About the job

Job summary

The Home Office is here to make our country safer. As well as working to protect the most vulnerable, reduce crime and enforce the law, we also work to, and have a proud history of, providing refuge to those who have been displaced or are seeking asylum. Whether it is fighting crime, protecting our borders or combating slavery, the Home Office (HO) is at the cutting edge of public policy in this country and our work is some of the most challenging and rewarding in government.

The role of the Public Safety Group, which sits within the HO, is to keep the public safe by protecting the vulnerable, cutting crime, disrupting the highest harm criminals, and ensuring that our police, fire and rescue services are as trusted, efficient and effective as they can be in delivering front line public services. 

The people in our Group develop and implement policy, provide funding, and deliver legislation. We make the most of innovation, data, and partnerships to protect the vulnerable, prevent crime, and tackle the highest harm crimes. We work with our partners in law enforcement, establishing governance arrangements at a national, regional, and local level.

Job description

Britain’s emergency services work 24/7 to serve the public in some of the most dangerous and challenging situations. To help them do their job even better, the Emergency Services Mobile Communication Programme (ESMCP) is creating the next generation mobile communications network, including secure and resilient voice and broadband data services, which will be used by thousands of front-line police officers, paramedics and fire-fighters.

This new Emergency Services Network (ESN) will transform how our blue-light services respond to incidents, offering better mobile coverage, leading to faster response times. ESN will allow emergency service professionals to work together more efficiently and effectively when incidents and accidents occur by sharing data across the new digital network. The new network is dynamic and can take advantage of new technology as it develops, making sure that those doing the vital job of protecting the public and saving lives get the best and most modern communications tools available.

ESMCP is a pan-government, cross departmental, programme based within the Home Office. The programme has representation from the emergency services at both operational and departmental levels and has close working involvement from the suppliers of the ESN technology.  This is an exciting programme, delivering cutting edge technology which will directly impact people’s lives.

As Head of Coverage Enhancements working on ESMCP, you will be responsible for ensuring the successful delivery of ESN Coverage enhancement projects which form the backbone of the Emergency Services Network. You will build an effective working relationship with your suppliers and collaborate with the Programme’s technical and commercial teams to agree plans, designs, manage risks and issues, assumptions, and dependencies. 

You will have experience of delivering complex technical projects on time and to quality, managing major suppliers to ensure they deliver their commitments, collaborating with others to deliver outcomes together, engaging senior stakeholders and taking personal ownership of risks and issues to overcome challenges and deliver outcomes. 

It is required that all people working on ESMCP perform their roles according to the overarching principles and ways of working with suppliers and customers, and in line with the collaborative behaviours framework.

Occasional travel between offices and user premises will be expected, as required by the business. The cost of this travel will be met by the business area.

This role is available on a Full-Time basis as well as Compressed Hours. Requests for part-time working will be considered on an individual basis.

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 an office, subject to local estates capacity. 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 post holder will report to the Coverage Deputy Director on the Programme. They will have a proven track record of leading multidiscipline teams within a technology environment. Role will include leading on delivery plans, risk assessments, estimation of cost and resource requirements and agreement of these plans with supply partners.

They will be accountable for their own work and have responsibility to:

• Manage Technical Delivery workstream(s), comprising the technical and service components that contribute to the scope.

• Own technical and service component delivery plan(s).

• Monitor and report on workstream(s) progress.

• Align technical and service delivery to Technical Design Authority (TDA) standards.

• Manage Authority delivery, risks, issues, and dependencies in relation to workstream scope.

• Work with suppliers to manage supplier delivery, risks, issues, and dependencies in respect of workstream scope.

• Ensure the necessary business processes are followed and participate in the governance of the service, including acting as a point of escalation for the delivery teams.

• Escalate to the Deputy Director or Programme Manager where necessary.

• Build and maintain a motivated team, making sure there is an iterative plan to work towards.

Essential criteria

• Demonstrable experience of planning and delivering complex projects for mission critical uses, including the development of plans, risk assessment, estimation of cost and resource requirements and agreement of these plans with governance bodies.

• Experience in telecommunications and the ability to build a detailed understanding of the activities required to deliver.

