About the job

Job summary

We are Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S). We manage a vast range of projects to supply and maintain vital equipment and services for the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force. Together, we deliver essential defence programmes – and strive for what's next. Because it helps keep our military at the top of their game and our nation safe, now and in the future.

 

Across our 12,500-strong organisation, we support all our people to be at their very best, fostering a family-friendly approach to flexible and hybrid working. After all, support is in our name.

Job description

Are you passionate about Project Management? Are you seeking a challenging and rewarding career working on once-in-a-lifetime projects? If so, this could be the perfect position for you! We at Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) are seeking a Junior Project Manager to join our Weapons Operating Centre (WOC) in Boscombe.

At the WOC we are responsible for the supply of new weapon systems, in-service support of existing weapon systems and management of the UK's stockpile of munitions for key customers spread across all UK Armed Forces.

You will be a part of our Team Complex Weapons portfolio, which leads engagements with industry suppliers, providing innovation through new and existing technologies and maintaining existing support to weapons capabilities that are used across various Defence platforms. 

The role will be to deliver small projects, or elements of larger projects using recognised project management principles, tools and techniques. You will also be responsible for the development of business cases and project management plans, or for providing project support in the development of these documents for larger projects.

At DE&S we pride ourselves on supporting the front line and you will be provided with diverse project opportunities that are at the forefront of delivering future capabilities - from robotics and automation through to humanitarian aid. Your involvement could help support the evacuation of communities out of areas of conflict through to meeting current national and international disaster needs such as COVID-19.

Helping to deliver outputs critical to UK Defence, you will be provided with continual training and upskilling to develop both your Project Professional skills and career.

 

At DE&S we operate a hybrid working environment. Regular in-person attendance is required to promote the benefits of face-to-face collaboration alongside flexibility of hours to support work-life balance. Initially, you may be expected to attend more frequently to familiarise yourselves with the site, the team, and the position you will be working on in more detail.

You will also be required to travel to Abbeywood, Bristol to attend meetings with the wider Weapons OC Delivery teams, cost for travel will be re-imbursed in accordance with DE&S/MoD travel policies.

 

This role requires you to have lived in the UK for the last 5 years and obtain Security Clearance (SC). SC must be obtained without any caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role you have been recruited for. If SC is not obtained or is obtained but with any caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role you have been recruited for any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn. 

 

Obtaining SC security clearance can be a lengthy process, the Department reserve the right to withdraw any conditional offer made if the necessary security clearance is not obtained within 12 months.

 

 

Responsibilities

• Coordinate multi-disciplinary teams in managing an aspect of projects.
• 
  Develop, maintain and control all relevant project documentation from project plans, project schedules, status reports and risk registers to deliver specific project outputs within an established baseline, measuring progress via monthly reporting, explaining variances and taking corrective action
• 
  Analyse requirements, risks, assumptions, issues, dependencies and opportunities
• 
  Build relationships, influence stakeholders and manage expectations
• 
  Maintain outputs in ambiguous and uncertain environments

Person specification

To be successful with your application, you'll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:

• Previous experience applying project management tools and techniques to contribute to successful project delivery outputs
  • Experience of gathering, analysing and validating data
• Experience of engaging with stakeholders
• Contributing to project improvements or change

In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competences and behaviours will be assessed at interview:

• Controlling a Project (Supervised Practitioner)
• Stakeholder Management (Supervised Practitioner)
• Working Together

Delivering at Pace 

Benefits

• 25 days’ annual leave +1 day a year up to 30 days, 8 bank holidays and a day off for the King’s birthday
• Flexible and hybrid working wherever possible, to support your work-life balance (though some attendance to the stated site is required)
• Market-leading employer pension contribution of around 27%
• Annual performance-based bonus and recognition awards
• Access to specialist training and funded professional qualifications
• Support for progression
• Huge range of discounts
• Volunteering days
• Enhanced parental leave schemes

We believe in creating an inclusive environment where our people can grow, thrive, and be their authentic selves. We value diversity of thought and the ways in which it enriches our culture and our work. So whether you’re looking for a new opportunity, a next step, or a helping hand as you return from a career break, here you’ll find a supportive, family-friendly organisation to be a part of. And if you need any assistance with your application, just let us know.

Further Information

More information can be found below:

• DE&S Little Book of Big Benefits: https://bit.ly/3FEb54v
• Further Information: https://bit.ly/3K26Xhl
• Terms and Conditions: https://bit.ly/3yUwcM1

#LI-Hybrid

Things you need to know

Selection process details

Your application will go through the following stages of assessment:

1. Pre-sift - We will check that you meet any essential or eligibility criteria that are listed in the Person Specification section of this advert. On your CV, please clearly show how you meet the essential criteria.

2. Sift - Your CV will be assessed against the following categories, using a simple numerical scoring system: Key Achievements; Relevant Experience; Applied Knowledge and Skills

Please follow our guidance on CV writing for best chance of success.

3. Interview - If you're invited to interview, you'll be assessed against the Sift categories listed above, as well as the Technical Competences and Behaviours listed in the Person Specification section of this advert.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.



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

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security 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 the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.