About the job

Job summary

These positions are based Nationally

Job description

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) priorities include improving public safety and reducing reoffending by reforming prisons, probation and youth justice, and building a justice system which makes access to justice swifter and more certain for all citizens whatever their background. Project professionals in the MoJ help to improve the government’s ability to protect the public and reduce reoffending, and to provide a more effective, transparent and responsive criminal justice system for victims and the public. PMO’s in the MoJ are central to the delivery of the Secretary of State’s priorities. These opportunities provide a unique chance to be at the forefront of leading and implementing significant projects across the MoJ. 

As Head of PMO, you will define and maintain the standards for project management within your team. This includes the implementation and sharing of best practice as well as the development and application of project procedures, tools and techniques. You will provide guidance, support and insight on the project, and acts as a source of project information and metrics. You will have effective leadership, interpersonal and communication skills.  Successful candidates are expected to commit to the role for a minimum of 18 months.

MoJ expects its leaders to show openness, honesty and commitment, and, of course, to deliver results.

Key responsibilities of the role

These may be further shaped and adjusted dependent on business needs and team resources / skills.

• Delivery & Leadership – Lead the PMO to support the project in the delivery of Business Case benefits and outcomes.
• Business Case – Support the Project Manager in the development of Business Case with input from specialists as necessary.
• Budget – Develop and agree budgets for projects and/or programmes and forecast actual costs against them.
• Resources – Manage the PMO team and support the Project Manager in the identification, recruitment, development, deployment and reassignment of resources throughout the project lifecycle.
• Stakeholder Management – Advise the project team on appropriate tools and techniques for managing stakeholder relationships. Provide assurance to the project manager on the effectiveness of stakeholder management arrangements.
• Risks & Issues – Establish the project processes and standards for managing risks and issues. Provide assurance to the project manager on the effectiveness of Risk and Issue management arrangements.
• Governance & Assurance – Ensure appropriate governance is in place and arrange external reviews e.g. Gateway Reviews at appropriate points in the project lifecycle. Monitor the effectiveness of controls and ensure that recommendations from external reviews are acted upon.
• Change Management – Establish and implement protocols to change the scope of projects and/or programmes and update configuration documents as required.
• Project Performance & Controls – Establish and operate project controls on behalf of the project manager, reporting on project progress and status to appropriate bodies.
• Guidance & Support – Identify, develop and share best practice project management processes, tools and templates. Provides direction and guidance to the project team.
• Line Management – There will be line management of Project Delivery Professional(s) within the Professional Delivery Group as part of this role, including the management of direct report’s HR and well-being, development with a focus on coaching and mentoring, ensuring quality and standards of PPM are upheld.

Location & Terms of appointment

This post is advertised nationally but frequent travel will be required to locations where our Major Projects are based.

Your base office location at an MoJ HQ site, Justice Collaboration Centre, or Justice Satellite Office will be discussed if successful, as we do not offer home working contracts. All available sites can be found on this link.

Following the return to offices initiative any MoJ employee based in a MoJ building should be attending the office a minimum of two days a week. Typically, this will be at your base office location at an MoJ HQ site, Justice Collaboration Centre, or Justice Satellite Office. If you are required to travel to another office or site with your project/programme, this will be classed as a day’s office attendance. 

Salary & Grade

Band B (SEO)

New entrants to the Civil Service will be expected to join on the minimum of the pay range and this is non-negotiable.

Existing Civil Servants will have their salary calculated in accordance with the Department’s pay on transfer / pay on promotion rules.

Find Out More - Webinar

We will be holding find out more webinar session for all potential candidates to come and ask questions regarding the role. This will be held on;

• Thursday 23rd November – Register here
• Thursday 14th December – Register here
• Tuesday 23rd January – Register here

Selection and Recruitment Process

As this is a 3-month rolling recruitment campaign, various sift/interview dates will be scheduled across the 3 months.

Where high volumes of applications are received the initial sift will be completed against the lead competency. If your application progresses to a full sift, all competencies will then be considered. Feedback is not available for those not invited to interview.

Merit List of successful candidates based on location will be retained after this campaign for 12 months.

Application Process

You will be required to complete an application form providing evidence of how you meet the Project Delivery Competencies as per the Project Delivery Capability Framework.

Details on the PDCF can be found on the Infrastructure and Projects Authority pages

Successful candidates will then be invited for interview and the interviews will take place in person at an MoJ HQ site, Justice Collaboration Centre, or Justice Satellite Office as stated in the invitation to interview.

The interview will consist of Project Delivery competency and strength-based questions in line with success profiles.

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £39,868, Ministry of Justice contributes £10,804 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 Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

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.