About the job

Job summary

The UK is a global hub for advanced manufacturing, with the fastest manufacturing productivity growth in the G7 between 2010-202 and in 2021 became the world’s 8th largest manufacturing nation. The Advanced Manufacturing team supports businesses across a range of manufacturing sectors to maximise their economic contribution and ensure that UK manufacturing is competitive, innovative and resilient. To achieve these objectives we work with a broad range of stakeholders including businesses and their representative bodies, delivery bodies (such as UKRI, the Catapults and those in local government) and across Whitehall.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of UK manufacturing through the delivery of Made Smarter programme - the government’s highly successful industrial digitalisation initiative to increase the development and adoption of industrial digital technologies, from 3D printing to the use of artificial intelligence.

The primary objective of the role will be to deliver the Made Smarter Adoption programme across 5 English regions, to expand the programme to remaining English regions from 2025, and potentially across the UK from 2026. The Adoption programme delivers tailored advice and grant support to SME manufacturers to start or accelerate their digital journey. There is a strong track record to build on from an initial pilot programme.

You will be responsible for the ensuring the successful delivery of the programme to secure the benefits of industrial digital technology including increased productivity, resilience, international competitiveness and the shift to clean growth. This is a complex and challenging role, and we are looking for an excellent team player who can help steer the different elements of the programme and work with stakeholders across Whitehall, industry and local government, to take Made Smarter to the next level.

The Directorate is supported by a number of specialists which will offer you the opportunity to work in a dynamic cross-functional team. We also work closely with local partners, for example with Mayoral Combined Authorities and their delivery bodies.

The Directorate operates a flexible resourcing model, as a result, roles and responsibilities can vary over time as priorities change.

Job description

The successful candidate will lead the delivery of the Made Smarter Adoption programme.

Responsibilities are expected to include:

• Day to day programme management and effective delivery across 5 English regions to agreed outcomes, within time, cost and quality constraints. This will include planning for and then delivering expansion of the programme.
• Leading the monitoring of data reporting from the regions, working with analysts to ensure the data provided is consistent, accurate and timely.
• Leading on knowledge-sharing on implementation, and associated reporting, across the regions and across the programme, including through the programme governance structures.
• Identify opportunities for standardisation of the programme's delivery model to enable efficiencies and support the expansion of the programme.
• Identify, monitor, actively manage and report the programme's risks and issues, developing mitigating actions with policy leads and escalating as appropriate.
•  Joining up with regions that do not receive core Made Smarter funding to understand the potential opportunities for alignment and shared-learning on support for SME manufacturers.
• Contributing to the work of the rest of team and Directorate as needed including new areas of policy development and external engagement.

Location

The role will be based in either Darlington, London, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast, Salford, Birmingham. You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process. Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. If your office location is London, you will be eligible to receive London weighting.  Appointments will be made to candidates in merit order based on location preferences.  

Person specification

Desirable Criteria:

• You will ideally be a Project Delivery Professional with proven experience and understanding of portfolio and programme management, with an understanding of benefits realisation and project delivery.
• You will bring strong delivery experience and be able to work at pace in changeable environments. And be able to apply best practice to enable successful delivery. 
• You will have excellent stakeholder management skills, and the ability to build close, trusting relationships with a variety of stakeholders across Whitehall and externally, as well as bringing experience of working with senior officials.
• You will have strong team leadership and management skills, including in building the wider team's capability, inspiring and empowering others to perform whilst ensuring resilience and opportunities for development are created.
• You will be able to work flexibly, to balance competing priorities and the ability to work with autonomy.
• Qualifications: It will be desirable for candidates to hold one or more of the following qualifications: PRINCE2 Practitioner, Agile Project Management Practitioner, APM Qualification (Practitioner-level), APM Chartered Project Professional,  PMI Project Management Professional, Managing Successful Programmes.

An interest in industry, manufacturing and/or innovation would help, but it is not essential as there will opportunities and support to build your knowledge and understanding.

Personal Attributes & Skills

• You will need to be confident and happy to work at pace.
• You will be prepared to challenge and lead where you see opportunities for improvement.
• You will be strategic, keeping in mind the bigger policy, economic and political picture as you deliver, and staying outcome-focused.
• You will be collaborative, working effectively and openly with the rest of the team, and the programme’s delivery partners.
• You will be thorough, paying close attention to the detail.
• You will be curious, innovative, and looking for a role that will stretch you.

Qualifications

It would be desirable for candidates to hold one or more of the following qualifications:

PRINCE2 Practitioner, Agile Project Management Practitioner, APM Qualification (Practitioner-level), APM Chartered Project Professional,
PMI Project Management Professional, Managing Successful Programmes.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £53,560, Department for Business and Trade contributes £14,461 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, Experience and Technical skills.

Interviews for this vacancy will be conducted virtually. We will, however, consider in-person interviews by exception.

Please ensure that you check your emails regularly as all updates from us will be sent to you this way.

To apply for this post, you will be asked to complete the following as part of the online application:  

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Provide employment history that relates to the essential criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 2 x A4 pages.
• A Personal Statement explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the essential criteria. In your Personal Statement, please explain your motivation for applying for this role and the extent to which you satisfy the essential and desirable requirements of the role. Maximum word count of

It is likely that the sift will take place 1-2 weeks after the closing date and interviews 3-5 weeks after the closing date though this is subject to change.

In the event of a large number of applicants, an initial short sift will be conducted on the CV. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.  

Reasonable Adjustments

We are committed to supporting candidates so they can perform at their best throughout the recruitment process. This includes making reasonable adjustments to our process. In order to request an adjustment:

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section on the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process.

Alternatively contact the Government Recruitment Service dbtrecruitment.grs@businessandtrade.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Candidate Support:

You may want to join a virtual Candidate Support Session. These sessions include helpful tips and advice on the recruitment process, from application to interview.  

Please see attached Candidate Pack for further information on: Diversity and Inclusion; Benefits; Learning and Development; Working Patterns and what we deliver as a department.

Further Information:

• A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made. Reserve Lists will be for each location and appointments made in merit order based on location preferences.   
• Any move to the Department for Business and Trade from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments.
• The Department will not consider sponsoring a visa or issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship. We are unable to offer advice on any Visa and Immigration cases.  
• 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. Any applicant who has 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.  
• Terms and Conditions are attached.  Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
• Please note – the successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 18 months before being released for another role.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service /Disclosure Scotland/Access NI 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 the Access NI confidential checking service telephone: the Access NI Helpline on 0300 200 7888 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email accessni@ani.x.gsi.gov.uk 

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. 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.