We want you to succeed in your application to work for the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. This information will guide you in submitting your application. The Combined Authority has a strict shortlisting process. To help your application move forward, we urge you to read this guidance.
If you face any technical issues while submitting your application, please contact us. Emails are answered Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm (excluding Bank Holidays). We will reply as soon as we can. If you have problems outside of these hours and cannot submit your application before a vacancy deadline, please contact us at recruitment@westyorks-ca.gov.uk.
Preparation is key, regardless of the role you’re applying for. Use our website to learn about our work. All applications must be made via the online recruitment portal unless stated otherwise. If you need reasonable adjustments to apply online, please contact us at recruitment@westyorks-ca.gov.uk as soon as possible.
The Combined Authority values diversity and aims to create an inclusive workplace. We believe that different ideas and perspectives lead to a stronger, more creative environment. We welcome applications from all backgrounds, regardless of age, disability, neuro-divergence, sex, gender identity, race, ethnicity, religion, belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances. We have policies to ensure fair treatment for all applicants, including reasonable adjustments for those with disabilities. To learn more about inclusivity at the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, please visit our dedicated inclusivity webpage.
Under the Disability Confident Scheme, applicants with a disability will be guaranteed an interview if they meet the minimum criteria.
While agile working is an option for most staff, employees are expected to spend part of their week at the office, usually at Wellington House in Leeds City Centre. The specific days and hours will be discussed during the interview.
Candidates will be notified of interview invitations via email. Interviews may be conducted by phone, video, or in person. If you have concerns about the interview format, please inform the recruiting manager as soon as possible so they can find an alternative solution.
We typically recruit at SP1, the salary stated in the job advert. However, each role includes career progression, with annual salary increases in most cases.
All new employees must demonstrate satisfactory performance within nine months, following the Combined Authority’s Probation Policy.
Candidate information will be kept for six months unless you request deletion.
The Application Form has eight steps. Here’s what to expect at each step.
In this section, enter your personal details. It’s important for us to understand the diversity of our applicants. If you prefer not to share certain information, please select ‘prefer not to say’ from the drop-down menu. Do not leave any sections blank. To learn more about how we use your data, please review the Combined Authority’s Privacy Notice for Applicants.
This section will ask about the job you are applying for, where you found the vacancy and your preferences.
The Combined Authority is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and wish to be considered under this scheme, please opt in here. For more information, visit the GOV.UK website.
To avoid data loss, complete your supporting statement offline, then copy and paste your responses.
The Supporting Statement has six fields reflecting areas from the Role Profile, including ‘Knowledge’ (2500-character limit), ‘People’ (2500-character limit), ‘Technical’ (3000-character limit), ‘Impact & Influence’ (1500-character limit), ‘Financial’ (1500-character limit), and ‘Any other relevant information’ (1000-character limit).
You can use the ‘Complete Later’ option to save your progress, but only after completing all six fields. If you select ‘Complete Later’ midway, your information won't be saved.
To prevent losing content, finish all six fields before choosing 'Complete Later.' After saving, you can return to revise any information entered.
While we don’t specify essential and desirable criteria in the Role Profile, the minimum criteria are listed in the Advert under the ‘About You’ section. We recommend reading the ‘Understanding the Role Profile’ section. Provide real examples from your skills and experience. If you have gaps in knowledge, show how your skills are transferable.
Provide details of your current and previous roles, including job titles, dates, and main responsibilities. Leave the end date blank for your current role.
Use the +Add button to list your qualifications. You can search for a listed qualification or enter the details manually.
We also recommend including any professional memberships you hold.
Voluntary experience is not mandatory, but if you have relevant experience that supports your application, please add it here.
Use the +Add button to add your referees. Recruiting Managers will not see these details during shortlisting. HR will contact your referees only after you accept an offer.
Tick the box to confirm that your application is true and accurate before submitting.
Once you finish the steps, click the ‘Finish’ button to submit your application.
Please review your information before submitting. Ensure you have enough detail to show your suitability for the role. When you’re ready, click ‘submit’.
After submitting, you will get an email from noreply@westyorks-ca.gov.uk to verify your email address. Check your junk/spam folders for this email. If you don’t verify your email, your application will not be submitted. We suggest using a personal email, as some companies block our verification emails. If you don’t receive confirmation after submitting, contact us at recruitment@westyorks-ca.gov.uk.
