Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Portfolio Manager
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Job Summary
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.
We are seeking a Portfolio Manager to join the Strategic Change Function. We have a strong appetite to ensure that as an organisation we deliver policy and services, enable the department to modernise & change ways of working, live within our means, become high performing, and be valued by our customers.
The Change Directorate was established to support the delivery of changes required to meet this challenge. The post holder would sit within the Change Portfolio team. This presents an exciting opportunity to become a part of a team that is key to delivering critical organisational change initiatives.
Job Description
This role is aimed at bringing about critical organisational change to deliver Defra’s Outcomes Framework, drive efficiency and shape the future of the organisation. You will be working in a high profile, fast paced team working across all areas of Defra including its Arms Length Bodies. You will support the efficient and effective running of Defra’s Change Portfolio, be exposed to a variety of projects and work with stakeholders across a wide range of areas across Defra.
As Portfolio Manager you will be responsible for the oversight of significant change initiatives that contribute to the delivery of departmental or business area objectives. You will focus primarily on providing insight, information and support that strengthens portfolio governance and enables prioritisation decisions and effective allocation of resources across the portfolio.
You will help to ensure the optimal delivery of departmental/business strategic objectives which will be aligned to Defra’s outcomes and wider government priorities. This will be through the analysis of information sources and engagement with programme and project stakeholders. You will use the appropriate reporting method to convert this insight to inform decision making.
This role is aligned to the Project Delivery Capability Framework (PDCF) career pathway G7 Portfolio Manager, You can find more information about the PDCF on the gov.uk homepage (search "Project Delivery Capability Framework").
Key Responsibilities
- Collaborate with business areas to identify and categorise new projects for a decision on entry into the portfolio, producing regular updates on pipeline projects to the relevant senior governance board.
- Provide clear governance frameworks and co-ordinate the reporting from projects across the Portfolio, including the analysis of performance at portfolio level for review by governance bodies.
- Provide secretariat support for governance boards.
- Maintain the portfolio delivery map and critical path to monitor progress across projects, tracking interdependencies across change projects.
- Co-ordinate the identification and monitoring of portfolio risks, threats, and opportunities.
- Provide recommendations for how finance and resources are allocated across change initiatives to optimise return on investment.
- Agree ownership and responsibility for benefit realisation, supporting the development of mechanisms for measuring benefits, by gathering and collating information regularly to assess progress towards benefits realisation.
- Map stakeholder interest and influence to determine priorities for engagement.
- Engage with stakeholders, providing updates, challenge assumptions and resolve issues.
- Be a visible leader, building commitment to a shared vision and sense of purpose. Support business areas to take decisions independently.
- Maintain the portfolio delivery map and critical path to monitor project progress. Identify and track interdependencies across change projects. Recommend the allocation of financial and other resources across initiatives to optimise the organisation’s return on investment. Develop strategies to address resource gaps.
- Provide effective line management for a team of SEOs and HEOs, supporting performance, development, wellbeing and delivery of team objectives.
- An active member of the Defra Project Delivery Profession Community.
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Essential Criteria
- In-depth knowledge and experience of portfolio, programme and project management (P3M) including governance, planning, scheduling, risk and issue management and benefits management.
- Knowledge and experience of resource management, business change and implementation and asset allocation in a fast-paced environment.
- Practical experience of assurance, budgeting, and cost management.
- Strong leadership and communication skills with the ability to maintain levels of performance in challenging circumstances and encourage others to do the same.
- Good analytical skills and the ability to interpret and use large and complex data.
- Strong stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to influence and challenge key stakeholders
Technical Skills
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Knowledge and experience of Project Management methodology supported by professional qualifications such as:
- PRINCE2 Practitioner
- Managing Portfolios Practitioner
- Managing Successful Programmes Practitioner / Advanced Practitioner
- Management of Risk Practitioner
- APM Chartered Project Professional
- APM Practitioner Qualification
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Changing and Improving
- Communicating and Influencing
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Leadership
- Changing and Improving
Salary
Alongside your salary of £58,207, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £16,862 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).
Selection Process Details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
Application Process
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, Personal Statement and 2 Behavioural 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 using the Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to interview.
Sifting is likely to be occur w/c 2nd November, with interviews likely to take place w/c 16th November. These dates are indicative only.
Interview
If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on, all 3 behaviours and Strengths.
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.
Interviews are expected to last no longer than 60 minutes.
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Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
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.
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.
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
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.
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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.
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 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
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