About the job

Job summary

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is the department for economic growth. We support businesses to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities across the country. Our Mission is to: 

• Redraw our rules to ensure businesses thrive, markets are competitive and consumers are protected.
• Secure investment from UK and international businesses.
• Advise, support, and promote British businesses to grow and export.
• Open up new markets for businesses by removing barriers and striking trade deals.
• Promote free trade, economic security and resilient supply chains.

DBT is a great place to work. We support one another, share our successes and challenges, empower staff to be their best and provide opportunities to build careers. We embrace continuous learning, smarter working and diversity and inclusion. We embody the Department’s Spirit, Excellent, Connected, Confident and Collaborative, working as One DBT. We value diversity in all its forms. 

Project Delivery and Change Directorate and its Flexible Resource Pool 

Almost all government policy is delivered through projects or transformation programmes. Thousands are carried out each year to improve the UK’s infrastructure, transform public services, safeguard national security and boost international trade and we are no exception, we use projects and programmes to further DBT’s objectives and to make DBT a great place to work for our people.  

In our projects, we are clear about the importance of bringing together project delivery – with its structures, processes and tools to guide change – and effective change management – with its focus on people and ensuring that changes are embraced and used effectively.

At the heart of our Project Delivery and Change Directorate, we have established an internal pool of experienced project delivery and change professionals who we are deploying to deliver business critical projects. 

This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious and talented candidate with a strong interest and/or experience of working in the Project Delivery profession, to become part of DBT’s FRP. The candidate will have an opportunity to support the delivery of critical projects and programmes.

The aim of the Pool is to: 

• provide PD and Change support to priority programmes within DBT.
• ensure DBT has the right capability inhouse to deliver key projects, reduce recruitment issues and reliance on contingent labour.  
• provide PD&C Professionals better access to career development and progression.

The Pool will offer successful applicants’ exposure to a range of challenging projects across DBT to build capability, experience and technical skills.  We will also provide access to a range of informal professional career development opportunities and continuous professional development (CPD).

We will hold a reserve list of candidates to fill roles that are the same or very similar roles for 12 months.  Please note that once on the reserve list, if you refuse the offer of 2 roles you will be removed from the reserve list. 

Please note that the successful candidates will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 18 months before being released for another role.

Job description

As a member of the Project Delivery & Change Flexible Resource Pool you will work on a variety of projects for up to 12 months at a time. During this time, you could be required to take on some of the following roles (as set out on page 121 of the Project Delivery Capability Framework) 

• Delivery – Create and lead the project to deliver the agreed outcomes within time, cost and quality constraints. 
• Stakeholder engagement – Carry out stakeholder mapping to identify key stakeholders and work with the project to develop a stakeholder engagement strategy.  
• Governance - Provide key reports and support effective governance and decision making. 
• Risks and Issues – Engaging with stakeholders to identify, monitor and key risks and issues for the Project.  
• Resources – Leading on identifying and managing resources to deliver the project.  
• Benefits Realisation – Ensure benefits are identified, understood, measured, tracked and owned.  
• Business Case – Co-ordinate development of Business Cases.
• Financial control – Track delivery of projects spend and provide progress report to senior management.  
• Assurance – Support appropriate assurance to provide independent assessment and confirmation that a project is on track.  
• Change Management - Ensure effective Change Management processes are in place. 
• Project Performance & Controls - Build Project Plan and apply appropriate project principles to deliver stated objectives.

Person specification

Essential Criteria 

• You will have previous experience working on a project or in a project management environment. 
• You will have previously worked in a fast-paced environment. You will have practical experience of actively managing project risks and issues and be able to make decisions. 
• You will need to be flexible and willing to move between different projects in DBT. In return, the PD&C Pool will support with talent management and 5 days of continuous professional development (CPD) to build your capability.  
• You will have previous experience of managing stakeholders to deliver project outputs.
• You will hold a formal project management qualification(s) at Foundation level (e.g. Prince2, Association for Project Management) as defined in the Government Project Delivery Capability Framework found on Gov.uk.

Desirable Criteria  

• You will hold a formal project management qualification(s) at Practitioner level (e.g. Prince2, Association for Project Management) as defined in the Government Project Delivery Capability Framework found on Gov.uk.

Personal Attributes & Skills

• It is essential that the successful candidate has good experience of delivering projects within time, cost and quality constraints.  
• You will have a proactive approach to developing productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders, bringing people together to benefit projects.   
• You must be able to engage, motivate and coach others as well as acting as a role model, to inspire and empower others. 
• In return, we will offer you exposure to a range of challenging projects in different areas of an organisation at the heart of the Government’s international agenda. You will receive support and mentoring as well as ongoing formal and informal opportunities to continue your personal and professional development.  

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £39,384, Department for Business and Trade contributes £10,633 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, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

Interviews for this vacancy will be conducted virtually. We will, however, consider in-person interviews by exception.

Please ensure that you check your emails regularly as all updates from us will be sent to you this way.

To apply for this post, you will be asked to complete the following as part of the online application:   

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Provide employment history that relates to the essential criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 2 x A4 pages.
• A Personal Statement (500 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the essential criteria.

It is likely that the sift will take place 1-2 weeks after the closing date and interviews 3-5 weeks after the closing date though this is subject to change. 

In the event that there is a high volume of applicants, a short sift will be conducted based on Personal Statement and CV. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview. 

If you are offered an interview, you will be asked to give a short (5-7 minute) presentation. You will receive further details for the presentation prior to the interview to prepare. 

Reasonable Adjustments

We are committed to supporting candidates so they can perform at their best throughout the recruitment process. This includes making reasonable adjustments to our process. In order to request an adjustment: 

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section on the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. 

Alternatively contact the Government Recruitment Service at DBTrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.  

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

Candidate Support

You may want to join a virtual Candidate Support Session. These sessions include helpful tips and advice on the recruitment process, from application to interview.  

Please see attached Candidate Pack for further information on: Diversity and Inclusion; Benefits; Learning and Development; Working Patterns and what we deliver as a department. 

Vetting

The requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years. Failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected.   

Further Information:

• A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made. Reserve Lists will be for each location and appointments made in merit order based on location preferences.   
• Any move to the Department for Business and Trade from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments.
• The Department will not consider sponsoring a visa or issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship. We are unable to offer advice on any Visa and Immigration cases.  
• 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. Any applicant who has 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.  
• Terms and Conditions are attached.  Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
• Please note – the successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 18 months before being released for another role.

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

For further information on the Access NI confidential checking service telephone: the Access NI Helpline on 0300 200 7888 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email accessni@ani.x.gsi.gov.uk 

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

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.