G7 Project Delivery Roles

Defra is the UK government department responsible for safeguarding our natural environment, supporting our world-leading food and farming industry, and sustaining a thriving rural economy. Our broad remit means we play a major role in people's day-to-day life, from the food we eat, and the air we breathe, to the water we drink. In terms of programme and project delivery, Defra has one of the largest and most complicated portfolios in Government.

Water is vital for life - clean, freshwater for drinking and sanitation, providing for farms and industry, creating and sustaining the ecosystems on which all life depends. Yet water is a finite natural resource, facing increasing pressures from climate change and population growth. Never before has political, media and public attention been focused on water as it is now. The Independent Water Commission made recommendations for reform of the system. The White Paper set out the actions now needed to fix the system. This brings a great opportunity, and we have been given a mandate to make some once in a generation changes. The Water System Reform Programme is mobilising alongside delivery of existing commitments to improve water outcomes, including in the Environmental Improvement Plan and 2024 Price Review.

We are seeking Grade 7 Project Delivery Managers to work across the water portfolio. We have a number of roles available supporting delivery of the Water System Reform Programme, and delivery of existing commitments contributing to improved water outcomes.

Encouraging diverse applicants

We recognise the challenges that people with (multiple) protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups.

Location

This role can be based at any Main Defra Policy Hub. You will be expected work in the office at least 60% of the time

As a project delivery professional, you will be responsible for embedding best practice project procedures, tools and methodologies in line with government project delivery standards. Experience of working in policy-led environment would be beneficial.

You will provide expert guidance, support and insight which will be typically moderate in complexity, and act as the source of all project information and metrics.

This role is aligned to the Project Delivery Capability Framework (PDCF). Further information on the PDCF can be found on the gov.uk homepage (search "Project Delivery Capability Framework").

Across all roles you will be responsible for:

• Applying recognised delivery methodologies, tools and techniques to drive successful delivery.
• Leadership of teams, workstreams, projects or programmes to achieve agreed outcomes, including working as part of multidisciplinary teams
• Developing and managing plans, schedules, resources and controls to deliver successful outcomes.
• Establishing and operating effective governance, assurance, risk and issue management arrangements.
• Building productive relationships and secures commitment from stakeholders at all levels.
• Understanding organisational objectives and supports the delivery of sustainable business change.
• Working as part of multidisciplinary teams, including with policy, corporate functions and regulators.
• An active member of the Defra Project Delivery Profession Community, and the project delivery professionals across water.

We have roles available in the following areas:

PMO Manager

The Water System Reform Programme PMO team operates at the heart of the programme, operating as the hub that develops, sets and implements programme controls. Working as part of a Grade 6 led PMO team, you will work closely with the other G7 PMO Managers to bring together intelligence across the programme to support decision making, provides governance, assurance, planning, reporting and performance management across the programme, ensuring projects are delivered consistently, risks are managed effectively, and strategic outcomes are achieved.

We are particularly looking for individuals with planning and reporting experience on complex policy reform and delivery programmes.

Single Regulator Project Manager

The single regulator project is a central delivery project within the Water System Reform programme, that will reshape the institutional structures for regulation in the water system. We are looking for three G7 project managers to join the existing Single Regulator Project team and work as part of a G6 led project team that is responsible for planning and delivery of the project, including running effective governance, reporting, risk and financial management. This is a highly complex transformation delivery project, working with a wide range of policy and corporate functions, as well as with delivery partners in the existing regulators.

We are particularly looking for individuals with experience engaging with a wide stakeholder group and the ability to guide teams through complex project timelines.

Water System Reform Project Manager

The water system reform programme has a 10 programme workstreams led by policy teams across the water group, with complex dependencies across the programme. We are establishing a G6 led pool of project managers who will work across the workstreams to build capability and provide targeted support throughout the life of the programme on planning, reporting, risk management, and delivery. Workstreams have a range of deliverables ranging from test and learn policy, publication of guidance, and shaping new capabilities for the new regulator.

Water System Delivery Manager

This role is part of a new G6 led system delivery and transition team. The team will shape and deliver reform through the transition of the reform journey. This will include working across the programme, shaping and delivering the transition delivery plan. The role will include working closely with stakeholders across the programme, regulators and wider system partners. The team will work closely with the PMO and stakeholder engagement team to work across the programme. The postholder will work as part of a small delivery team, working alongside another G7 to lead delivery of aspects of the system reform programme.

Water Delivery Project Manager

Two Grade 7 roles are available, each embedded into policy teams leading delivery of existing commitments in the water portfolio. One of the posts is embedded in the Clean Waters and Public Health division, the other in Water Infrastructure Delivery division. These policy divisions lead policy work, delivery of existing commitments as part of the Environmental Improvement Plan and Price Review 2024, as well as leading policy work on water system reform. The Grade 7 project manager roles will work across the division to work alongside policy leads to embed structured planning and delivery of the delivery commitments, run effective governance, reporting, and risk management. A key part of these roles will be leading input to Perm Sec stocktakes on delivery of our water outcomes, and ensuring that ministers feel sufficiently sighted on delivery progress, working closely with the water portfolio team.

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)

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

Application Process

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV, Personal Statement and 250 words on the lead behaviour Seeing the Bigger Picture.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Sift

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Interview

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on Experience and Behaviours.

Interviews are expected to last no longer than 60 Minutes.

Further Information

Location

As part of the pre-employment process for this post, successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. The agreed contractual workplace is then the substantive and permanent place of work for the successful candidate(s).

Where the location is ‘National’ the successful appointee should discuss and agree an appropriate contractual location in line with both Defra’s location policy and site capacity, prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.

The agreed amount of time spent at a workplace for this post will reflect the requirement for Civil Servants to spend at least 60% of their working time in an organisation workplace with the option to work the remaining time flexibly from home. Working time spent at a workplace may include time spent at other organisational locations including field-based operational locations, together with supplier, customer or partner locations. This is a non-contractual agreement which is consistent with common Civil Service expectations.

Travel costs to non-contractual workplaces will be subject to departmental travel and subsistence policies. Travel costs to contractual workplaces are the responsibility of the employee.

The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location, and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.

Defra includes the core department, APHA, RPA, Cefas and VMD.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Salary

New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
• Complete the “Assistance required” 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.

Accessibility

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Visa Sponsorship Statement

Please take note that Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.

Criminal Record Check

If successful and transferring from another Government Department, a criminal record check maybe carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognize in exceptional circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-Employment.Checks@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Internal Fraud Database Check

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Higher Security Clearance:

Job offers are made on the basis of merit. Security vetting will only take place after the receipt of a job offer.

If you are successful at interview, we will ask you to undertake basic security clearance before the role is confirmed. If you are based in London, we will need you to pass a higher level of clearance (CTC) because of the security requirements for the Marsham Street office.

All of these posts require the successful candidate to hold basic security clearance. Candidates posted to London may be subject to a higher level of clearance because of the security requirements for that location. Job offers to these posts are made on the basis of merit. Security vetting will only take place after the receipt of a job offer.

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

Childcare Vouchers

Any move to Defra from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Feedback

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