Programme Manager

We are seeking three experienced Programme Managers to lead the governance, assurance and performance of a programme of property projects within Defra Group Property.

You will ensure that projects led by Project Managers are set up and delivered in line with clear governance, robust controls and consistent delivery disciplines. As Programme Manager, you will be accountable for ensuring that a programme of interdependent property projects is governed and delivered effectively.

You will operate at programme level, setting standards, providing oversight, and holding delivery to account across multiple projects led by Project Managers. Your focus will be on ensuring that the right governance, assurance and delivery disciplines are consistently applied.

You will work in close partnership with the PMO, using programme data, reporting and controls to drive insight, inform decisions and maintain delivery discipline across the portfolio.

This is an opportunity for experienced Programme Managers who understands the difference between leading projects and leading programmes, and who can operate as a system leader across a complex delivery environment

Programme Governance & Assurance

• Alignment with robust programme governance frameworks, ensuring clarity of roles, responsibilities and decision-making
• Lead programme-level assurance, including reviews, controls and gateway processes
• Work with the PMO to ensure governance processes, reporting and controls are consistently applied and adhered to
• Ensure consistent application of project delivery standards, methodologies and controls across all projects
• Monitor programme health, using insight and data to ensure risks, issues and performance are transparently reported and managed
• Provide independent challenge to project teams and stakeholders to support robust, evidence-based decision-making

Portfolio Oversight & Integration

• Maintain the overall integrity and coherence of the programme across multiple projects
• Identify and manage interdependencies, working with the PMO to ensure these are clearly captured, tracked and actively managed
• Intervene where delivery is off track, working with Project Managers and the PMO to resolve systemic issues
• Ensure alignment between project delivery, business objectives and property strategy

Leadership of Delivery Community

• Provide leadership and direction to Project Managers
• Work in partnership with the PMO to drive consistent ways of working, high-quality reporting and a strong delivery culture
• Foster a culture of accountability, transparency and continuous improvement in delivery practice
• Support the development of strong project delivery capability across the team

Strategic Programme Leadership

• Ensure that programmes are aligned to strategic objectives and deliver intended outcomes and benefits
• Oversee the integrity of business cases and programme-level planning
• Use insight from reporting and assurance to inform strategic decision-making
• Engage effectively with stakeholders across property, corporate functions and the wider department.

Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) A recognised project management qualification such as; PRINCE2 Practitioner, Project Leadership Programme (PLP), APM Practitioner or equivalent. Membership of the Government Property Profession or Government Project Delivery Profession. A recognised Property Accreditation (or working towards) at Chartered, Certified or Fellow grade (RICS, IWFM, CIOB, CEng, CEnv, RTPI, RIBA) or APM Chartered Project Professional ChPP.

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, Experience and Technical skills.

Application Process

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, personal statement & behaviour statements.

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 on the Lead Behaviour - Leadership

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Sifting will take place w/c 21st September

Interview

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on behaviours, technical skills and experience

Interviews are currently scheduled to take place w/c 5th October but may be subject to change.

A 5 minute presentation will be required at Interview. The subject will be 'You inherit a programme comprising multiple property projects. Several projects are amber/red, reporting is inconsistent and governance boards lack confidence in delivery. How would you establish control of the programme in your first 90 days’.

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.

Near miss

Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at interview may be considered for other positions in Defra which may be at a lower grade but have a potential skills match.

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.

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 of1 2 months from which further appointments can be made.

Childcare Vouchers

Any move to Defra from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

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.

Merit Lists

Where more than one location is advertised, candidates will be appointed in merit order for each location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.

Criminal Record Check

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be 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 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.

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