Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Project Planning Manager
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Bristol, Darlington, London, Manchester, Wolverhampton
Job Summary
We are MHCLG
The Elections Directorate (ED) is responsible for a challenging and dynamic policy landscape, always in the public eye, covering electoral policy and law. This includes how elections are run, who can participate and how elections and campaigning are regulated. The Directorate is also responsible for delivering high-profile changes that realise Manifesto Commitments and other Ministerial priorities (e.g. introduction of Votes for 16 and 17 year-olds, improvements to elector registration, revised list of Voter Identification that electors produce at polling stations, etc.). These major changes are being delivered via the Electoral Resilience and Democratic Engagement Programme (ERDEP).
We are looking for another Project Planning Manager to join ERDEP as we move into delivery and implementation. You will be joining a small, committed team that works across ED’s Project Directors, Managers, Policy, Bill, Legal, Digital, Business Change and external Delivery Partners to develop and maintain complex, end-to-end delivery plans at pace. Please note: Planning is a distinct discipline to Project Management. Please familiarise yourself with the job description below and the Government Functional Standard on Project Delivery which explains the distinction. You also require Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance for this role. Please ensure you meet the basic criteria before applying as there are no exceptions.
Job Description
As a Project Planning Manager, you will play a leading role in:
- Defining and developing multi-level delivery plans for the Directorate, working at programme and project level
- Identifying the milestones, activities, interdependencies and outputs needed to deliver successfully
- Monitoring and analysing those delivery plans, putting relevant controls in place to assure delivery
- Driving good practice and consistency when it comes to planning, providing advice to various stakeholders on their approaches as required
- Using planning platforms and software
- Providing ongoing strategic planning advice across the programme
- Collaborating closely with multiple stakeholders
Delivery and leadership
- Lead on planning support across the Directorate’s programme and project work
Delivery planning
- Define delivery plans for the Directorate’s programme and project work
Monitor and analyse
- Challenge and analyse planning assumptions to ensure that plans are realistic and achievable, and manage changes as required
Plan control
- Monitor and analyse information, reporting progress, slippage and highlighting areas of risk and opportunity
Innovation
- Help to drive a culture of continuous improvement when it comes to planning and delivery
Stakeholder management
- Ensure that stakeholder responsibilities and needs are understood and acted upon as required
Guidance and support
- Provide expert advice on planning processes throughout the programme and project lifecycle
Person specification
You will hold a certified Project/Programme Management Qualification at Practitioner level (Foundation Level for SEO) such as APMG International Project Planning and Control, PRINCE2, Managing Successful Programmes, Association for Project Management, Managing Projects and Leading Workstreams, Project Leadership Programme) or a willingness to work towards it. You will hold Foundation Level Government Project Delivery accreditation or willingness to work towards it. Experience within a project planning environment or equivalent. Good understanding of project management and planning methodologies. Experience of using planning software (such as Visio, MS Project, GRIP+, Planner) to visually display those plans, or a willingness to learn the use of these tools at pace. Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills, including being able to translate complex information into high quality written products and verbal advice to a broad range of audiences. The ability to work flexibly on changing priorities and actively prioritise multiple tasks. Understanding potential sensitivities and political dimensions connected to policy implementation and external sector stakeholders. Experience of implementing business change requirements in a public sector context. Experience of resilience planning, for example planning for certain high-risk scenarios.
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Salary and benefits
Alongside your salary of £44,004, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government contributes £12,747 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).
At MHCLG we offer many benefits that range from tailored career pathways and flexible working to MyLifestyle Staff Benefits Scheme, Childcare Vouchers, and Cycle to Work Schemes. For more information, please click here.
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
Application and Selection
The application process will be split into 2 stages, testing the following Success Profiles:
- Behaviours
- Experience
- Strengths
- Technical
Please ensure your CV does not contain any personally identifiable information.
We do not consider applications sent directly to the hiring manager or recruitment inbox. All applications must be submitted via the provided application link.
Stage 1: Sift (CV & Cover Letter)
In Your CV And Covering Letter, Please Include
- why you are interested in the role;
- how you meet the essential skills and experience required
Your covering letter should be no more than 1 page.
Important: Your CV and Cover Letter must be merged into a single document before uploading.
If you run into any technical problems when applying through Be Applied (for example, trouble logging in or submitting your application), their support team can help. Please contact them at hello@beapplied.com.
Stage 2: Interview
- Behaviours: Changing & Improving, Working together, Managing a quality service
- Experience & Technical: Candidates will be asked to prepare a 10-minute presentation assessing their experience and technical skills for the role, further details will be provided on invitation to interview.
- Strengths: The strength-based questions will require natural responses from the candidates.
Sift and Interview Dates
Sifting is envisaged to take place the week commencing 10/08/26.
Interviews are currently being held remotely via videocall. This could be subject to change.
Disability Confident Scheme (DCS)
We are a Disability Confident employer.
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We apply a fair and proportionate interview process for all candidates. In line with our commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS), we aim to progress candidates who apply under the Disability Confident Scheme and meet the required minimum selection criteria.
However, where high application volumes are received, progression to interview may be limited to those who best meet the role criteria. In these circumstances, the benchmark required to proceed to interview may be raised for all candidates.
How We Recruit
Find out more about our recruitment processes here.
Applying
Sifting
Interview
Interview Results & Feedback
Reserve List
Near Miss
Civil Service Grades
We are a DCS, RIS & GPTWV employer
Reasonable Adjustments
How To Apply
Find out everything you need to know before applying here.
You must review the following information from the MHCLG Career's Site before submitting your application. This step is essential to ensure your eligibility for the role and that your application is completed correctly.
Security Clearance Requirements
Civil Service Nationality Requirements
Right to Work
Civil Service Code and Recruitment Principles
CV Declaration
Sponsorships
Salary and Grade
Existing Civil Servants
Conflict of Interest
Location and Flexible Working
Internal Fraud Database
Appeals and Complaints
Fixed Term Appointments for:
- External Candidates
- Existing Civil Servants (Including Loans)
- Secondments
- MHCLG employees
Security Clearance Requirements
National Office: BPSS + CTC
London Office: BPSS + CTC
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
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)
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet
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