• The ability to build effective working relationships in a complex multi-stakeholder environment and demonstrable experience of delivering technology projects successfully in such environments.

• Experience of working with and managing diverse suppliers.

• Knowledge of appropriate standards, procedures, guidance, tools and techniques necessary to co-ordinate and deliver projects in a Programme environment.

• PRINCE2 / MSP practitioner or an equivalent qualification in a project / programme management methodology.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of planning and delivering enablers for national scale mobile network communications projects, including the development of plans, risk assessment, estimation of cost and resource requirements and / or working with suppliers to deliver new mobile networks.

• Experience of working in or with Emergency Services organisations, or Cat 1 or 2 emergency responders.

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

Things you need to know

Selection process details

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

This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

As part of the application, you will be asked to complete:

• A CV (job history / qualifications / skills)
• Statement of Suitability (Personal statement) (1000 words maximum)

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

The Statement of Suitability must be aligned to demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria as detailed in the job advertisement.

The sift will be based on the Statement of Suitability and your CV.

In an event where a high volume of applications are received, an initial sift will take place using the Statement of Suitability. Candidates who pass the initial sift will be either progressed to a full sift or straight to interview.

Successful candidates shortlisted for interview will be tested on a blended approach of Strength based questions (no preparation necessary) and the four behaviours listed in the advert.

Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. All applications are screened for plagiarism and copying and generating of examples/answers from internet sources including Artificial Intelligence. If any is detected the application may be withdrawn from the process. Further action, including disciplinary action, may be considered in such cases involving civil servants. Providing false or misleading information would be contrary to the core values of honesty and integrity expected of all Civil Servants.

Sift and Interview Dates

The sift will take place from week commencing 27th May 2024

Interviews will take place from week commencing 17th June 2024

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.

Interviews will be conducted in-person and these will take place in London. Further details will be provided closer to the interview dates.

Further Information

For meaningful checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time to enable appropriate checks to be carried out and produce a result which provides the required level of assurance. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years if the role requires CTC clearance, 5 years for SC clearance and 10 years for DV.  A lack of UK residency in itself is not necessarily a bar to a security clearance and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

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

A location-based reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Should another role become available within that period you may be offered this position in merit order.  

When completing your application you will have the opportunity to select your preferred location(s). Please ensure you select all locations you are interested in. Candidates who are successful at Interview will be placed in order of merit per location and provisional job offers will be made in strict merit order per location preference. Provisional offers are made, as they are on condition that you successfully pass all pre-employment checks.

We often have similar roles available at different grades. If a candidate is suitable for a similar role or a lower grade than they have applied for, we may offer the candidate that role without the need for them to go through a further selection process.

Please note: The successful candidate will be required to hold or be willing to secure Security Check (SC) clearance.

Individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time to enable appropriate checks to be carried out and produce a result which provides the required level of assurance. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for 3 years if the role requires CTC clearance, 5 years for SC clearance and 10 years for DV. A lack of UK residency in itself is not necessarily a bar to a security clearance and applicants should contact the vacancy holder/recruiting manager listed in the advert for further advice.

Every day, Home Office civil servants do brilliant work to develop and deliver policies and services that affect the lives of people across the country and beyond. To do this effectively and fairly, the Home Office is committed to representing modern Britain in all its diversity, and creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people are able to bring their whole selves to work and perform at their best.

We are flexible, skilled, professional and diverse. We work to recruit and retain disabled staff and area Disability Confident Leader. We are proud to be one of the most ethnically diverse departments in the civil service. We are a Social Mobility Foundation top 75 employer.

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.

For further information please see the attached notes for candidates which must be read before making an application.

Existing Civil Servants should note that some of the Home Office terms and conditions of employment have changed. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the Terms and Conditions they will adopt should they be successful in application and should refer to the notes for candidates for further details.

Transfer Terms: Voluntary.

If you are invited to an interview you will be required to  bring a range of documentation for the purposes of establishing identity and to aid any pre-employment checks.

Please see the attached list of Home Office acceptable ID documents.

Any move to the Home 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 

Reasonable Adjustments

If a person with disabilities is 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 HOrecruitment.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

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

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.