About the job

Job summary

Want a chance to shape and support project delivery within the Government’s business and international trade agenda? Then this is your opportunity to be part of a team in our central Project Delivery function. 

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT), supports businesses to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities across the country. We are focused on opening up new markets for businesses by removing barriers and striking trade deals. 

DBT delivers exciting projects to support its strategic objectives, and as we continue to evolve as a Department, we are looking for talented project delivery professionals or individuals keen to be in this space to join us in our central Project Delivery function.  

We are recruiting for a Head of PMO Risk and Reporting. This role will sit within the Trade Policy Implementation and Negotiations (TPIN) Group, which is responsible for the departmental priority outcome relating to securing world class free-trade agreements. 

You will manage a team of risk and reporting experts responsible for managing the oversight of high profile and politically sensitive projects across two Director General areas – both TPIN and the Economic Security and Trade Relations (ESTR) Group which is responsible for the departmental priority outcome focused on championing the rules-based international trading system. This is a demanding yet rewarding role which offers the chance to work on some of the UK Government’s highest priorities.  

You will need to be flexible, innovative, and energetic in your approach. You will be expected to engage confidently with a range of stakeholders and develop strong professional relationships as well as take a leadership role in the team and across the business area. You will be required to have strong people skills and the ability to communicate the benefits of Project and Programme Management (PPM) to people from a non-project background. 

Job description

Key accountabilities will include: 

• Providing leadership to the Risk and Reporting team across the business areas by creating an environment in which they can engage with teams to support their delivery. 
• Developing the skills and capability within the team to maintain and improve quality of service provided to the business areas. 
• Overseeing the development of Group, Directorate and Team-level risk registers across the business area and drive their development across the relevant teams. 
• Identifying key and influential stakeholders to build productive working relationships capable of delivering outcomes. 
• Ensuring senior governance forums and stakeholders across the department are sighted on the progress in delivery of key milestones (e.g. negotiations progress and Outcome Delivery Plan deliverables) across TPIN and ESTR through high-quality and insightful delivery board reporting. 
• Providing strategic leadership on the risk management improvement project, ensuring this continues to meet the needs of the business and its users. 
• Ensuring the risk management and reporting framework is effectively maintained and continues to meet the requirements of project teams. 
• Coordinating and maintaining alignment with the wider team, ensuring that planning data and insights are shared effectively to inform governance, risk and reporting processes. 
• Working closely and maintain a strong relationship with central teams in DBT to ensure risk management practises align to the policy and assurance requirements of DBT’s PFRC and Central Risk Team. 

Person specification

Essential Experience criteria

• Experience of working with teams in a project and/or programme delivery environment 
• Ability to build close working relationships across a number of different teams quickly and influence outputs and outcomes 
• One or more related qualifications, e.g. APMP, MoR, MoP, P3O, MSP, PRINCE2. 

Preferred criteria

• Line management experience 
• Experience of using MS Lists 
• Knowledge of DBT’s trade policy and negotiations landscape. 
• Experience of working in change programme

Personal Attributes & Skills 

• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills and effective negotiator with the ability to gain consensus across a broad mix of stakeholders with tact and diplomacy 

• An ability to communicate effectively, both written and verbally, with internal stakeholders at various levels 

• Respects and considers the opinions of individuals as well as encouraging and supporting innovative thinking from a wide range of colleagues with different experiences and background. 

• An ability to demonstrate strong, attention to detail and organisational skills 

• The ability to adapt to changing circumstances and adverse situations whilst remaining calm, reassuring other and maintaining performance 

• Ability to work independently, identifying opportunities to collaborate with teams, sharing expertise and knowledge to progress business objectives. 
• Effective and inspiring team manager, providing constructive development feedback to your team.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £53,560, Department for Business and Trade contributes £14,461 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, Strengths and Experience.

Interviews for this vacancy will be conducted virtually. We will, however, consider in-person interviews by exception. 

Please ensure that you check your emails regularly as all updates from us will be sent to you this way. 

After the closing date It is likely that the sift will take place 1-2 weeks after the closing date and interviews 3-5 weeks after the closing date though this is subject to change. 

To apply for this post, you will be asked to complete the following as part of the online application:    

1. A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Provide employment history that relates to the essential criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 2 x A4 pages.
2. A Personal Statement of up to 500 words, explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the Essential criteria.  

In the event of a large number of applicants, an initial short sift will be conducted on the Personal Statement Only. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.   

Location and working arrangements 

This role is available in seven UK locations and can only be worked from within the UK, not overseas. Most DBT employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending 2-3 days a week (pro rata) in the office on average. Changes to these working arrangements are available in certain circumstances but must be agreed with the vacancy manager and in line with the requirements of the role and can only be discussed with successful candidates. Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DBT, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.   

Reasonable Adjustments 

We are committed to supporting candidates so they can perform at their best throughout the recruitment process. This includes making reasonable adjustments to our process. In order to request an adjustment:  

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section on the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process.  

Alternatively contact the Government Recruitment Service at DBTrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.   

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section. 

Candidate Support 

You may want to join a virtual Candidate Support Session. These sessions include helpful tips and advice on the recruitment process, from application to interview.   

Please see attached Candidate Pack for further information on: Diversity and Inclusion; Benefits; Learning and Development; Working Patterns and what we deliver as a department.  

Further Information: 

• A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made. Reserve Lists will be for each location and appointments made in merit order based on location preferences.   
• Any move to the Department for Business and Trade from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments.
• The Department will not consider sponsoring a visa or issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship. We are unable to offer advice on any Visa and Immigration cases. 
• 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. Any applicant who has 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.  
• Terms and Conditions are attached.  Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.  
• Please note – the successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 18 months before being released for another role.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service /Disclosure Scotland/Access NI 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 

For further information on the Access NI confidential checking service telephone: the Access NI Helpline on 0300 200 7888 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email accessni@ani.x.gsi.gov.uk 

Vetting

The requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years. Failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected.   

Feedback

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. 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.