About the job

Job summary

Do you want to be at the heart of real Defence issues and play a key role in the United Kingdom’s (UK) national security?

Established in April 2016, the Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO) delivers nuclear capability to deter threats and protect our nation.

The DNO oversees all defence nuclear business (excluding operations) and is responsible for providing nuclear deterrence; sponsoring the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (all the organisations, programmes and people that sustain the UK’s nuclear deterrent); and advising on UK nuclear policy, planning and international co-operation on nuclear matters.

The UK’s independent nuclear deterrent has existed for over 60 years to deter the most extreme threats to our national security and way of life, and that of our NATO Allies. To ensure that we have a credible and capable nuclear deterrent for as long as the security situation requires, we are building four new nuclear armed submarines – known as the Dreadnought Class – and replacing our nuclear warheads. These renewal programmes will utilise world-leading technology and are a showcase in science and engineering, highlighting the prowess of British industry. 

The Enterprise Portfolio Management Office (EPMO) was established to build a one portfolio approach to the DNE though cooperation and optimisation of the interactions to consider the totality of the DNE value chain of activity. It considers ways to maximise DNE’s effectiveness through collaboration by coordinating the management of activities using Portfolio Management structures and practices to achieve optimal performance. The EPMO ensures the whole DNE works better than its individual constituent organisations in isolation. Head of Enterprise Governance role will ensure the right structures are in place, so the right decisions are happening at the right level to maximise efficiency of decisions in the best interests of the Enterprise. 

Here at DNO we strongly believe that diversity and inclusion is not only the right thing to do but is also essential for a thriving and successful organisation. We know that diverse teams bring a wide range of perspectives, experiences and ideas, which lead to better decision-making, creativity and innovation. We have a culture where differences are celebrated and our people feel supported, included and empowered. Join us and be part of an organisation that truly values diversity and inclusion and makes a positive impact on the world. 

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

The DNE Strategic Plan states its intention to “Operate effectively, as an integrated team, focused on outcomes to deliver ‘Best for Enterprise’.” Given the inter-linkages across the DNE, greater understanding is needed of the impacts of decisions to focus on objectives and act decisively to ensure that Mission comes first.  The Enterprise Portfolio Team (EPT) lead on identifying and managing inter-dependences across the DNE and support these decisions on prioritisation.

The role will lead a new branch of the EPMO focusing on developing and maintaining the DNE Governance Framework which sets the governance policy, in line with HMG Rules and Standards. It includes information about the roles of boards, their composition, effectiveness, structure, attendance records, and areas of work. An agreement of accountability as well as financial and risk tolerances is essential to enable greater autonomy, swifter decision making and reporting structures. Mapping and understanding the feedback loops between governance layers identifies the unintended consequences, positive changes and effective changes which helps to mitigate the risks.

Given the scope of the DNE it is essential that the right information be brought to the right levels for effective discussion. The aim of the role is to ensure that each level of governance is assessing the right material and creating the necessary outputs to maximize decision making in the DNE. A key success factor in this role is to work across the Enterprise Portfolio Team to clearly ensure that the portfolio definition (capability development), financial and portfolio delivery align to supporting the Mission. This means working beyond simply the scope of Portfolio Management in the Project Delivery sense but working closely with BAU areas of work as well to ensure a view of the whole value chain.

There are numerous activities in scope with a HIGH level of complexity, politically sensitive, technically complex, have many high profile or misaligned stakeholders and often need procedures and methodologies to be adapted to suit unique situations. As such, this role will need to work with several other portfolio offices and teams in the DNE and be highly collaborative in designing and building their products to ensure benefits are identified, understood, owned, and maximised.

This role will work with the Enterprise Project Delivery Centre of Excellence to ensure change initiatives operate in line with P3M standards and frameworks as well as the Benefits and Performance Team who aggregate and analyse performance to provide greater insight to the Senior Boards. Within the Enterprise Portfolio Team, the EPMO works with the Enterprise Planning and Risk Team (EPRT) to identify and recommend the prioritisation and effective allocation of resources across the DNE to ensure strategic risk is being mitigated.

