About the job

Job summary

We’re Ofwat, the Water Services Regulation Authority, responsible for regulating water and wastewater services in England and Wales. Our role is to help the sector build trust and confidence with customers, the environment and wider society: keeping water flowing, bills affordable and helping ensure the health of our rivers and waterways. We push hard to improve day-to-day water company performance for customers, including on leakage, sewer flooding and customer service.

We drive the sector to take a longer-term view and to take steps now to protect and enhance the environment, using digital and data innovations and making sure our water supplies are secure for future generations. Through our five yearly price reviews we oversee billions of pounds of investment into the water sector across England and Wales.

You can find out more about Ofwat, our Values and our Framework for Success in the attached Information for Candidates Pack. 

We are looking for a Portfolio & Project Management Specialist to join our Portfolio and Project Management team within the Office of The Chief Executive Directorate at Ofwat.

The Portfolio and Project Management profession (PPM) at Ofwat has a key role in optimising the use of our valuable resources and our ability to achieve Ofwat's strategic goals. Our governance framework upholds robust analysis and decision making, ensuring Ofwat's reputation remains strong.

You can find more information about the PPM team's responsibilities in the attached Candidate Information pack.

Job description

Key deliverables:

As a Senior Associate, you will be expected to support the Principal PPM in the 
following areas: 

• Planning - Provide support on the development of plans that will ensure Directorate objectives are met. Implement and maintain appropriate systems to enable effective planning and scheduling and maintain Directorate planning, capturing assumptions and identifying dependencies.
• Governance & Reporting - Utilise Ofwat's Governance Framework and reporting regime. Support reporting for the Directorate and wider Senior Leadership Team and provide analysis of performance at Directorate level for review. Support the timely and accurate reporting of integrated assurance plans and milestones to support Directorate / Board level assurance activities.
• Risk Management - Implement the system for facilitating the identification, analysis and monitoring of risks and issues. Produce periodic and ad-hoc risk and issues reports and undertake risk analysis in accordance with our strategic risk management strategy. Maintain Directorate risk register.
• Stakeholder Management - Identify and manage stakeholder relationships and highlight need for senior level support. Manage Ofwat and external relationships as appropriate.
• Workforce Planning - Assist with workforce planning, providing information for effective decision making.
• Budgetary Monitoring - Monitor Directorate spend and contribute to the compilation of budgets and the development of business cases where necessary.
• Assurance - Ensure Directorate activity has appropriate levels of assurance for the complexity of the work undertaken.
• Dependencies - Maintain Directorate dependencies and build dependency management into the Directorate's governance cycle.
• Benefits Management – Help in the establishment of a benefits management strategy taking into account the wider organisation strategy and objectives.
• PPM Team development - Provide advice on planning / governance processes. Help and support the wider PPM team and actively support the development of the PPM profession be active in helping to develop across Ofwat.
• Administrative - Ensure Directorate / governance tasks are carried out efficiently.

Your role will be pivotal in evolving the PPM team, contributing to both team success and the achievement of Ofwat's strategic objectives.

Person specification

To be successful in this role you will need the below essential attributes, experience, skills and knowledge:

Experience, skills and knowledge 

• LEAD CRITERION: Previous project management experience - knowledge of 
  project management methodologies, governance frameworks and best 
  practices
• Analytical skills - Ability to analyse complex information and ideas and use 
  multiple sources of information to create meaningful solutions.
• Resource management experience - ability to balance and optimise resource 
  investments across multiple directorates or projects.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills- ability to manage relationships and 
  collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to influence decisions with both 
  internal and external stakeholders.
• Risk management experience - experience in identifying, analysing and 
  mitigating risks to ensure successful outcomes.
• Problem solving skills - proactive approach in identifying and addressing 
  potential issues.
• Ability to proactively and independently engage with strategic goals and 
  contribute to their delivery.

Attributes 

• You can deliver outcomes
• You can create clarity
• You can make relationships count
• You are an adaptable thinker
• You are a committed learner

Attributes as per Ofwat's Framework for Success for Senior Associate Band. You can read more about Attributes here.

Benefits

Why You Should Join Us: 

We are forward-thinking, creative, innovative and ambitious. We actively encourage autonomy, collaboration and innovation and we have a unique culture fostered by trust, flexibility and respect.

We strive to ensure our people feel connected and valued, where their voice matters. You will be provided with the space and support to shape your future while taking greater control of your own growth and development.

You will also benefit from:

• Excellent employer pension contributions, for this role ranging from £10,004 to 
  £15,248. You can find further details about pension schemes under Terms and Conditions in the Candidate Pack.
• 25 days’ annual leave (increasing to 30 with each year of service) plus bank holidays 
  and an extra 2.5 days of privilege leave.
• Access to exclusive discounts on a variety of goods and services, including retail 
  outlets, theatre tickets, holidays, insurance, and a gym membership.
• Flexible working arrangements that suit your lifestyle.
• Fees paid for membership of relevant professional bodies.
• Up to 3 volunteering days per year.
• Generous shared parental leave and pay.
• Enhanced sick pay.
• Free eye tests and contribution to lenses/spectacles for VDU users.
• Regular development opportunities.
• Health and wellbeing initiatives.
• Season ticket loan for home-to-office travel.
• Cycle-to-work scheme.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

How to apply

Apply through the Civil Service Jobs website where you’ll be asked to create an account and complete an application form (CV and personal statement). If you’re unable to make an electronic application, please contact recruitment@ofwat.gov.uk and we will support you in completing your application.

Please ensure you have submitted your application in full ahead of the deadline listed below. Unfortunately, we won't be able to consider late applications.

Selection timetable

• Closing date: 17 December 2023 at 23:55
• Sifting: Week commencing 18 December 2023
• Interview date(s): Week commencing 8 January 2024

Assessment process

Sift Stage

At sift stage we assess your application against key essential skills, experience, and knowledge, listed in the professional requirements section above. 

In your application, please state clearly how your skills, experience, and knowledge meet the essential criteria.

In the event of receiving a large number of applications, a pre-sift may take place on just the following lead criterion: Previous project management experience – knowledge of project management methodologies, governance frameworks and best practices.

In your personal statement, please address the lead criterion and tell us more about your previous project management experience.

You may find the STAR method useful in structuring your personal statement. 

Interview Stage

We will assess your Experience, Skills and Knowledge as well as Attributes (set out in the professional requirements section) at Interview Stage.

You can read more about Attributes in Ofwat’s Framework for Success.

As part of the interview process, we may require a short presentation. Further details will be provided to shortlisted candidates upon invitation to interview.

Please note that the interviews will be conducted via video conferencing software such as Microsoft Teams.

If you have any queries about any aspect of this role, selection process, or you require any reasonable adjustments please email recruitment@ofwat.gov.uk.

Please read the attached "Candidate Information Pack" for details on terms and conditions.

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.