About the job

Job summary

Summary

The Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is responsible for safeguarding our natural environment, supporting our world-leading food and farming industry and sustaining a thriving rural economy. Our broad remit means we play a major role in people’s day-to-day life, from the food we eat, and the air we breathe, to the water we drink.

Everyone who works with us or in one of our agencies and public bodies has a part to play in achieving our vision of ‘creating a great place for people to live’. The work we do impacts the lives of everyone living in the UK.

Job description

About the Biosecurity, Borders, and Trade Programme

The Biosecurity, Borders, and Trade (BBT) programme delivers on Defra’s responsibility for setting policies to protect biosecurity, by designing and delivering a regime of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) import controls. In doing so it contributes to wider Government 2025 UK Border Strategy, supporting the ambition of ‘having ‘the world's most effective border that creates prosperity and enhances security for a global United Kingdom’. The purpose of that strategy is to set out:

 

1. Our approach to working in partnership with the border industry and users of the border to design, deliver and innovate around the border.
   
   
2. A long-term Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) that describes the border we are intending to create.
   
   
3. The major transformations that government and industry will need to deliver by 2025 and beyond to implement the Border Target Operating Model.

 

The BBT programme directly supports the three purposes outlined in the 2025 UK Border Strategy, and in developing and implementing the new Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) delivers most directly on the second. The BTOM was published by the Government on the 29th of August 2023 and sets out risk-based, effective SPS controls that optimise the balance between ensuring biosecurity, public health, food safety and trading confidence, and the cost of the regulatory burden to achieve it. The controls set out in the BTOM also meet our World Trade Organisation (WTO) commitments to implement an SPS regime that applies equally to goods of EU and non-EU origin.

 

DEFRA are looking for enthusiastic and confident individuals to lead on key elements that will enable the successful delivery of various projects within the Biosecurity, Borders, and Trade Programme.

Job Description

As Senior Programme Support officer for the programme you will be a core member of the PMO team working closely with the Project Managers to ensure the programme delivers within the programme’s governance and assurance frameworks. As the programme is on the Government’s Major Projects and Programmes Portfolio, there is additional scrutiny on the programme activities to ensure delivery within desired budget and timeframes.

The post holder will adhere to Defra best practice project management standards, frameworks, and processes, and provide high-quality governance, risk and issue management, and demonstrate proficient scrutiny and challenge capabilities.

Key to the role will be adapting to the Programme’s shifting priorities. This will involve working across numerous PMO functions to support priorities, ensuring the role-holder is exposed to the breadth of PMO experience and development opportunities available. As there are a number of posts available our recruitment process will help identify candidates best suited to key areas of responsibility within the PMO and key responsibilities will be made up from a selection of the below:

 1. Delivery and leadership

Support the PMO Manager in delivering quality programme office management for the SRO and senior team. Foster the use of best practice of project management standards and processes. Be self-motivated and disciplined in delivering quality outputs, at pace and on time. Provide line management to HEO Programme Support Officers.

 2. Governance & Assurance

Manage, track and coordinate programme governance to ensure appropriate governance arrangements are in place to enable successful delivery of the Programme, with escalation routes and accountabilities made clear. Support assurance activity for the programme, encompassing internal and external reviews at appropriate points in the programme. Support the efficient monitoring of controls and ensure that recommendations from external reviews are acted upon and completed in a timely manner.

 3. Programme Reporting

Create and distribute and provide secretariat for all reporting for the programme, including Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP) reporting, critiquing the information gathered for the programme, ensuring it is captured and maintained in a coherent and accessible format. This includes feeding information into relevant boards, committees, and briefings for senior managers within the programme.

 4. Stakeholder Management

Supporting the development of a Stakeholder Management and Communications Plan, including engagement and communication activities as well as developing and maintaining internal and external relationships effectively. Work with the Communications Lead to ensure that stakeholder responsibilities and needs are understood and addressed in reporting arrangements. Develop peer networks across the department.

 5. Risks & Issues

Support the PMO Manager by providing assurances on the effectiveness of Risk and Issue management arrangements.  Identify and evaluate project risks and issues, ensuring risk is controlled through implementing and monitoring appropriate risk management plans and escalation is completed in a timely manner.