The EPMO team looking for a creative innovator who offer transformation from rigidity to success and sustainability. It will lead two Business Change Managers, each of which will have a different focus related to the above remit. Both roles are to proactively prepare the DNE for the impact of the changes being delivered across the Enterprise. These roles provide a bridge across Defence Force Development (Defence Experimentation for Force Development Handbook) and the business users to ensure that activities are planned and completed to enable the business to effectively implement and integrate the activities it has undertaken as part of the DNE and realise the intended capability.

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working.  This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details).

Person specification

The role is suitable for an individual who has experience working in complex programmes and portfolios and the use of portfolio management as a tool for managing organisational change ideally with experience in governance, stakeholder management and business change. The following aligns to the Project Delivery Capability Framework (PDCF) for PMO Manager 1 and/or Portfolio Manager 1 (Please copy and follow link) 

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65561f36046ed4000d8b9a33/PDCF-V3.pdf

Essential Skills:

• Governance – you will have detailed practical knowledge and ability to clearly define roles, responsibilities and accountabilities and establish controls and approval routes appropriate to governance levels to monitor progress and compliance. (Practitioner)
• Assurance – you will have detailed practical knowledge and ability to establish, plan and manage reviews at appropriate points during all stages of the programme life cycle to provide evaluations of progress against time, cost, quality, compliance, and ongoing viability. (Practitioner)
• Risk and issue management – you will have a detailed practical knowledge and ability to systematically identify and monitor risks and issues, planning how to mitigate / respond to those risks and issues and implementing the responses. (Practitioner)
• Frameworks and methodologies – you will have a good understanding and the ability to identify and amend appropriate frameworks and methodologies to enable a consistent and efficient approach to delivery at all stages of the programme lifecycles. (Practitioner)
• Business change and implementation – you will have a good understanding and ability to integrate the outputs into ‘business as usual’ (BAU) ensuring that activities are planned and completed to enable the business to implement the change and realise the benefits. (Practitioner)

Desirable Qualifications:

• Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) Practitioner
• Management of Risk (M_o_R) Practitioner
• Management of Portfolios (MoP) Practitioner
• APMG Change Management Practitioner
• APM Practitioner Qualification
• Portfolio, Programme, Project Office (P3O) Practitioner
• APMG International Project Planning and Control Practitioner

Desirable Skills:

• Benefits Management – you will have detailed practical knowledge and ability to identify, quantify, map and track project benefits to justify investment in the project, and to provide assurance that the benefits identified can be realised. (Working)
• Stakeholder engagement: You will have a detailed practical knowledge and ability to systematically identify, analyse and communicate with stakeholders, using appropriate channels, to ensure all those impacted by the change are engaged, taking account of their levels of influence and particular interests. (Working)
• Working with ambiguity: The ability to work in an environment of uncertainty and continual change. Able to feel comfortable making decisions and setting direction without having the full picture and re-focus as details emerge. Can apply knowledge and techniques to reduce ambiguity. (Working)

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £57,670, Ministry of Defence contributes £15,570 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

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

This post is classed as ‘Reserved’ as per the Civil Service Nationality Rules. For further information please see the attached documents.

Candidates can apply online via the Civil Service Jobs website by completing the application form before the deadline shown. Apply using the Civil Service Jobs apply button, filling in all required details in all sections. Using the Success Profiles link for information on format and style, ensure you provide evidence for all Behaviours and Experience sections requested in the appropriate competency style.  

*Please note that not following the appropriate format will mean that you may be unable to reach the required grades for sift or interview* 

Candidates will be required to complete an online CV template to include job history, full details of education and qualifications and previous experiences and skills. Please also include any relevant responsibilities and achievements.

At sift, you will be assessed against the following Success Profiles Behaviours:

• Leadership
• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions

At interview, you will be assessed against the following Success Profiles Behaviours:

• Leadership
• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
  
  If a large number of applications are received then the initial sift will be based on the behaviour Leadership, CV and Personal Statement (750 words). 
  
  Candidates who are found to meet an acceptable standard at interview but are not successful in one of the advertised posts may be considered for similar roles within the Business Unit.

The requirements for the role have been benchmarked and these will be used to sift all candidates, with those meeting the minimum requirements invited to interview.  
 
You have 250 words to answer each Behaviour (competency style). 

Interviews will be conducted over Microsoft Teams

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk 

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical.

The role currently being advertised has not been assessed as business critical and is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

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 developed vetting (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

Open to UK nationals only.

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.