About the job

Job summary

Are you an innovative individual with significant programme management experience?

Do you have outstanding interpersonal and stakeholder management skills?

Would you embrace the opportunity to manage a portfolio of projects, adding value and helping to deliver MCA’s strategic objectives and improve the agency’s services.
  
If so, we are looking for a Head of Programme Management Office to join us at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and we'd love to hear from you!

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) implements the government’s maritime safety policy in the United Kingdom and works to prevent the loss of life and occurrence of pollution on the coast and at sea.

Safer lives. Safer Ships. Cleaner Seas.   

Our vision is to be a world-leading organisation, accelerating the transition to sustainable shipping with non-negotiable safety standards. We put our people, our customers and our planet at the heart of everything we do.  

We welcome applications from all communities, and we don’t discriminate against any identity. We’re interested to hear from you, regardless of your background.   

Job description

The Enterprise Programme Management Office (EPMO) are responsible for managing MCA’s portfolio of projects and programmes as required to achieve MCA’s strategic objectives and Business Plan. Further to this the EPMO are responsible for defining and maintaining the standards for project and programme management within MCA. This includes the implementation and sharing of best practice as well as the development and application of project procedures, tools and techniques in order to standardise methodologies and realise economies.

The Head of Enterprise Programme Management Office has overall responsibility for the work of MCA’s EPMO function. They will be required to develop and continuously improve a suite of EPMO services for internal customers. They will work with MCA Project Managers, Sponsors and other directorate PMO teams to support the successful delivery of MCA’s portfolio of projects and programmes. The post holder will provide expert guidance, support and insight on project management, and support the development of MCA’s project information and metrics.

The role holder will be working across multiple programmes with a range of diverse stakeholders. They will collaborate with colleagues across the MCA to provide strategic analysis and insight on performance at portfolio level for review of MCA Executive Team.

This is an exciting opportunity to work on a dynamic programme, in a fast paced environment where you will be heavily involved in establishing the EPMO and how it works. You will experience exposure to stakeholders of all grades, including working with executive directors to support them. In addition you will have the autonomy to lead change, establish new ways of working and add value to the agency’s strategic goals. 

Your responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Oversee MCA’s strategic project pipeline, working with business areas to identify and define new projects, providing regular updates to MCA’s Executive to prioritise and agree any additions to MCA’s portfolio.
• Oversee MCA’s portfolio delivery map to monitor project progress. Ensuring that any interdependencies across change projects are understood and the associated risks managed appropriately.
• Oversee a clear project governance framework and reporting regime aligned to the Government Functional Project Delivery Standard and wider Project Portfolio Management (PPM) best practice.
• Provide strategic analysis and insight on performance at portfolio level for review of MCA Executive Team.
• Support Project Managers and directorate PMO teams to 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.

For further information about the role and responsibilities, please see the attached role profile.

Person specification

About You 

To be successful in this role you will need to be a qualified Project Management practitioner (APM PMQ, PRINCE2 or equivalent).

You will have experience of managing a PMO team, or experience as a programme/project manager on large programmes/projects. You will have the ability to think strategically and ensure continuous improvement of project management processes, utilising your knowledge and past experiences to introduce new ways of working.

A strong understanding of government governance processes and knowledge of project and programme controls will be a strength of yours. You will drive innovation and introduce the latest ideas, taking responsibility for building capability and professional development.

You will be a natural leader, with excellent managements skills. You can articulate and confidently communicate effectively whilst engaging with a diverse range of contacts, utilising your interpersonal skills to develop positive working relationships, but also have the ability to be persuasive when required.

Additional Information 

This role will be based in the Southampton HQ.  MCA supports flexible working and operates a hybrid working model between home and office for this role, giving you greater flexibility over where and when you work.  

The expectation is that you will spend a minimum 60% of your working time based at your principal workplace or out on official business. Details of the arrangement will be discussed further with your line manager. 

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. 

Click here to get a copy of the MCA Staff Benefits Brochure   

Find out what it's like to work at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency

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   

CV and Personal Statement: 

Within your CV and Personal Statement please demonstrate how you meet the following criteria, and the related knowledge and experience:

• Qualified Project Management practitioner and experience as a project delivery professional.
• Proven track record in portfolio, programme or project management.
• Working knowledge of project and programme controls and understanding of related government governance processes.
• Strong people leadership and management skills.

Your personal statement will be limited to a maximum of 1,250 words.  

It is essential when submitting your personal statement that you provide as much detail as possible, and utilise the full word count given, against the essential criteria outlined above as this will be used in conjunction with your CV to assess candidate suitability to move to the next round in the recruitment process.   

Sift and Interview Dates: 

The sift is due to take place on 15th and 16th January 2024.

Interviews/assessments are likely to be held from w/c 29th January 2024.

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.  

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.

You’re encouraged to become familiar with the role profile, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

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

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.