About the job

Job summary

The role of Project Management Office (PMO) Manager is an exciting and unique role within Forestry England.

We are looking for a talented individual to lead our PMO, acting as a critical friend  to ensure the right projects are identified and delivered across the nation’s forests in England. This is a great opportunity for an experienced manager to lead and innovate the development of our Project Management Function. It’s a friendly, fun, collaborative place to work, where we attach importance to how we do things – values, learning and development, and success – as well as what we do. It is demanding but exciting and exhilarating role, getting involved in a wide variety of projects.

If you have portfolio, programme or project knowledge and experience gained within the public, private or charity sectors and are ready for the challenge of ensuring we deliver on this exciting opportunity, then we’d love to hear from you.

Please note this is a permanent, national role and is offered on the basis of blended working, a combination of office based and virtual working. The role can be based at any Forestry England office with good travel and IT connections. This is a full-time role for 37 hours per week, which will normally be worked from Monday to Friday each week. However, the post holder will need to regularly travel (including some overnight stays) to sites across England as required by the role.

Job description

Why join Forestry England?

We are the country’s largest land manager, caring for the nation’s forests for people, nature and the economy. The foundation of our organisation is our world-class sustainable management of the nation’s forests.

Forestry England cares for more land and trees than any other organisation in England. From small woodlands on the fringes of towns and cities, to vast areas such as the ancient New Forest, for over 100 years we have been growing, shaping and caring for the nation’s forests.

Forestry England is in a good financial position with an annual turnover of c.£115 million. Our business is thriving and is being led by a passionate and talented team. Our strategy is to connect everyone with the nation's forests and there is a real appetite for growth and innovation as we seek to realise more of our potential through progressive plans.

We have an extraordinary staff group of over 1,000, many of whom have worked here for much of their careers, along with 1,900 dedicated volunteers. There is a wealth of expertise and experience, coupled with a love for forests and sustainable land management that makes us a world leader in forestry. Our staff engagement levels are consistently well above the Civil Service average and staff turnover is well below.

About Forestry England

The size and scale of the nation's forests means we are in a unique position to confront the climate emergency, tackle the nature crisis and support people's health and wellbeing.

Our vision: The most valuable places for wildlife to thrive and expand in England.

The nation's forests provide valuable, high-quality, sustainably managed habitats for wildlife in forests and woodlands, grasslands, heaths, wetlands and our internationally renowned arboreta. They are critical to the country’s response in this time of crisis for nature.

Our vision: A living treasure for all, deeply connected to people’s lives and improving the health and wellbeing of the nation.

The nation’s forests are among the most popular natural spaces in the country. We want to break down barriers and reach all of society, so everyone feels welcome in these shared public spaces.

Our vision: The nation’s forests are resilient to climate change, producing high-quality sustainable timber and absorbing more carbon emissions.

We will expand the nation’s forests, contributing to the government’s action plans on trees, nature and climate along with developing and taking wider opportunities for woodland creation. Our seed and nursery units will be fundamental to the longer-term success, quality and diversity of both our mature and newly created woodlands.

Find out more about Forestry England at www.forestryengland.uk

Key Facts

• We are part of the Forestry Commission and the largest land manager in England.
• We are the largest provider of outdoor recreation in the country with 296 million visits last year.
• Over half of the land in our care is covered by statutory designations, including Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and National Parks making them some of the most valuable habitats for nature.
• We supply England’s largest amount of sustainably sourced timber - around 1.2 million tonnes per year - nearly half the English-grown annual supply.
• From carbon capture and flood prevention, to a positive impact on our mental health: the benefits our forests bring to society are valued at over £33 billion.

Background Information

This is an exciting opportunity to help lead and develop an established Project Management Office (PMO). The role offers the unique opportunity to support Forestry England in identifying, developing, delivering and evaluating key projects that will help make a difference for wildlife, for people and for the climate.

In particular, you’ll provide strategic overview, scrutiny and challenge of the portfolio, ensuring alignment with wider policy and strategic initiatives. You will also focus on building a project and portfolio management (PPM) delivery culture across Forestry England, promoting continuous improvement, operational efficiency and process control.   

Reporting to the Head of Investment and Business Improvement you will work with a wide range of internal and external partners to further embed our approach to Project Management and Delivery. You will help to refine this approach and ensure colleagues are engaged and guidance and support we have available is fit for purpose. You will be responsible for developing and agreeing an approach to project and programme evaluation, including setting out a common approach to benefits forecasting, management and realisation.  

