About the job

Job summary

Exploration helps our stakeholders discover and exploit things no one has done before, and pinpoints transformative high-impact ideas with the greatest potential. Such ideas could be “over the horizon” technologies, next generation concepts or existing systems that could be adapted for Defence and Security strategy and policy.

Exploration's purpose is to:

• Identify or imagine transformative ideas
• Assess which have the most potential for Defence and Security
• Promote them so others invest in them, adopt them, develop them, or include them in their plans, strategy and policy.

Exploration applies this to a very broad spectrum of ideas covering novel strategies, concepts, systems and technologies, for Security and Defence, across multiple perspectives, including the sociotechnical and ethical implications. We involve suppliers and customers throughout these processes to provide a safe space in which to challenge accepted plans, and we are designed to provide the stimulus for wider innovation in Defence and Security.

The role of the Programme Support Officer (PSO) covers a diverse range of activities to support the delivery of the Programme’s objectives. The Programme Support Officer enables the smooth running of the Programme by supporting the Programme Manager through the operation of project and programme management processes, and the co-ordination of business management actions and activities on their behalf. 

The Support and Sustainability Programme and S&T Data Exploitation Enabling Programme are looking for a highly organised and motivated Programme Support Officer to support the Deputy and Programme Manager, as well as supporting the wider Programme Management Team.

Job description

In this role you will have the following typical responsibilities:
PSO 2
•    Planning and scheduling – Implement and maintain appropriate systems to enable effective planning and scheduling.
•    Monitoring and reporting – Establish and maintain project and programme controls, keeping the programme manager aware of the programme status. Prepare programme performance reports, presenting statistics and researching new information.
•    Admin – Ensure organisational tasks are carried out efficiently. Manage and monitor compliance of the programme with Departmental Security, Health & Safety, Equality & Diversity, Business Continuity and Business Planning.
•    Resources – Lead a team responsible for identifying, developing and deploying resources. Manage workforce planning, providing information for effective decision making to the programme Manager. Procurement of supplies and services related to programme support within Delegated Financial Authority limits.
•    Stakeholder – Manage professional relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, and act as lead point of contact for some external parties. Draft and sign-off correspondence.
•    Financial control – Monitor programme spend and contribute to the compilation of budgets and the development of the business case. Ensures an accurate asset register is maintained.
•    Risks and Issues – Manage potential risk areas, working with risk managers and escalating as appropriate.
These responsibilities are taken from the Project Delivery Capability Framework (PDCF) and describe the career pathway for the Programme Support Officer role.

Additional Responsibilities
•    Overseeing change management activities in accordance with the programme’s decisions, requirements and priorities;
•    Maintaining awareness of corporate Portfolio, Programme and Project (P3) procedures and processes, identifying necessary changes required in the control of the Programme where appropriate;
•    Supporting the Programme Manager in providing Programme perspective & capability demands to Dstl Capability Management and development processes;
•    Networking and engaging with other people involved in delivery, sharing good practice and lessons learned. Engaging with Business Managers and Functions (Finance/Commercial etc.) as required, meeting Division and Programme aims;
•    Implementing Dstl's policies and processes and ensuring compliance with the Management System and using the relevant corporate Management Information systems.

Person specification

We are looking for someone who has:   

• A strong desire to deliver outstanding outcomes for Defence through Science and Technology;
• Existing knowledge of best practice in the delivery of projects and programmes;
• The ability to lead, influence and motivate an extensive team to deliver exploitable programme outcomes.
• The ability to manage and influence stakeholders to ensure programme success.

Essential Skills 

•    Can work in a variety of teams;
•    Good organisational, written and verbal communication skills;
•    Confident in the use of project management tools e.g. Microsoft Project and processes, e.g. progress reporting;

Essential Qualifications

APM Project Management Qualification PMQ (Or within the first 12 months)  / Prince 2 (Practitioner) (Or within the first 12 months) /  Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) (Foundation or Practitioner) (Or within the first 12 months ) /  Agile (Practitioner) (Or within the first 12 months),  or equivalent  experience and depending upon the Division’s requirements.

Essential Experience

A career path that can demonstrate effective delivery of:
•    Involvement with the delivery of tasks, projects or programmes;
•    Financial Management;
•    Risk Management.
•    Networking 

Important Information

Our work in defence, security and intelligence requires our employees to be UK Nationals who are able to gain a high level of security clearance to undertake the projects we are involved in to protect us from security threats. For this reason, only UK Nationals will be able to apply for this role. If you are an international or dual-national candidate, and you think you have the skills we need, please consider applying to any of our government, security or defence partners.

 This role will require full UK security clearance and you should have resided in the UK for the past 5 years. For some roles Developed Vetting will also be required, in this case you should have resided in the UK for the past 10 years.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £35,970, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory contributes £9,711 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.

Applications will be sifted 10-12 January. Interviews to take place towards end of January.

We want you to have your best chance of success in our recruitment process, so If at any stage of the application process you would like help or assistance please contact the Dstl Recruitment Team dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk and we will do all we can to support you.

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.

This job is not open to candidates who hold a dual nationality.

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.