 6. Benefits Management

Support the Performance & Reporting Manager with the management and realisation of benefits across the programme. Ensure that benefits are identified, analysed, and realised in line with BBT Benefits Management Strategy and escalate any issues in a timely manner.

 7. Knowledge management, guidance, and support

Identify, develop, and share best practice project delivery processes, tools and templates and benchmarks against industry standard to the PMO and wider teams; to up-skill and develop their use of programme and project management tools and methodologies.

8. Resource strategy and planning

Lead the development and implementation of a number of resource and capability activities across one or many projects. Lead specific activities at a local or departmental level and/or for bring in external or expert resources as required.

Person specification

Person specification

• Proven Project/Programme Management experience or PMO experience
• A practitioner-level understanding of project management encompassing planning, risk & issue management, benefits management, governance assurance, and project frameworks & methodologies
• Proven ability to work at pace, get up to speed quickly, work both autonomously and as part of a proactive team
• Provide supportive teamwork across all work pools, with a commitment to maintaining an environment where team engagement, support and morale are highly valued
• Confident relationship and stakeholder engagement, to provide strong challenge to those managing projects and programmes
• Extensive knowledge and usage of Microsoft Office 365 applications inc MS Outlook, MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, MS Project

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection and interview process:

• Changing and Improving – Lead behaviour
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Technical presentation - on Project governance and reporting.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £39,439, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £10,648 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, Experience and Technical skills.

Application Process Details

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete;

• A CV detailing your career history (including any relevant project/ programme management qualifications. Your CV will be used for Information Only).
• A Statement of Suitability (max. 750 words) demonstrating how you meet the requirements of the job description, responsibilities, and essential criteria aligning your responses to the three Behavioural competencies of Changing and Improving, Making Effective Decisions and Working Together. Using the STAR process will help achieve a structed document.
• Experience (assessed in statement of suitability): evidence of previous working knowledge and experience in a project or programme delivery role.

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

Sift

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the Lead Behaviour Statement – Changing and Improving. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Interview

If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to a video interview. This vacancy is using Civil Service Success Profiles and we will assess your Behaviours, Technical and Experience.

You will also be asked questions based on the following Civil Service Behaviours;

• 1 Changing and Improving – Lead Behaviour
• 2 Making Effective Decisions
• 3 Working Together

You will also be asked questions based on the following Technical competencies from the Governments Project Delivery Capability Framework PDCF.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk)

• 1 RAID
• 2 Assurance

Location

Please be aware that this role(s) will be contractually based in a Defra group workplace/office. The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location, and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.

Candidates applying for these roles will be based at one of the Defra hubs as advertised.  

For information, our core Defra hub locations are:

• York – the Kings Pool
• Newcastle – Lancaster House
• Bristol – Horizon House (Please note that space at this office is limited and it may not be possible for all Policy roles to be recruited to this location)
• London – 2 Marsham Street

Internal (core Defra) employees can apply for this role and choose to remain in their current location or to be based in one of the advertised locations.

All other applicants will be based in one of the advertised locations.Our current office attendance approach requires 60% attendance in Defra group workplaces or off site meetings with partners and customers. This balance provides thriving workplaces to connect with colleagues, as required by their role and business team needs balanced with personal flexibility and choice. 

Travel and subsistence will not be paid for travel to a base office location.

Reserve List

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

Merit Lists 

Where more than one location is advertised, candidates will be posted in merit order by location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.

Salary 

New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

Visa Sponsorship Statement

Please take note that Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.

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 defrarecruitment.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. 

Accessibility

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

Criminal Record Check

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. 

Internal Fraud Database Check

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.

Higher Security Clearance 

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter.

All of these posts require the successful candidate to hold basic security clearance. Candidates posted to London may be subject to a higher level of clearance because of the security requirements for that location. Job offers to these posts are made on the basis of merit. Security vetting will only take place after the receipt of a job offer. 

Childcare Vouchers 

Any move to Defra from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

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.