About the job

Job summary

At DSIT, we’re all about cementing the UK’s position as a Science and Tech superpower. Our mission is driving stronger growth, better jobs and bold discoveries. We’re the Department investing in today to secure future economic growth. 

To help us get there, our Science and Technology Framework lays out the roadmap for everything we do, giving us a clear plan up to 2030.  Together with stakeholders from across government and the SciTech sector we are:   

• Backing UK science, technology and innovation, boosting investment in our most exciting technologies and sectors of the future, to grow the economy and create high paid-jobs.  
• Tackling global challenges through international influence and partnerships to secure our future and security. 
• Improving lives by championing responsible innovation in the digital economy and public services.

We want DSIT to be the best place to work in government and central to this is our set of core values – think big, value people, create connections, cultivate curiosity. We created these together in our first months as a department and they guide how we work: helping us make decisions, informing our behaviour and interactions.    

From delivering the Online Safety Act 2023 and hosting the world’s first inaugural AI Safety Summit to boosting investment in R&D and Life Sciences, we have already achieved so much since we were created. But this is only the beginning and being a department for innovation, we’re excited to see what the future holds.  

Our Inclusive Environment  

We offer flexible working benefits, employee well-being support and a great pension. We are enormously proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We support candidates with adjustments throughout our recruitment process. Information about disability confidence and just some examples of the adjustments that you can request can be found in the reasonable adjustment section below.  

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service D&I Strategy. 

Find Out More 

We regularly run events where you can find out more about the department and tips for the application and interview process. You can sign up for upcoming events here: https://buytickets.at/departmentforsciencetechnologyandinnovation/1025519  

You can also follow our LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/dsitcareers/    

Job description

The Matrix Programme is a transformation initiative involving 9 Departments (listed at end). It is a unique cross-government collaboration that will unlock simpler, better, and more joined up working by bringing together the systems, processes, and ways of working for key government functions such as HR, Finance or Procurement, commonly known as Shared Services.

The Programme is part of the Shared Services Team, a fantastic team passionate about improving the existing shared services experience for DSIT and its partners whilst working to deliver the strategic objectives of the new Government Shared Services Strategy!

We will deliver the Government's three overarching objectives for shared services:

1. Better experience for all users - intuitive systems that are easy to use and mobile-enabled.
2. Efficiency and value for money - better systems and services which support productivity and seek to reduce costs.
3. Standardised processes and data - support interoperability, making it easier to understand and compare corporate data. 
   

Departments forming the Matrix Programme: Cabinet Office (CO), Department for Science Innovation and Technology (DSIT), Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS), Department for Business Trade (DBT), Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), Department for Education (DfE), Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC), Attorney’s General Office (AGO) and His Majesty's Treasury (HMT).

Person specification

Key responsibilities:

Short Summary:

This role of Project Management provides support and insight to the project and acts as the source of all project/programme information. You will have a confirmed background in PPM methods with an eye for detail to make sure things happen when needed. You will need excellent interpersonal skills for presenting updates to different audiences. If you thrive in periods of transformation, then this is an exciting opportunity for you! 

Key Responsibilities include but not limited to:

Delivery – Create and lead the project to deliver the agreed outcomes within time, cost and quality constraints.

Project Management – Day to day management of the project and the project team. 

- Set project controls. 

- Design the project/ workstream structure appropriate to stage. 

- Select and apply appropriate delivery methodologies.

Business Case – Coordinate development of the Business Case.

Budget – Track delivery within budget for Workstream.

Resources – Schedule / manage resources to deliver the project/ workstream. May work independently or with a small team.

Benefits Realisation – Ensure benefits are identified, understood, measured, tracked and owned. Monitor longer term delivery of benefits against the Business Case.

Stakeholder Management – Identify key stakeholders and develop effective relationships, working alongside the Change & Engagement team.

Risks & Issues (inc Assumptions and Dependencies) – Identify and monitor project risks and issues (RAID) on behalf or project/ Workstream. Develop mitigating actions and escalate as appropriate.

Governance – Provide key reports and support effective governance and decision making.

Assurance – Support or set appropriate project/ workstream assurance.

Change Management – Ensure Change Management processes are in place to agree and document changes to deliverables as agreed with stakeholders.

Guidance & Support – Seek appropriate support, guidance and coaching from the project community. Show commitment to personal development. Promote effective individual and team performance.

Project Performance & Controls – Build Project Plan and apply appropriate project principles to deliver stated objectives. Identify and set appropriate Project Controls. Track and report delivery against milestones. 

Skills and experiences:

Required: 

Experience working on IT/digital projects and/or delivery of digital services throughout a product life cycle.

Experience of working with technical and data teams.

Effective communication and engagement skills – the project supports a wide range of activities, building and maintaining relationships with colleagues at all levels, offering constructive challenge when required.

Prioritisation skills – the ability to manage multiple work activities and to change priorities quickly as required.

Applicants will ideally have experience of working in a shared service environment, but this is not essential to the role.

Previous involvement in a project covering Corporate Services, particularly HR, Finance, Procurement or Digital would be useful.

Previous experience of project managing Business Analysis, functional design, technology, and data streams of work would be useful.

Desirable:

ERP implementation and back-office transformation experience is desirable; drawing upon experience of delivering within successful and highly complex cloud ERP implementation and transformation projects.

It would be desirable to hold one of the following qualifications:

APM Project Fundamentals APM Project Management Qualification.

Prince2/ MSP qualification.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £52,320, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology contributes £14,126 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 and Experience.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, personal statement and behavioural statements.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Please use your personal statement (in no more than 500 words) to address the essential criteria for the role.

Please note - the CV incorporated into the application form is for information purposes only and will not be scored.

Applications will be sifted on behavioural statements and personal statement.  

In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the lead behaviour statement (Delivering at Pace). 

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

The interview will consist of behaviour questions.

Sift and interview dates

Expected Timeline subject to change

Sift dates: w/c 05/08/24

Interview dates: 12/08/2024

Interview Location: MS Teams.

Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.

Further Information

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply,and can be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

Reasonable Adjustment

We are proud to be a disability confident leader and we welcome applications from disabled candidates and candidates with long-term conditions. 

Information about the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) and some examples of adjustments that we offer to disabled candidates and candidates with long-term health conditions during our recruitment process can be found in our DSIT Candidate Guidance.  A DSIT Plain Text Version of the guidance is also available. 

We encourage candidates to discuss their adjustment needs by emailing the job contact which can be found under the contact point for applicants section. 

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

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

A location based reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Should another role become available within that period you may be offered this position.

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

Any move to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology 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 https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

DSIT does not normally offer full home working (i.e. working at home); but we do offer a variety of flexible working options (including occasionally working from home). 

DSIT cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign.

DSIT holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.

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 

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.

Feedback

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.