If you face any issues with your application form, email recruitment@westyorks-ca.gov.uk for help. If the closing date is near, contact the team before it passes.
If you start your application but can’t finish it, and you’ve moved past step 1, go to the ‘More’ menu and select ‘Complete Later’. This will generate a link sent to the email from Step 1. Note that this link expires after 7 days. If you need more time, access your form within 6 days and follow the steps to get a new link, which will also expire after 7 days. If you don’t submit your application or create a new link before it expires, you’ll have to start over.
Make sure to save your progress by clicking ‘Next’.
Once you submit your first application to the Combined Authority, you’ll receive an email confirming receipt. If it doesn’t show up, check your junk or spam folder. This email will have a link to create a password and set up your account.
Creating an account lets you:
Setting up an account is optional but highly recommended for easier future applications.
If you created an account, your application status will show as ‘Under Consideration’ if shortlisted. If not shortlisted, it will update to ‘Unsuccessful’, and you’ll get an automated email.
If you are shortlisted, the Recruiting Manager will email you soon after the closing date with details of the next steps. Please ensure your contact details are accurate on the application form.
Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. If you don’t hear from us within four weeks of the closing date, please assume your application was unsuccessful. We cannot provide feedback to those not shortlisted.
The role profile has different sections outlined below:
Organisational Context: Information on the organisation’s vision and local structure of the vacant post.
Job Overview: Summary of the role’s tasks.
Critical Success Factors: Lists the main tasks, outputs, and outcomes expected. This includes:
As you review the ‘Critical Success Factors’ and ‘The Person’ sections, think about how your skills, knowledge, and experience align. Use specific examples in your application to show you meet the requirements. Some tasks have a (©) symbol—these are core elements common to similar roles. For example, both a Finance and HR Business Partner may share core elements.
Other tasks have a black bullet point (•)—these are role-specific elements for the position. These sections are crucial as they reflect specific responsibilities. Prioritise these over core functions when reviewing criteria, as they show your suitability for the role.
Continuing the example above, while HR and Finance roles may share core elements, their specific duties differ and are marked with bullet points. Focus on the skills you do have that show you meet the role criteria, and use any transferable experience as needed.
The skills in the ‘About You’ section represent the minimum criteria for shortlisting unless stated otherwise. If many applications come in, the Recruiting Manager may also look at additional skills in the Role Profile as desirable criteria.
We encourage all applicants to provide relevant details in their supporting statement. Highlight your full range of skills, including transferable ones. If you haven’t been in paid employment, include examples from education, voluntary work, or personal interests that show relevant skills.
A Role Profile may state a specific qualification but also accept equivalent knowledge or experience for some posts. If so, you don’t need the exact qualification, as long as you can show comparable experience or hold an equivalent qualification. Many gain necessary skills through work experience rather than formal education.
Please note: This flexibility does not apply to specialist roles needing formal qualifications, like Lawyers or Accountants. In your supporting statement, clearly explain how you meet the role requirements through qualifications, relevant experience, or both.
All appointments require satisfactory references. You’ll need to provide the names and email addresses of two referees covering the past three years. At least one should be your current or most recent employer. If you haven’t been employed before, you can choose someone like a tutor or a professional character reference. However, referees must not be family or friends.
If a role requires vetting, this will be clear in the job advert and description. Vetting is part of pre-employment checks, and the successful candidate must pass this process to start work.
The West Yorkshire Police Vetting Unit will conduct background checks covering either a 3 or 5-year period. Applicants should know that meaningful vetting checks are not possible in many areas outside the UK.
As a result, vetting clearance can’t be granted if you haven’t lived in the UK for the required period or if checks can’t be made where you’ve lived. The relevant periods are three years for NPPV1&2 and five years for NPPV3. More information about vetting can be found in our Vetting Guidance for applicants document.
Engaging in canvassing for an Elected Member or Senior Officer of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority may disqualify you from roles classified as Politically Restricted. You must declare any personal or professional relationship with any Elected Member or employee of the Combined Authority. The Role Profile will indicate if the position is Politically Restricted.
If you are politically active, please disclose this in your application.
Criminal records will be checked where relevant, as per the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
Thank you for your interest in working with West Yorkshire Combined Authority. If you have any questions or need clarification about this guidance, please contact us.
Email: recruitment@westyorks-ca.gov.uk
Telephone: 0113 348 1515