About the job

Job summary

We are looking for a Head of Portfolio Management Office (PMO) to join the Covid Vaccine Unit (CVU). The CVU is a high-performing unit within the UK Health Security Agency, responsible for procuring and supplying COVID-19 vaccines in the right volume, at the right time, and in the right way to protect against the evolving, deadly virus. The CVU is also responsible for the UK-Moderna 10-year strategic partnership, a GMPP programme, which sets the UK up to be more resilient to a future health emergency with onshore mRNA vaccine production facility, whilst also supplying some non-pandemic vaccines and invest over £1bn into UK research and development.

Our approach is to ‘deliver together’ across the multi-disciplinary ‘rainbow’ team (project delivery, policy, commercial, logistics modelers, scientists, clinical, comms) and wider Agency, in an inclusive structure that supports the growth and development of everyone. We also work closely with all our suppliers in this new, fast evolving market and with colleagues right across HMG.

We are seeking applications from a highly motivated and experienced Project Management Professional to lead our Portfolio Management Office, which includes our Business Management Team, who will corral all the projects and business-as-usual activities in the unit. The successful candidate will need to take a Unit and Agency-wide perspective, to enable delivery of our objectives, thus the health outcomes of individuals and the nation. This is a highly challenging and complex programme, but vaccines remain the key to the UK living with COVID, and protecting lives and livelihoods, delivered through the high quality and high impact outcomes of this unit. It’s a mission we are proud of.

This role can be based at one of our UKHSA offices in Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool or London with opportunities for an element of working from home. You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process.
The balance between home and workplace working is to be agreed with the line manager, determined primarily by business needs and in line with departmental policy.

Please note due to the nature of this role all successful candidates must be able to pass SC Clearance.

If you think you might be interested in this role, please do get in touch, I’m always keen to provide more detail on the specifics: chris.minchell@ukhsa.gov.uk.

*Please be aware that this role can only be worked from within the UK and not overseas. Relocation expenses are not available.*

Job description

• Provide effective leadership and line management to the PMO team.
• Lead the PMO in supporting CVU programmes and projects to deliver against the business case, championing the use of UKHSA’s best practice project management standards, frameworks, and processes.
• Support the Senior Leadership Team and Business Manager in business planning, strategy setting and assuring the quarterly agency returns required.
• Work with Finance Business Partners to develop and agree budgets for CVU’s projects and programmes. Forecast costs against agreed budget.
• Support the CVU’s Project Managers with the identification of resources, recruitment, deployment, and reassignment of resources throughout the project lifecycle.
• Provide advice on appropriate tools and techniques for managing stakeholder relationships.
• Establish processes and standards for effectively managing risks and issues.
• Ensure appropriate governance is in place for CVU project and programmes.
• Arrange external assurance reviews at appropriate points in project lifecycles (e.g., Gateway Reviews). Monitor the effectiveness of controls and ensure recommendations from assurance reviews are acted upon.
• Establish and implement processes to change the scope of projects and programmes across the portfolio and update configuration documents as required.
• Establish and manage project and programme controls, reporting on progress and status to appropriate boards and stakeholders.
• Provide direction and guidance to the project and programme teams across the portfolio, identifying common capabilities and opportunities for sharing methods and lessons learned.
• Contribute as an active member of the UKHSA Project Delivery Profession Community. 

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary.

Person specification

It is important through your application and Statement of Suitability of 1000 words that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the following criteria:

• Experience of leading a PMO team or project managing complex projects or programmes with detailed knowledge and experience covering planning, scheduling, resource management, risk and issue management, change control, governance, and assurance.
• Working knowledge of budgeting and cost management, business case development, change and implementation and benefits management in a project or programme environment.
• Detailed knowledge of project methodologies and frameworks.
• A visible leader with experience of promoting diversity, inclusion and equality of opportunity, respecting differences.
• Strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to develop effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, collaborating across boundaries.  
• Ability to work well under pressure, motivating and supporting others to deliver under challenging timescales and with competing priorities.
• Excellent presentation, briefing and drafting skills

Desirable criteria

• Experience of working on a GMPP
• Knowledge and experience of Project Management Methodology supported by professional qualifications such as:PRINCE2 Practitioner, P3O Practitioner, Successful Programmes Practitioner, Agile Project Management Practitioner, APM Project Management Qualification, APM Chartered Project Professional, Project Leadership Programme, APMG International Project Planning and Control Foundation

Benefits

For more information on the UKHSA please visit: UK Health Security Agency - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

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%
• Range of health and wellbeing support

Any move to UKHSA 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 Childcare Choices , 30 Hours Free Childcare, Tax-Free Childcare and More , Help with Costs , GOV.UK

Things you need to know

Selection process details

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT: 

You will be required to complete an application form. This will be assessed in line with the advertised essential criteria – please do provide evidence of how you meet this. 

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to an interview.

STAGE 2 – INTERVIEW 

This competition will involve an interview by video. 

As part of the process, candidates will be invited to interview which will involve an in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification.  Candidates will also be asked to participate in a session where they will be required to prepare and deliver a 5-10 minute presentation to the panel.  This will be followed by a question-and-answer segment.  The presentation will be designed to assess each candidate’s experience in line with the requirements of the role.  Full details will be provided prior to the interview.

The Success Profiles framework will be used to assess and recruit the most suitable candidate.  The following behaviours will be used at the interview:

Behaviours to be assessed:

• Leadership
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace
• Changing and Improving

Technical knowledge to be assessed:

• Project Delivery

Expected Timeline:

Advert close: 23:55hrs on the 21st of January 2024 – unfortunately, late applications will not be considered. Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Shortlist: w/c 22nd of January 2024

Interviews: w/c 9th of February 2024

Please note these dates could be subject to change.  

Eligibility Criteria

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants)

Nationality requirements

Appointments to roles within UKHSA will be made in accordance with the Civil Service nationality rules. These can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• Nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• Certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.

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 welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.

Security clearance level requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.  Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard.  People working with government assets must complete Basic Personnel Security Standard checks.

For posts on UKHSA Civil Service terms and conditions, new entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. For existing Civil Servants and roles advertised across government, the rules of transfer apply, i.e., level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive a 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest. 

Please Note

This role is to be appointed under Civil Service Terms & Conditions. Full details on the T&C’s are found https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

Are you already a civil servant, or employed by a Civil Service Commission accredited public body? Please state home department on your application form.

Do you meet the nationality requirements for this post? https://www.ukhsa.reed.com/

Complaint process: 

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: Complaints1@ukhsa.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website. 

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.