The post sits within Forestry England’s National Operations Team, although the span of PMO activity encompass all parts of Forestry England’s business.  This means the role gets involved in a range of varied projects from Construction projects, Biodiversity projects, Net Zero projects, Masterplan projects, Infrastructure projects and IT projects. Our projects are funded from a range of sources; from internal reserves, from external funding sources where the post holder works with our External Funding Team to identify and bid for funding, and from Defra resources including the Nature for Climate fund. The value of our current portfolio is £44m in addition to longer term pipelines of projects valued at >£100m.

Responsibilities

Purpose of the PMO Manager role:

To lead the continual development of the PMO function capability; oversee projects from concept stage through to delivery; coordinate investment progress reports for our Investment Committee, Executive Team and Board; evaluate delivered projects; support the evolution in maturity of the PMO.

Key work areas include:

1. Delivery & Leadership – Lead the PMO to support in the delivery of Business Case benefits and outcomes. Champion the use of best practice project management standards and processes. Work cross-functionally with colleagues based in district as well as national functional leads. Coordinate our nationally-spread groups of project management staff to develop the Project Delivery Function. Provide direction and guidance to project teams.
2. Business Cases – lead on the development and use of Business Cases with input from specialists as necessary.
3. Budget – Develop and support the approval of budgets for projects and/or programmes, liaising with Management Accountants to ensure forecasts are accurate.
4. Resources – Manage the PMO and support in the identification, recruitment, development, deployment and reassignment of resources throughout the project lifecycle. Support the management of project pipelines and business case submissions for new project proposals, scrutinising them before they are evaluated by the Head of Investment and Business Improvement.
5. Stakeholder Management – Advise on appropriate tools and techniques for managing stakeholder relationships. Provide assurance on the effectiveness of stakeholder management arrangements. Collaborate with colleagues to deliver projects in complex stakeholder and physical environments.
6. Risks & Issues – Establish the project processes and standards for managing risks and issues. Provide assurance on the effectiveness of Risk and Issue management arrangements.
7. Governance & Assurance – Ensure appropriate governance is in place and arrange Gateway Reviews at appropriate points in the project lifecycle. Monitor the effectiveness of controls and ensure that recommendations are acted upon. Deputise for the Head of Investment and Business Improvement in meetings as required.
8. Change Management – Establish and implement protocols to change the scope of projects and/or programmes and update documents as required.
9. Benefits management - Provide direction and guidance to improve the delivery of projects by capturing and disseminating lessons learnt, including leading on benefits forecasting and benefits evaluation.
10. Project Performance & Controls – Operate project controls on behalf of the Investment Committee, reporting on project progress and status. Identify common capabilities and opportunities for linking up, re-using and sharing of methods and resources between projects and programmes.

Person specification

Professional & Technical Expertise

Essential

• APM Practitioner or significant experience of managing projects using the APM framework
• Proven track record of running or working in a project or portfolio management office
• Experience of developing and managing business processes to meet agreed targets and outcomes
• Experience of developing, managing and monitoring work programmes and project portfolios
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills
• Excellence in using Microsoft Office and competency in Microsoft Project

Desirable

• Experience of applying the UK Government Green Book or Five Case Business Model in evaluating projects
• Experience of training and coaching individuals
• Knowledge and experience of other relevant frame works such as Managing Successful Programmes, Agile Project Management, Management of Risk Practitioner, P3O Practitioner
• Experience of working with major construction contractors and their supply chains

Personal Attributes & Skills

The ideal candidate would:

• Have the ability to operate independently and effectively in an environment of ambiguity and uncertainty by establishing and maintaining of logical processes to manage Programme-wide priorities and dependencies.
• Be able to collaborate across teams and where there are conflicting interests, be flexible and pragmatic to broker compromises between teams, recognising the sensitivities.
• Have excellent communication skills – honest, concise, clear and solution focussed, whilst choosing appropriate styles to maximise understanding and impact.
• The ability to adapt to changing circumstances and adverse situations whilst remaining calm, reassuring others and maintaining performance.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £43,311, Forestry Commission contributes £11,738 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.

To apply for this post please submit the following two documents no later than midnight on Friday 5 January 2024.

1. A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years;
2. A Supporting Statement (750 words maximum) explaining why you want this role and how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the criteria in the person specification.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the personal statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Please note that when you make your application online you will be asked to complete Diversity Monitoring information.

You will also be required to provide the details for two potential referees. References will be requested for those candidates invited to interview.

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Forestry 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 at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

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

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

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

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

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. 

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: 

Contact Government Recruitment Service via fcerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. 

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

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

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.