Head of Programme Management
Department for Transport
About the job
Job summary
We recognise the challenges that people with (multiple) protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups, including ethnic minorities, people with a disability, and people with gender diverse identities.
Do you enjoy working with a range of stakeholders?
Do you have project and programme management experience and expertise?
If so, we have an exciting opportunity for a Head of Programme Management to join our team at the Department for Transport (DfT), and we’d love to hear from you.
Job description
The Major Rail Projects Group (MRPG) within DfT brings together two of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in the country – High Speed 2 (HS2), and Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR).
This role sits in the central Programme & Benefits Division, part of the wider Portfolio Management Directorate. Our work, and that of the Directorate, includes many of those functions that support work across the programmes MRPG is responsible for and includes other work streams – such as analysis, funding, public affairs and managing the Group’s extensive financial liabilities around land and property.
We are seeking an experienced project delivery professional to lead the Group’s programme-management support team. This important role will provide key support to the Group’s Senior Leadership Team by providing project planning leadership, driving change planning, and leading our approach to risk, dependencies and lessons insights. The post-holder will support teams to use Group-wide programme management tools, processes and ways of working, working closely with stakeholders across MRPG and the wider Rail community to ensure a coordinated approach to programme management.
You will need to build and maintain strong relationships with colleagues across MRPG and the Department that includes senior officials and requires you working closely with HS2 Ltd.
This is a fantastic chance to build upon your skills and experience and be involved on high, profile projects, having the freedom to lead on new ways of working on the delivery of two major rail programmes.
Responsibilities
These will include but not limited to:
- Leading, developing and managing change planning across all MRPG, as required to meet organisational and programmatic changes.
- Leading, adapting and ensuring the delivery of a high-quality Group Programme Board that meets the needs of the DG and the Senior Leadership Team.
- Lead the delivery of programme management support across the HSRG for integrated planning, risks/issue management, dependency management and lessons aspects.
Integrated planning
- Identifying and collating planning information to form a single shared view of key aspects of programme delivery and programme change, as required to provide the Senior Leadership Team with a common agreed picture.
Risk/issue management
- Ensure that risk and issue management business is fit for purpose and approaches are adequately implemented with HSRG and virtual teams.
Dependency management
- Ensure that new approaches to dependency management are rolled out and are aligned with and supporting of dependency management activity across the wider Rail community.
Lessons management
- Create the conditions, approaches and tools for effective and sustainable lessons management and foster a learning environment within the MRPG, incorporating and aligning with relevant good Knowledge and Information Management (KIM) practice. Ensure alignment with Department wide effort to grow Learning from Experience good practice.
If you would like to find out more about what it's like to work at DfT Rail, please click here.
Person specification
About you
We are looking for an inspiring, assertive, empowering leader, with the ability to work proactively and flexibly across multiple functions and respond quickly to changes in priorities in an organised, inclusive and pragmatic fashion to maintain effective performance.
You will need to enjoy taking the initiative to find solutions to problems and will be confident in providing constructive challenge where necessary to ensure the best outcomes are delivered.
You have excellent communication and interpersonal skills and can effectively build relationships and work collaboratively with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
You will either hold a Project Delivery qualification (such as APM, PMQ or Managing Successful Programmes) at Practitioner level, be working towards a qualification or be willing to work towards the qualification once in role.
Further information
You will have the option to be based in our London office attracting the London salary, or in Leeds or Birmingham attracting the National salary. If based in Leeds or Birmingham, occasional travel to our London office will be required for key meetings and team events.
A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace, although requirements to attend other locations for official business, or carry out detached duty in another DfT workplace, will also count towards this level of attendance. Occasional travel to other DfT offices will be required.
Benefits
Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits. We offer generous annual leave, attractive pension options, flexible working, inclusive working environments and much more to support a healthy work/life balance.
Find out more about what it's like working at the Department for Transport.
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.How to Apply
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a Personal Statement (max 750 words), and a CV, please tailor these to provide evidence of your;
- Project, programme and portfolio management skills with evidence of having championed use of best practice in a programme support environment.
- Experience in senior stakeholder management and brokering consensus on commercial and complex issues.
- Experience of creating, developing and managing specialist cross-cutting teams.
You are also required to provide two Behaviour Statements (max 250 words each) providing evidence for Leadership and Changing & Improving.
The sift is due to take place from 22nd April 2024.
Interviews are likely to be held from 1st May 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.
The selection process will be designed specifically for the role. As a result, your assessment will include:
- An interview.
- A presentation (details provided with sift results).
This interview could be conducted online via Teams or face to face at one of our offices. Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.
You’re encouraged to become familiar with the role profile, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within.
The Department for Transport alongside other Government Departments recruit using Success Profiles. This means for each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate in order to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.
Reasonable Adjustments
As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Document Accessibility
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you cannot access the information on our website for any reason, please email DRGComms@dft.gov.uk for assistance.
Further Information
For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit the How We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.
Pre-employment Checking
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.
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
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.