About the job

Job summary

The Cabinet Office is the centre of government. Its purpose is: to maintain the integrity of the Union, co-ordinate the security of the realm and sustain a flourishing democracy; to support the design and implementation of HM Government’s policies and the Prime Minister’s priorities; and to ensure the delivery of the finest public services by attracting and developing the best public servants and improving the efficiency of government.

Cabinet Office Digital is the Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) hub for the Cabinet Office. Our vision is “Enabling the department through the provision of exemplary digital, data and technology (DDaT) services and transformative in support of the digital transformation strategy of the organisation. 

We are creating a digital culture where user needs are at the heart of everything we build and through data democratisation, automation, governance, convergence and consolidation we will support creating a Better Cabinet Office of the future. 

We are transforming ourselves to be even more effective and efficient in the way we service our users' needs. This exciting transformation programme will shape the organisation, our ways of working, our engagement model and our "delivery engine" enabling CO Digital to become a product centric organisation; delivering through a highly matrixed portfolio of projects and programmes. As both Digital Partner and/or Digital Delivery Partner we advise and assure business units and ALBs in developing their own Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) capabilities, as well as taking on delivery responsibilities ourselves where relevant.

We have structured ourselves into eight critical functions to realise this vision - Product, Portfolio, Enterprise Services, Technology, Cyber, Data, Strategy & Digital Transformation and People & Business Services.

Job description

The Enterprise Services Team is part of Cabinet Office Digital based in the Cabinet Office. It provides, maintains and supports the IT services (hosted and public cloud IT infrastructure, telephony, network security, internet connectivity, local area networks, WiFi, end-user devices, cloud capability and full software portfolio) relied upon by the entire Cabinet Office. Our user base of over ten thousand includes the Cabinet Office, Crown Commercial Services, Government Property Agency and a number of Ministers. 

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of the Portfolio Delivery team, to lead key infrastructure-related projects to transform our internal services. The Delivery team uses a hybrid of Agile and Waterfall methods to apply the best approach to deliver projects successfully.

As a Senior Delivery Manager, you will lead on the effective delivery of complex, high-risk products and services. You should have strong communication skills and the ability to build relationships with more senior stakeholders as well as our customers and 3rd party suppliers. You will manage a number of interesting projects that may require a more senior level of experience and stakeholder management skills.  You will take ownership and enlist support from other teams within the Enterprise Services function to plan and deliver specific infrastructure-related products or transformations. There is scope to be creative and try new ideas in your coaching and mentoring skills along with line managing Associate Delivery Managers on the team.  

You will be core to decisions that build high performing teams, where people are excited about the work they are undertaking. You will be supported by multi-disciplinary, highly skilled technical colleagues and enjoy managing and influencing positive outcomes where ambiguity and pressure to meet deadlines can sometimes create challenge. As a Senior Delivery Manager, you will have more experience across a range of products and services, throughout the entire lifecycle, and have greater responsibility and accountability as the main point of escalation.

Main Responsibilities

• Working closely with subject matter experts to deliver more complex, technical projects within agreed timescales, to cost and quality standards.
• Use your experience and expertise to advocate Agile and Lean practices, continuously iterating and challenging the team to adapt their approach to deliver successful outcomes. 
• Work closely with the Head of Delivery, Delivery Managers and Business Analysts to define the roadmap for any given product and translate into delivery plans.
• Lead the collaborative, dynamic planning process  - prioritising the work that needs to be done against the capacity and capability of the team
• Develop, guide and coach delivery managers, the wider Delivery team consisting of 19 staff and direct line reports to support professional development and continuous improvement. Encouraging the team to be self-organising
• Help build the right environment for the team to deliver in, collaborate, motivate and focus on the most important outcomes. Making sure teams and programmes understand their mission, vision and goals, and that these align across the organisation
• Communicating with stakeholders at all levels including managing senior stakeholder expectations.
• Actively address the most complicated risks, issues and dependencies and identify innovative ways to unblock issues.
• Actively participating in the Delivery Manager community, sharing and re-applying skills and knowledge and bringing in best practice.

Person specification

Essential criteria

It’s essential that you can demonstrate and have proven experience in:

• working in complex project environments and delivering infrastructure-related and/or technology IT enterprise projects and products
• using a range of Agile and Waterfall tools and techniques to effectively deliver successfully within a given context.
• ability to balance multiple priorities and dealing with ambiguity
• confidently matrix-managing multi-disciplinary teams, working independently and with other teams.
• effectively managing a diverse range of senior stakeholder expectations 
• utilising well developed people skills to coach, mentor and line manage individuals to help create a motivated and skilled team.
• creating and maintaining delivery plans including multiple parts of a project lifecycle
• Strong communication, presentation and facilitation skills, as well as experience of communicating technical concepts to a non-technical audience.

Desirable criteria

• A recognised project or programme management qualification (e.g. Scrum Master, Agile, Prince2, etc.)

Additional information:

A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £58,800, Cabinet Office contributes £15,876 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.

As part of your application you will be required to provide a CV setting out your career history and qualifications, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role.

You will also be required to provide a Statement of Suitability (1000 words max.)

Please use your statement of suitability to explain how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria in the person specification section of the job advert.

Your CV and Statement of Suitability will be assessed against the essential criteria listed in the 'Person Specification' section of the job advert.

Should you be successful at sift, you will be invited to attend an interview where you will be assessed on behaviours, technical skills and strengths.

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date – WC 11/03/2024
Expected interview date/s – WC 25/03/2024
Interview location – Video Interview

Reasonable adjustments

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 menurecruitment.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.

Further information

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

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

Please note that this role requires SC clearance, which would normally need 5 years’ UK residency in the past 5 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

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

Any move to Cabinet 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

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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

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.