Project Manager

Job Title

Project Manager

Group Profile

ISD - Information Services Division within the Security and Information Directorate (SID)

Business Design, Development and Deployment (BD3)

Grade

Senior Executive Officer (SEO)

Overview of Security and Information Directorate (SID)

Security and information management are fundamental to enabling the Ministry of Justice to deliver its services. SID brings together specialist teams that help the department manage information securely, lawfully and transparently.

We identify, manage and mitigate security, data protection and information risks, and provide assurance against those risks. We work across the Ministry of Justice, its agencies, the Government Security Group, the Government Knowledge and Information Management profession and other partners.

We also support improvement and change where better information, technology, processes and ways of working can improve outcomes for the department and its users.

Team Profile

Information Services Division is responsible for ensuring the MoJ:

• Manages its information so that it knows what is held and where it is held - Knowledge management and Records management

• Holds its information in compliance with legislation and is accessible - Data protection and freedom of information

• Is clear who owns the information and that they understand their responsibilities - Knowledge management

• Holds its information securely - Information assurance

Business Design, Development and Deployment (BD3)

The Business Design, Development and Deployment team, known as BD3, turn the Information Services Division and departmental priorities into planned and controlled delivery.

We provide project, change and service improvement capability across a varied portfolio.

Our work includes records and information management, subject access requests, redaction, public inquiries, information security and digital services. Projects range from improving existing processes to developing digital solutions, supporting procurement, and implementing wider departmental change.

We work with operational teams, subject matter experts, digital and technology colleagues, commercial, finance and legal teams, senior leaders, suppliers and other government organisations. The team also supports portfolio planning so that new work can be prioritised against capacity, dependencies and expected benefits.

Summary

The Project Manager will lead the delivery of projects and significant workstreams within the BD3 portfolio, from initial definition and planning through to implementation, transition and closure.

You will bring structure to complex work, maintain delivery momentum and make sure scope, plans, risks, dependencies, decisions and outcomes are clear. You will work across a changing portfolio and will need to build effective relationships with colleagues at all levels.

You will provide clear and reliable information to senior leaders and governance forums so that decisions can be made quickly and on the basis of good evidence.

Responsibilities, Activities and Duties

The postholder will be expected to:

• Lead the delivery of projects or significant workstreams, taking responsibility for agreed outcomes, timescales and priorities.

• Define project scope, objectives, deliverables and success measures with project sponsors, stakeholders and subject matter experts.

• Develop and maintain clear delivery plans, including milestones, resources, risks, issues and dependencies.

• Establish proportionate governance and provide clear, accurate reporting to senior leaders and decision-making forums.

• Build effective relationships across organisational boundaries, bringing together operational teams, policy, digital, commercial, finance, legal and other specialist colleagues as required.

• Work with subject matter experts and users to understand requirements, identify practical solutions and support effective decision-making.

• Manage changes to scope and priorities, assessing the impact on delivery and escalating where appropriate.

• Support business cases, options appraisals, procurement activity and supplier engagement where required.

• Ensure projects are prepared for implementation, including business readiness, communications, training, adoption and handover into business-as-usual arrangements.

• Track delivery against intended outcomes and benefits, identifying barriers and taking action to maintain progress.

• Contribute to BD3 portfolio planning, prioritisation and continuous improvement of project delivery approaches, reporting and tools.

• Provide day-to-day leadership to colleagues working on projects and, depending on business need, undertake line management responsibilities.

This list reflects the current requirements of the role and is not intended to be exhaustive. The postholder may be asked to undertake other duties appropriate to the grade as priorities and the portfolio develop.

Essential skills

• Experience of successfully managing projects or significant workstreams from planning through to implementation, with personal responsibility for delivery.

• Strong planning and control skills, with the ability to develop realistic delivery plans, manage milestones and dependencies, and keep work on track when circumstances or priorities change.

• Experience of identifying, assessing and managing project risks and issues, including knowing when and how to escalate them.

• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build credible relationships and bring together people with different priorities, perspectives and areas of expertise.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex information clearly and provide concise updates and recommendations to senior colleagues.

• Sound judgement and problem-solving skills, with the ability to analyse information, identify practical options and use evidence to support decisions.

• Ability to manage competing priorities, maintain momentum and deliver high-quality work to demanding timescales.

• Experience of supporting or delivering changes to services, processes or ways of working, with an understanding of the effect change has on users and operational teams.

Desirable skills

• A recognised project management qualification or equivalent professional development, such as APM, PRINCE2 or an Agile project delivery qualification.

• Experience of delivering projects within government or another large and complex organisation.

• Experience of digital, information management, security, operational or service transformation projects.

• Experience of supporting business cases, procurement or supplier management.

• Experience of using project and management information to support portfolio reporting, prioritisation or benefits management.

Application Process

This vacancy will be assessed using Success Profiles:

The Civil Service recruits using Success Profiles. For each role, we consider what candidates need to demonstrate to be successful.

A Success Profile is made up of 5 elements:

• behaviours - the actions and activities that people do which result in effective performance in a job

• strengths - the things we do regularly, do well and that motivate us

• ability - the aptitude or potential to perform to the required standard

• experience - the knowledge or mastery of an activity or subject gained through involvement in or exposure to it

• technical - the demonstration of specific professional skills, knowledge or qualifications

Not all the elements are relevant to every role and will vary by profession, level and type of role.

Success Profiles - GOV.UK

• CV (maximum 2 A4 pages)

• Personal statement of no more than 1,000 words (minimum Arial 11) explaining how you meet the essential criteria and requirements of the role.

• 250-word behaviour statement for each of the following behaviours:

o Communicating and Influencing (lead)

o Delivering at Pace

o Changing and Improving

o Working Together

If a large number of applications are received, an initial sift may be conducted on the lead behaviour, Communicating and Influencing. Candidates who meet the required standard at the initial sift will then be assessed against the remaining application criteria.

• The 60-minute panel interview will assess the following behaviours and will also include strength-based questions:

o Communicating and Influencing (lead)

o Delivering at Pace

o Changing and Improving

o Working Together

Hours of work/working pattern

37 hour working week (standard).

Travel will be required as necessary to our London, Burton-Upon-Trent and Jarrow offices.

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