About the job

Job summary

We recognise the challenges that people with 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 have experience of managing, tracking and reporting on projects and programmes?

Are you organised, able to work flexibly and can change your approach or type of work when priorities require?

Can you build strong working relationships with a range of stakeholders?

If so, we are looking for a Programme Manager to work in a interesting and varied role where you will have the opportunity to get involved in trials and gain great experience and exposure, and we would love you to apply!

Job description

The Transport Security Directorate (TSD) works across the Department for Transport, HMG, and with partners to mitigate the threats the transport sector faces domestically and internationally.

We lead on high profile work to implement and improve the transport sector’s cyber security, maritime and aviation security regimes as well as working with international partners to raise global standards and build capability.

This postholder will be part of the wider PMO team who oversee the project management framework in the National Science, Security and Research Division, supporting project leads in project delivery on a local basis whilst also centrally supporting to ensure that processes are being followed correctly and consistency is being achieved. 

This role will primarily focus on supporting the projects leads of the Research, Analysis and Development (RAD) programme on a local basis in the management and delivery of projects across the project lifecycle. This includes support in overseeing the project to ensure that it is being delivered within the agreed project performance objectives.

This role will also monitor and track progress on performance for a large number of concurrent projects as well as prepare regular project status reports, and work with the project leads to escalate any risks or issues as required.

Responsibilities include, but not limited to: 

• Supporting with hands-on delivery alongside the project leads throughout the project lifecycle to agree and work towards achieving the baseline performance objectives and realisation of benefits.
• Assisting with tracking progress against baseline performance objectives, reviewing supplier reports and preparing any necessary reports and dashboards for various governance forums. This includes:
  1. Financial management - estimating and monitoring costs and budget such as producing forecasts and actual spend against budget.
  2. Schedule management - developing, producing and maintaining schedules, reviewing supplier schedules and milestones, reporting any forecasted delays as well as exploring remedial action.
  3. Risk management - supporting project leads in proactive issues and risk management and leading risk review meetings to ensure risk management is a live and proactive activity.
• Coordination of early-stage requirements capture by working with all necessary stakeholders to agree the base scope, including organising the necessary meetings and following-up on actions and requests.
• Supporting project leads in implementing change control and coordinating the process, which may involve completing and issuing the necessary documentation for approval by various stakeholders.
• Supporting the Head of PMO in ensuring timely upward reporting, such as extracting any data required on project performance/risks.
• Systematically identifying, analysing and communicating with stakeholders, using appropriate channels, to ensure all those impacted are engaged, taking account of their levels of influence and particular interests. 
• Providing healthy challenge and scrutiny of project leads and suppliers on performance, such as exploring acceleration options if a delay occurs on a time critical project.

For more information, please see the attached Role Profile.

Person specification

About You  

To thrive in this role, you will be an organised self-starter. You will have experience of managing, tracking and reporting on various projects and programme performance and be comfortable estimating and monitoring costs and budgets of these projects.

You will be confident working with a wide range of stakeholders, building strong working relationships and setting priorities, objectives and timescales with them.

You will hold, be working towards or have the willingness to gain the following qualifications:

• APM Project Fundamentals Qualification (PFQ).
• PRINCE2 Foundation.

Additional information

A minimum of 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.

This role will require you to travel approximately twice a month.

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, Strengths and Experience.

How to apply

As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide a CV and Personal Statement (750 words). Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Please tailor your CV to demonstrate your suitability to the role and the essential criteria. For your Personal Statement, please provide detailed evidence of the following:

• Experience managing, tracking and reporting various project and programme performance metrics such as scope, deliverables, milestones, timescales, resources, budget, risk and quality.
• Experience estimating and monitoring costs and budget such as producing forecasts and actual spend against budget.
• Experience working with stakeholders to set priorities, objectives and timescales.

The sift is due to take place week commencing 15th July 2024.

Interviews are likely to be held 31st July - 2nd August 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.

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. 

For further information on Success Profiles visit our Careers website. 

Reasonable Adjustments 

As a Disability Confident Leader employer, DfT is 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.

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

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.