Migration and Borders Technology portfolio - CS Transformation - Project Support Officer Croydon, England
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Job summary
The Home Office leads on immigration, borders and passports, refugee protection, counter-terrorism, policing, fire services, and crime and drugs policy. The Migration and Border Technology Portfolio (MBTP) is an award-winning delivery Portfolio in the Home Office’s Digital, Data and Technology (DDAT) directorate, delivering digital services that are best in class for government, helping the Home Office achieve its ambitions. The work of the Portfolio is being delivered by a mixed team of civil servants, consultants and contractors working together using Agile methodologies.
The role of a Senior Project Support Officer covers a diverse range of activities to support the delivery of a project's objectives. The Senior Project Support Officer enables the smooth running of the project by supporting the project/delivery manager through the embedding and execution of project management processes and activities on their behalf.
This is an exciting time to join the Portfolio as we develop some of the most ambitious and transformative technology projects the department has ever seen. You’ll have a chance to shape the future and support our goal to provide outstanding services for everyone.
The teams work closely with Home Office policy and operational teams, other key enabling functions such as commercial, finance and the Programme and Projects Delivery Directorate as well as other Government departments.
You will be working with a highly motivated and hard-working group of people, who have come together to drive digital ambitions, design appropriate solutions and deliver digital services quickly and effectively. Our work makes a real difference in helping the Home Office achieve its ambitions to keep citizens safe and the country secure.
Job description
We’ve got big plans in this space, perfect for a project delivery professional to make their mark. Supporting delivery leads to ensure we approach project and programme delivery in a planned and mature manner, aligning and complying with Project Portfolio Management (PPM) best practice. To do this you’ll need to have excellent partner leadership skills and the ability to elicit subject matter expertise from busy, delivery teams.
This is an exciting time to join the team as we develop some of the most ambitious and transformative technology projects the department has ever seen. You’ll get to work with fantastic people and have a major impact on some of the most critical systems and services in the UK in a high-profile area attracting huge interest from ministers, wider government, the media and the public.
We value diversity and provide an open, inclusive and supportive environment to help you do your best work.
Hybrid Working
Hybrid working enables employees to work partly in their workplace(s) and partly at home. As Covid-19 restrictions are lifted, a hybrid working pattern may be available, where business needs allow. Applicants can discuss what this means with the vacancy holder if they have specific questions
Due to the nature of the role, it is available on a full-time basis with flexible and compressed working.
Person specification
Day to day responsibilities will include, but will not be limited to:
- Working alongside colleagues to provide advice and guidance to influence best practice use of project management disciplines, approaches and products within a fast-paced technical environment.
- Distilling complex, technical data to establish a single source of the truth; handling project controls, supporting team leads in the development of underpinning governance structures for decision-making and escalation; and the development and maintenance of core metrics and reporting.
- Planning and scheduling: Implementing and maintaining appropriate systems to enable effective planning, monitoring and scheduling, providing challenge as the need arises. Resource and milestone tracking.
- Educating and supporting on the identification and recording of risks, issues and dependencies. Developing mitigating actions for risks / issues and making recommendations for escalation as appropriate.
- Supporting team members by producing high-quality written products, such as PowerPoint presentations, workshop materials and highlight reports.
Supporting on the tracking of commercial contracts and change request notes.
- Providing a secretariat function to governance boards including agreeing agendas, producing papers and leading discussions.
- Tracking metrics and using workflow tooling to prepare project performance reports. Assisting in the quality control of reports prior to circulation and submission to governance forums.
- Some posts will mean that you have responsibility for the ownership and oversight and delivery of small projects as well as line management responsibilities.
You may be required to carry out some or all of the responsibilities above and the duties listed above are not intended to be exhaustive.
Essential criteria
- Close attention to detail with excellent organisational skills.
- A sound understanding of project management tools and methodologies, and experience of applying them in an effective and proportionate way.
- Having a collaborative approach with experience of relationship management and working with a variety of delivery partners.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with an understanding of the use of different channels and formats for a variety of audiences.
- Able to assimilate data from various sources and writing and producing high quality reports.
- Practical experience of handling project risks, issues and dependencies.
- Proactive and able to work in a fast-paced environment and able to handle their own time and priorities effectively.
- Ability to work on several different activities and to work flexibly across these, offering support, as the need arises.
Desirable criteria
- Experience of delivering PMO support in a technical environment.
- A recognised Programme or Project Management qualification such as PRINCE2 or Managing Successful Programmes.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Managing a Quality Service
- Making Effective Decisions
- Delivering at Pace
- Communicating and Influencing
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Managing a Quality Service
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Risk Management
- Stakeholder Management
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:
- a CV detailing job history/skills
- a statement of suitability (personal statement) (maximum 1000 words)
- provide evidence of the behaviour 'Managing a Quality Service' (250 words maximum)
Please note your Statement of Suitability should summarise specific past skills and experience that align to the Essential Criteria as set out in the job advertisement.
You should also demonstrate the Technical Competency within the Project Delivery Capability Framework document attached.
Your CV should set out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
The statement of suitability will be scored first for all candidates. Those candidates who achieve the minimum pass score for the statement of suitability, will progress to a further sift where the lead behaviour (Managing a Quality Service) will be scored. These candidates will therefore receive a sift score for both elements. Candidates who fail to meet the minimum pass score for the statement of suitability will not have their lead behaviour scored and will therefore only receive a sift score for the statement of suitability.
The CV is for information only and will not be marked.
Candidates shortlisted will be invited to an interview which will be a blended approach of all listed Behaviour and Technical Skills based questions.
Sift is expected to take place week commencing 28th February 2023.
Interviews are expected to take place week commencing 12th March 2023.
We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert, however on occasions these dates may change.
Interviews will be carried out via video. Candidates will be required to have access to:
- A laptop (personal or work) with a working webcam
- Good internet connection
- Microsoft Teams
PLEASE NOTE: Due to time constraints we may not be able to offer alternative interview date(s). It is therefore expected that candidates who are successful at sift stage will make themselves available during the above time frame given.
Further information
For meaningful checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time to enable appropriate checks to be carried out and produce a result which provides the required level of assurance. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years if the role requires CTC clearance, 5 years for SC clearance and 10 years for DV. A lack of UK residency in itself is not necessarily a bar to a security clearance and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.
A reserve list may be held for a period up to 12 months from which further appointment may be made.
Every day, Home Office civil servants do brilliant work to develop and deliver policies and services that affect the lives of people across the country and beyond. To do this effectively and fairly, the Home Office is committed to representing modern Britain in all its diversity, and creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people are able to bring their whole selves to work and perform at their best.
We are flexible, skilled, professional and diverse. We work to recruit and retain disabled staff and area Disability Confident Leader. We are proud to be one of the most ethnically diverse departments in the civil service. We are a Social Mobility Foundation top 75 employer.
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.
For further information please see the attached notes for candidates which must be read before making an application.
Existing Civil Servants should note that some of the Home Office terms and conditions of employment have changed. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the Terms and Conditions they will adopt should they be successful in application and should refer to the notes for candidates for further details.
Transfer Terms: Voluntary.
If you are invited to an interview you will be required to bring a range of documentation for the purposes of establishing identity and to aid any pre-employment checks.
Please see the attached list of Home Office acceptable ID documents.
Any move to the Home 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
Reasonable Adjustments
If a person with disabilities is 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 [email protected] 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
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.
Feedback
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
- certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
Working for the Civil Service
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).
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
Recruitment team :
Further information
[email protected]. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission.
