About the job

Job summary

Britain’s emergency services work 24/7 to serve the public in some of the most dangerous and challenging situations. To help them do their job even better the Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme (ESMCP) is creating the next generation mobile communications network, including secure and resilient voice and broadband data services, which will be used by thousands of front line police officers, paramedics and fire-fighters.

This new Emergency Services Network (ESN) will transform how our blue-light services respond to incidents, offering better mobile coverage, leading to faster response times. ESN will allow emergency service professionals to work together more efficiently and effectively when incidents and accidents occur by sharing data across the new digital network. The new network is dynamic and can take advantage of new technology as it develops, making sure that those doing the vital job of protecting the public and saving lives get the best and most modern communications tools available.

ESMCP is a pan-government, cross departmental, programme based within the Home Office. The programme has representation from the emergency services at both operational and departmental levels and has close working involvement from the suppliers of the ESN technology. This is an exciting programme, delivering cutting edge technology which will directly impact people’s lives.

Job description

As one of the biggest programmes in Government, ESMCP is under scrutiny from both internal and independent assurers to ensure governance processes are followed and the best possible value is delivered for the public purse whilst ensuring that ESN meets the needs of the emergency services.

This is an important role within the ESMCP Technology team to support reporting, governance, planning, engagement and supporting a range of management activities including contract management and resource management. The activities undertaken by this role will help develop structure and drive consistency within the Technology area. 

This role is not suitable for part-time working due to the nature of this role and business needs.

Person specification

The post holder will report to the Design Authority Lead on the Programme, will be accountable for their own work and have responsibility for the following:

• Support the ESMCP Technology leadership to manage governance, planning and delivery assurance activities.
• Ensure smooth running of senior governance boards, preparing high-quality papers and advice to functional leads on issues/blockers and delivery impacts.
• Provide status updates to Technology Leadership, appropriate governance groups and the SCS Programme Technical Lead.
• Support the ESMCP Technology Leadership in the identification, recruitment, development, deployment and reassignment of resources.
• Support the administration of Managed Service Providers and contingent staff.  Develop processes and mechanisms to support such activities in a structured, planned way.
• Identify key stakeholders and develop effective relationships. Engage with relevant stakeholders to gather feedback and continuously improve the service provided.
• Actively supporting the G6 Design Authority Lead, and other workstream leads on ad hoc requests as required.
• Respond to changes in business needs in a positive and proactive way.
• Seek appropriate support, guidance and coaching from the ESMCP technical community. Show commitment to personal development. Promote effective individual and team performance.
• Provide a positive and proactive attitude with the ability to recommend and improve processes.

Essential Criteria

• Experience of working in a Project/Programme delivery environment.
• Demonstrable experience of providing written updates in complex, fast-paced, challenging environments.
• Experience of governance frameworks and methodology gained in complex, fast-paced, challenging environments.
• Experience of producing project/board minutes containing technical detail.
• Experience in production and maintenance of high-quality reporting and artefacts including development and assurance of board level presentations.
• Strong IT skills, with experience of presenting, and using Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, and / or other digital tools e.g. MS teams.
• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
• Organised, with attention to detail to maintain an organised information environment.
• Excellent time management skills to enable working across multiple projects and business areas as part of a successful team. You will also be adaptable and flexible in responding to changing priorities.

Desirable Criteria

• Technical knowledge about telecoms
• Experience of working in a major programme, preferably within Government.
• Portfolio, programme or project management experience with a track record of supporting delivery of complex and interlinked projects at pace, including use of PPM tools and techniques e.g. planning and risk / issue management.
• Waterfall and Agile project and programme delivery experience.

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

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.

This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

As part of the application process candidates will be required to submit a CV and Statement of Suitability (of no more than 1000 words)

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

The Statement of Suitability is aligned to the Essential Criteria as set out in the job advertisement.

The sift will be held on the Statement of Suitability. CVs will not be scored.

Successful candidates shortlisted for interview will be tested on a blended approach of Strength-based questions (no preparations necessary) and Behaviour-based questions on all behaviours listed within the advert.

Sift and Interview Dates

The sift will take place week commencing from 29th January 2024

Interviews will take place week commencing from 12th February 2024

Interviews will take place remotely. Further details and instructions will be provided closer to the scheduled interview.

Further Information

For meaningful checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time to enable appropriate checks to be carried out and produce a result which provides the required level of assurance. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years if the role requires CTC clearance, 5 years for SC clearance and 10 years for DV.  A lack of UK residency in itself is not necessarily a bar to a security clearance and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

A reserve list may be held for a period up to 12 months from which further appointment may be made.

We often have similar roles available at different grades. If a candidate is suitable for a similar role or a lower grade than they have applied for, we may offer the candidate that role without the need for them to go through a further selection process.

The successful candidates will be required to hold or be willing to secure Security Check clearance.

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working.  This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estates capacity, by Spring 2024.  Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). 

Every day, Home Office civil servants do brilliant work to develop and deliver policies and services that affect the lives of people across the country and beyond. To do this effectively and fairly, the Home Office is committed to representing modern Britain in all its diversity, and creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people are able to bring their whole selves to work and perform at their best.

We are flexible, skilled, professional and diverse. We work to recruit and retain disabled staff and area Disability Confident Leader. We are proud to be one of the most ethnically diverse departments in the civil service. We are a Social Mobility Foundation top 75 employer.

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 had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

For further information please see the attached notes for candidates which must be read before making an application.

Existing Civil Servants should note that some of the Home Office terms and conditions of employment have changed. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the Terms and Conditions they will adopt should they be successful in application and should refer to the notes for candidates for further details.

Transfer Terms: Voluntary.

If you are invited to an interview you will be required to  bring a range of documentation for the purposes of establishing identity and to aid any pre-employment checks.

Please see the attached list of Home Office acceptable ID documents.

Any move to the Home Office 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

Reasonable Adjustments

If a person with disabilities is 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 HOrecruitment.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

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

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.