About the job

Job summary

The Strategy & Communications, Standards & Oversight Team is part of SAS and contributes to the Government Commercial Function (GCF). The GCF is a network of approximately 4000 Civil Servants with commercial expertise who are responsible for procuring goods and services for the government. They also focus on developing the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in commercial environments.

The Strategy & Communications, Standards & Oversight team is not just a group - we are a dynamic and passionate family of individuals, each bringing a unique skillset to the table. Our shared goal is nothing short of excellence in delivering crucial public services through collaboration with the private and 3rd sectors. This isn't just any opportunity - it's a chance to step into a pivotal role that will assist our senior leaders and government departments shape the very fabric of public sector commercial activity in the UK. Join us on this thrilling journey towards a brighter future for our country.

Job description

Background In February 2019, the Outsourcing Playbook was introduced, presenting 11 key policy reforms aimed at enhancing the manner in which the central government evaluates, acquires, and oversees public services. This initiative was initiated in response to the collapse of Carillion in 2018. To operationalize the Outsourcing Playbook, Ministers agreed upon a multi-year implementation program starting in March 2019. Acknowledging and capitalising on the accomplishments of the Outsourcing Playbook, it was determined that the government should possess an understanding of the risks linked with its most intricate contracts. As a result, the Government Major Contracts Portfolio was established in November 2021. This initiative aims to assist government departments in achieving superior commercial outcomes by furnishing reports on HMG's most intricate and strategically vital contracts. The Approach To achieve this aspiration and enhance transparency, two work-streams were established: Key Performance Indicator (KPI) assurance and the Government Major Contracts Portfolio (GMCP). These teams serve to increase the Government's awareness of potential risks and mitigate failures by promoting early detection and intervention. Additionally, they enable more targeted support for Departments, as well as the dissemination of best practices and lessons learned.  Where are we now After the effective execution of these work-streams, they have been consolidated into a unified GMCP/KPI portfolio, with oversight now under the purview of the Strategy & Communications, Standards & Oversight (SCSO) team. This transition is now operating as standard business protocol. The Post Holder The post holder will play a key role in supporting the effective planning, ongoing management, and implementation of the KPI and GMCP portfolio within the Strategy & Communications, Standards & Oversight team. They will also have line management responsibilities and assist in developing the existing programme. Additionally, they will help evolve the programme success criteria, processes for tracking progress, and capturing programme MI. The post holder will also be responsible for managing the programme governance mechanisms to ensure the continued delivery of the programme's objectives. We value the skills of being able to gather data from multiple sources, working with incomplete information, and identifying trends and patterns to generate valuable insights. The post holder will have the opportunity to assist with improving a cross-government portfolio, for high priority complex outsourced contracts. This is an exciting opportunity to apply best practice learned from the Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP), collaborate with government departments and utilise insights to improve contract performance.  Additionally, they will lead on tracking and realisation of programme benefits, including any dependencies and risks to delivery of these benefits, while driving continuous improvement and streamline internal processes.

Person specification

Responsibilities & Duties

• Assist with GMCP portfolio delivery and management
• Produce portfolio briefing materials such as updates, progress reports and programme MI dashboards to senior stakeholders
• Responsibility for analysis of KPI data from departments and publish internal KPI insights report to key government stakeholders
• Assist with the improvement of the portfolio and all associated processes to identify, track and report on the most difficult, complex and important outsourcing projects across government.
• Lead work on tracking and realisation of programme benefits, including any dependencies and risks to delivery of these benefits.
• Work with the wider team to drive continuous improvement and identify improvements in internal processes.
• Manage and maintain the programme risk register
• Utilise data from various sources to generate valuable insights.

Essential ●      Good understanding of project, programme and portfolio management techniques.      Planning skills - especially the ability to identify and map project inter-dependencies.  ●      Governance implementation, taking minutes, producing board packs etc. ●      Comfortable with ambiguity and able to envisage and develop new processes.  ●      Able to work independently with senior stakeholders to negotiate and agree prioritisation plans.  ●      Analytical skills. Ability to pull data from a variety of sources, ability to work with incomplete data, create trends and themes. ●      Project delivery experience: understanding of finding problems and overcoming them, and how to plan for recovery including direct support of teams until the projects are where they need to be. Additional information: A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £40,850, Cabinet Office contributes £11,029 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.

Application process
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV in the template provided and a Statement of Suitability. Your Statement of Suitability should be used to outline how you meet the essential criteria stated in the advert.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the lead Behaviour, Changing and Improving.

Selection process
Interviews will take place using an online platform where you will be asked questions relating to Success profiles, Strengths and Experience.

Expected timeline (subject to change)
Expected sift date – W/C 22.05.24
Expected interview date/s – W/C 29.05.24
Interview location - Online 

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 cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. 

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.

Further information

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'contact point for applicants' section.

Please note that this role requires SC clearance, which would normally need 5 UK residency in the past 5 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

Any move to Cabinet Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at: https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk.

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.

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 /Disclosure Scotland 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. 

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk 

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. 

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

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 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.