier teams.

Desirable ServiceNow certifications:

• ServiceNow Certified System Administrator (CSA)
• ServiceNow Certified Application Developer (CAD)

Desirable ServiceNow-specific capabilities:

• Flow Designer
• Integration Hub
• Additional modules such as HRSD, CSM, SPM or IRM

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,004, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government contributes

£12,747 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).

• At MHCLG we offer many benefits that range from tailored career pathways and flexible working to MyLifestyle Childcare Voucher and Cycle to Work Schemes. For more information, please click here .

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

Application and Selection

The application process will be split into 2 stages, testing the following Success Profiles:

Behaviours , Experience , Technical

Please ensure your CV does not contain any personally identifiable information.

Note: We do not consider direct CV applications. All applications must be submitted via the provided application link.

Important: Your CV and Cover Letter must be merged into a single document before uploading.

Stage 1: Sift (CV & Cover Letter)

Experience & Technical: Your covering letter should be no more than 1 page referencing how you meet the criteria set out in the job description.

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

In the event that we receive a large number of applications, we may conduct an initial sift using the lead sift question listed in the advert. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to interview.

Lead sift question (Technical):

Describe a time when you developed, enhanced or supported a ServiceNow solution that delivered a measurable improvement to a live service.

Please explain:

• the business problem or user need you were addressing;
• your role and technical responsibilities;
• how you designed, developed, configured or integrated the solution;
• how you worked with stakeholders, users or delivery teams;
• how you ensured the solution was secure, supportable and maintainable; and
• the outcomes and benefits achieved.

Stage 2: Interview

• Behaviours: Leadership, Managing a Quality Service, Working Together
• Experience: Experience questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description.
• Technical: Technical questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description.

Candidates will be asked to complete a short technical test, further details will be provided on invitation to interview.

Sift and Interview Dates

Sifting is envisaged to take place the week commencing 7th September with interview dates to follow .

Interviews are currently being held remotely via videocall. This could be subject to change.

Group 1 Digital & Data Roles

MHCLG has implemented the Digital and Data capability framework for Group 1 roles. Applicants that are successful and have been offered a position will be required to complete a capability assessment after the interview.

MHCLG will honour completed capability assessments for this role from other Government Departments for existing civil servants on level transfer only. 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.

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 opportunity to annually re assess your capability and potentially increase your overall remuneration, through payment of allowances, depending on level of assessed capability.

Candidates moving from another government department have the option to retain their current basic pay if this is within our pay band for the relevant grade.

Senior Executive Officer Group 1 Digital and Data salary

• The basic pay for this role will be between £47,444-£53,575 (London), £44,004-£50,086 (National). Candidates will usually be recruited to the median of the payscale.
• A digital allowance may also be payable depending on the level of assessed capability, in order to meet the MHCLG overall targeted remuneration rate for the specific grade, location and capability rating.
• For applicants in receipt of existing allowances, we will assess each case individually, but we would seek not to exceed the MHCLG overall targeted remuneration rate for the specific grade, location and capability rating for existing civil servants, the usual policy on level transfer and promotion will apply, subject to the statements above.

How We Recruit

Find out everything you need to know before applying here. .

• Applying
• Sifting
• Interview
• Interview Results & Feedback
• Reserve List
• Near Miss
• Civil Service Grades
• We are a DCS, RIS & GPTWV employer
• Reasonable Adjustments

How to Apply

What you need to know before applying.

You must review the following information from the MHCLG Career's Site before submitting your application. This step is essential to ensure your eligibility for the role and that your application is completed correctly.

• Security Clearance Requirements
• Civil Service Nationality Requirements
• Right to Work
• Civil Service Code and Recruitment Principles
• CV Declaration
• Sponsorships
• Salary and Grade
• Existing Civil Servants
• Conflict of Interest
• Location and Flexible Working
• Fixed Term Contracts
• Internal Fraud Database
• Appeals and Complaints

• Security Clearance Requirements
• National Office: BPSS + SC
• London Office: BPSS + SC

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

Security

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 member