About the job

Job summary

Do you have experience in project management, or programme coordination and reporting?

Do you thrive working with others to deliver project outcomes to scope, time and budget?

This is an exciting opportunity to join the OEP’s project management team working on a wide range of projects supporting our mission to protect and improve the environment, holding government and other public authorities to account.

The role will work within our Business Strategy and Planning team, which is central to all that the OEP does. We are a small team whose core role is to ensure that the OEP works purposefully and well, that our work is well defined, understood and strategically aligned. In doing this, the team supports planning, strategy, governance, project, programme and risk management as well as providing the private office of the organisation. 

The Office for Environmental Protection (the OEP) mission is to protect and recover the environment. Created by the Environment Act 2021, our role is to hold Government and public bodies to account. The OEP do this in several ways including reporting on progress against environmental targets, advising on changes to environmental laws and receiving complaints from the public which can lead to us taking enforcement action.

With a total staff of just over 70, we are a dynamic, friendly and flexible organisation covering both England, Northern Ireland, and environmental matters reserved to the UK government. We offer flexible working arrangements, including part time and job share arrangements, high profile, dynamic work and the chance to have an impact on improving the state of the environment.

To find out more about the OEP, what we do, who we are and our current work, visit the OEP website .

The OEP is a non-departmental public body sponsored by Defra in England and DAERA in Northern Ireland which means it operates independently from Defra. Our employees are public servants and as part of the benefits package, employees have the opportunity to enrol in the Civil Service Pension Scheme.

Job description

This is an important role at the core of our project management capability. Day to day, the successful candidate will be responsible for working with a subject matter expert project lead and a wider multi-disciplinary team of environmental scientists, lawyers and practitioners to drive delivery of the highest priority projects we have.

You’ll work with a subject matter expert project lead, executive sponsor and a wider multi-disciplinary team of environmental scientists, environmental lawyers and practitioners to provide expert project management support to specific projects, including:

• Development of the project plan, risks and issues, stakeholder management plan and outcome realisation strategy
• Using good project management practices to take the lead role to ensure delivery of the project to the agreed scope, timeline and resources
• Project closure, including leading lessons learned and post-implementation activities, within the framework for continual improvement and learning the OEP has established

You will also support our main executive programme board and wider monitoring of our delivery, performance, risk and impact. This will include working with others to produce on time and insightful reports to our Executive and Board, and completing projects to continually develop and improve our reporting approach. This may include:

• Delivering insightful, timely and accurate reporting to our Executive and Board including of project delivery, change control decisions required, corporate performance and strategic risks
• Supporting our organisational business planning processes

The role holder will also contribute to a range of continuous improvement projects within the Business Strategy and Planning team.

Information Webinars:  

We are hosting a webinar during the application period to provide potential candidates with the opportunity to meet the team, to find out more about the role and to ask questions. Webinar will be held on Wednesday 17 July at 10am - 10:45am. To attend the webinar please click on the following link 359764 Senior Projects and Reporting Officer Webinar

Person specification

• One or more of the following or equivalent qualifications: Agile Project Management Practitioner, APM Project Management Qualification, Prince2 Practitioner, PMI Project Management Professional or equivalent experience
• Experience as a project manager
• Expert knowledge of project scoping, planning, scheduling, resource management, benefits management and knowledge management
• Experience of working in or alongside a programme management office
• Experience of providing timely and accurate reports to and working with boards in a corporate or project role
• A strong ability to work well with others, and experience of delivering project outcomes through others, such as through virtual or multi-disciplinary teams
• Excellent organisational skills, and an ability to work across a range of issues concurrently, to manage time effectively and prioritise workloads
• While experience of working on projects in a field of environmental science, policy or law is not necessary, curiosity, and the ability to learn and keep abreast of issues relevant to the OEP’s remit and projects is. 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £38,973, Office for Environmental Protection contributes £10,522 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 

The OEP uses the Civil Service Success Profile  framework which is made up of five elements: Behaviours, Strengths, Ability, Experience and Technical. It is strongly recommend you have a look at the Success Profiles to enable you to make the best application possible.   

When writing or presenting behaviours, the OEP recommends you use the STAR format to present your answers (Situation, Task, Action, Result). 

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV detailing qualifications and work history; a 750 word statement of suitability on how you meet the essential criteria outlined in the person specification in the advert; and one behaviour statement on the Lead behaviour, Working Together. 

The personal statement is a very important part of your application. Review the person specification and essential experience and skills criteria on the job description and outline how you meet it providing specific and relevant examples. These could be from work, volunteering, training or education. 

Further details are provided on the application form.

Sift 

After the closing date, your application will be reviewed against the essential sift criteria outlined for the role. 

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour, Working Together.  

Once the sift has concluded, applicants will be notified of the outcome shortly after the closing date. Please note that feedback will not be given to applications at sift stage. 

 
Interview and ID Verification 

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on experience, behaviours, and Technical elements. 
 
At interview, you may be required to deliver a presentation or complete an additional exercise. If this is required, details will be sent alongside your invite to interview. 
 
Interviews will be held In-person at the Worcester Office. Travel and subsistence costs will not be reimbursed for candidates travelling to interview. 

 

Appointments 

All appointments will be made in merit order. 

 

Identification 

Candidates will need to bring ID to interview for verification in person. Human Resources will contact you to advise what ID you need to bring.  

Following interview, ID will need to be checked for Right to Work and BPSS security clearance. This will be done by secure online platforms via the Government Recruitment Service. 

 
Reserve List 

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made. All appointments will be made in merit order. 

 

Near Miss Appointments 

On occasion candidates may attend interview for the advertised post but will narrowly miss the standard required at interview. The OEP may, where appropriate, consider such candidates for alternative, similar posts at a lower grade. 

 
Salary 

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

 

Location and Office Attendance 

All OEP roles are based in Worcester and/ or Northern Ireland.  This role is based in Worcester.

All GB employees will be contractually based at the Worcester office. The OEP embraces  a blended working model and supports a combination of office and home working which will be dependent on business need and individual circumstances. Our current office attendance approach requires 40% attendance in one of the OEP offices or on official OEP business at offsite meetings with partners and customers. This approach enables thriving workplaces to connect with colleagues, as required by their role and business team needs balanced with personal flexibility and choice. 

If GB based, travel and subsistence will not be paid for travel to the Worcester office. 

Employees based in Northern Ireland will be contractually home based. There will be an expectation of travel to Worcester but this will be dependent on business need and individual circumstances. As a guideline, it’s envisaged that travel to Worcester would be between 4 and 6 times a year, fully funded by the OEP. However, travel will be a 2-way commitment, with other OEP staff members being expected to travel to NI at a similar frequency. Northern Ireland based staff currently have access to a touch down space in Belfast to enable collaborative working. 

If the candidate is an internal candidate, they will be applying for the role at the advertised location. TUPE restrictions may apply.  

Secondees will remain on home department or organisation terms and payroll. As such, they will retain their contractual location. 

 

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 the OEP at recruitment@theoep.org.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 

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

 

Visa Sponsorship Statement 

Please note that the OEP is not a UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License Sponsor and is unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship. 
 
 
Childcare Vouchers 

Any move to the OEP 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.