Project Manager

The Programme is part of the Shared Services Team, a fantastic team passionate about improving the existing shared services experience for DSIT and its partners whilst working to deliver the strategic objectives of the new Government Shared Services Strategy!

We will deliver the Government's three overarching objectives for shared services:

• Better experience for all users - intuitive systems that are easy to use and mobile-enabled.
• Efficiency and value for money - better systems and services which support productivity and seek to reduce costs.
• Standardised processes and data - support interoperability, making it easier to understand and compare corporate data.

Departments forming the Matrix Programme: Cabinet Office (CO), Department for Science Innovation and Technology (DSIT), Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS), Department for Business Trade (DBT), Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), Department for Education (DfE), and His Majesty's Treasury (HMT).

Person specification

Key Responsibilities

This role provides support and insight to the project and acts as the source of all project/programme information. You will have a confirmed background in PPM methods with an eye for detail to make sure things happen when needed. You will need excellent interpersonal skills for presenting updates to different audiences.

Key Responsibilities Include But Not Limited To

• Delivery – Critical support to the Senior Programme Manager to lead the project to deliver the agreed outputs within time, cost and quality constraints.
• Project Management – Day to day management and leadership of the project and the project team.
• Set project controls. Design the project structure appropriate to stage. Select and apply appropriate delivery methodologies and tools (predominantly manage the Project MSP Plan).
• Business Case – Coordinate development of the Business Case
• Budget – Track delivery within budget
• Resources – Schedule / manage resources to deliver the project. May work independently or with a small team.
• Stakeholder Management – Identify key stakeholders and develop effective relationships.
• Risks & Issues – Identify and monitor project risks and issues. Develop mitigating actions and escalate as appropriate.
• Governance – Provide key reports and support effective governance and decision making.
• Assurance – Support or set appropriate project assurance.
• Change Management – Ensure effective Change Management processes are in place to agree and document changes to deliverables as agreed with stakeholders.
• Guidance & Support – Seek appropriate support, guidance and coaching from the project community. Show commitment to personal development. Promote effective individual and team performance.
• Project Performance & Controls – Build Project Plan and apply appropriate project principles to deliver stated objectives. Identify and set appropriate Project Controls. Track and report delivery against milestones.

Essential Criteria

• Effective communication and engagement skills – the project supports a wide range of activities, building and maintaining relationships with colleagues at all levels, offering constructive challenge when required.
• Prioritisation skills – the ability to manage multiple work activities and to change priorities quickly as required.

Applicants will ideally have experience of working in a shared service environment, but this is not essential to the role.

Previous involvement in a project, Corporate Services, particularly HR, Finance, Procurement or Digital would be useful but is not a requirement.

Desirable Criteria

It would be desirable to hold one of the following qualifications:

• MS Project Working level (minimum)
• APM Project Fundamentals
• APM Project Management Qualification

Please note, the allowance advertised for this role is subject to eligibility and cannot be guaranteed. This may include qualifications and other requirements set by the profession.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace
• Leadership
• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Competency: Planning
• Competency: Scheduling

Alongside your salary of £44,620, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology contributes £12,926 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).

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology offers a competitive mix of benefits including:

• A culture of flexible working, such as job sharing, homeworking and compressed hours.
• Automatic enrolment into the Civil Service Pension Scheme, with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.
• An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities, which all staff are actively encouraged to pursue.
• Access to a range of retail, travel and lifestyle employee discounts.

Office attendance

The Department operates a discretionary hybrid working policy, which provides for a combination of working hours from your place of work and from your home in the UK. The current expectation for staff is to attend the office or non-home based location for 40-60% of the time over the accounting period.

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

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

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and behavioural statements.

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

Applications will be sifted on CV and behavioural statements.

In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the lead behaviour statement - Managing a Quality Service, only.

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

The interview will consist of behaviour, technical and strength-based questions.

Link to the technical/professional competency framework that candidates will be assessed against, for their reference: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65561f36046ed4000d8b9a33/PDCF-V3.pdf

Sift and interview