About the job

Job summary

The Cabinet Office is looking for a qualified programme management lead to join a team of programme, functional and technical specialists working together to deliver MYCO - a new HR, finance and procurement system and service for the Cabinet Office. 

MYCO is the Cabinet Office department workstream of Matrix, a major, overarching transformation programme for nine government departments working together to deliver simpler, user focused systems, processes, and ways of working for HR, finance and procurement. 

Matrix will deliver the UK Government's three main objectives for shared services:

• Better experience for all users - intuitive systems that are easy to use and mobile-enabled.
• Efficiency and value for money - better systems and services which support productivity and seek to reduce costs.
• Standardised processes and data. 

As part of Matrix, MyCO will deliver these objectives for the Cabinet Office and is accountable to the Chief Operating Officer and Cabinet Office ministers. 

The role

This role is aligned to the Civil Service Project Delivery Capability Framework (PCDF) career pathway Programme Manager 3 you can find more information about the PCDF here (PCDF) or search project delivery capability framework on the gov.uk homepage.

This is a leadership role in the MYCO programme team reporting to the Programme Director. You will lead the team in developing robust programme management disciplines and lead the MYCO relationship with Matrix and suppliers to oversee delivery of project outputs and realisation of programme benefits for the Cabinet Office. 

You will have strong organisational skills, be able to establish clear programme structures to deliver quality outputs, and work effectively in a complex governance structure. 

Building and managing relationships with Matrix programme and departmental senior stakeholders is vital for the success of the MYCO programme. 

You will use your judgement and skill to drive the programme forward managing risks and challenges arising from MYCO and Matrix delivery.

You will manage a small programme management team (PMO) of both civil servants and contractors.

The MYCO team

The team is friendly and open, we work collaboratively and inclusively across teams, playing to strengths and supporting colleagues. We have a culture where everyone can thrive and we embrace diversity in all forms. 

Job description

Key responsibilities 

The role involves, but is not limited to:

• Leadership: be an active and visible member of the MyCO senior management team to ensure the team is supported and that employee wellbeing remains a key focus.
• Alignment and oversight of delivery plans: Responsibility for the overall MyCO delivery plan; working with project leads to ensure priority objectives are clear and key milestones are being delivered to plan.
• Dependency Management: Work with project leads and colleagues across Corporate Services to ensure dependencies are actively managed, act as an arbiter and resolve issues between the various elements of the programme.
• Guidance: Provide direction and guidance on development of programmatic ways of working to team and more broadly across departmental professions.
• Risks & Issues:Manage and understand a range of varied problems that require working across organisational boundaries, identifying risk mitigation and solutions to requirements.
• Benefits realisation: Ensure realisation of benefits for the department through planning and designing and ensure that project outputs meet programme requirements.
• Programme Performance & Controls: Maintain overall integrity and coherence of programme and governance framework to support each project. Plan programme assurance activities and help support key activities such as gateway reviews, spending review, and business planning.
• Planning: Regular review of  the fundamental components of the programme in terms of its scope, deliverables, time scales, resource requirements and budget to ensure optimal delivery.
• Governance: Clearly define roles, responsibilities and accountability and establish controls and approval routes appropriate to each stage of the programme to monitor progress and compliance, lead Cabinet Office input to the next iteration of the Matrix programme business case.
• Representation: Deputise for the departmental lead where required, ensure Cabinet Office views on shared services are accurately represented.
• Resource Management: secure resources and direct planning scheduling, resourcing and estimating for complex, high value/risk and large-scale programmes.
• Line Management: Provide appropriate direction, support  and guidance for the  MyCO PMO team. Compliance with Cabinet Office HR policies and processes for line managers.

Person specification

Essential 

Experience of leading complex projects and programmes with a strong grounding in project and programme management is essential for this role.

Does this sound like the role for you? We would love to hear from you if can demonstrate:

• The ability to establish and develop productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders, bringing people together to benefit the project.
• The ability to influence, change and impact decisions with both internal and external stakeholders.
• The ability to lead programme planning, governance and risks and issues independently.
• Experience in engaging, motivating and mentoring colleagues, acting as a role model to inspire and empower others.
• Excellent leadership skills in a programme environment
• Experience of senior stakeholder engagement within a complex delivery environment.

Qualifications

The following qualifications/skills are essential to the role and proof will be required at interview:

(It is Essential to hold at least one of the following qualifications, and Desirable to hold more than one)

• Managing Successful Programmes Practitioner
• PRINCE2 Practitioner
• Managing Successful Programmes Advanced Practitioner
• P3O Practitioner
• APM Registered Project Professional
• Project Leadership Programme

Please ensure the dates of any accreditation you are relying on, are entered on to the CV.  Should you progress to the assessment stage of the process, you will be required to provide evidence of the qualification.

Failure to provide evidence at interview may result in your application not progressing to the next stage.

Desirable

Experience of business analysis and / or designing shared services such as finance, HR and procurement would be advantageous but not essential.

Additional information:

A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £64,700, Cabinet Office contributes £17,469 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 Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Application process

To apply you will need to complete a CV and personal statement (not more than 750 words) for assessing your Experience.

We want you to demonstrate the essential criteria in the best way possible. To help, there's information on the application process. Including what Civil Service Success Profiles are, and how to write your CV / personal statement. And attached below is guidance with further tips.

Your personal statement will be assessed based on your experience in relation to its applicability of this role. The experience indicators being assessed are:

• The ability to influence, change and impact decisions with both internal and external stakeholders.
• The ability to lead programme planning, governance and risks and issues independently.
• Experience in engaging, motivating and mentoring colleagues, acting as a role model to inspire and empower others.
• Excellent leadership skills in a programme environment
• Experience of senior stakeholder engagement within a complex delivery environment.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the CV only.

Selection process

If successful at the sifting stage,You will then be asked to attend an interview in order to have a more in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence.The interview process will include a presentation.

Prior to the interview you’ll be sent details of a role related task to submit in advance for the Technical assessment.

Full details of the assessment process will be made available to shortlisted candidates.

Expected timeline (subject to change)
Expected sift date – 15/03/2024
Expected interview date/s – W/C 25/03/2024
Interview location - Virtual via video conferencing.

Any move to Cabinet 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  

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put 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 cabinetofficerecruitment.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 successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service /Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading. 

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

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. 

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.

Security clearance

Please note that this role requires SC clearance, which would normally need 5 years UK residency in the past 5 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

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

Further information

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 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

Open to UK nationals only.

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.