Senior Project Manager Newcastle upon Tyne, England
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About the job
Job 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.
About the Biosecurity, Borders and Trade Programme
Leaving the EU provides us with the opportunity to deliver ambitious reforms and improve our agriculture, fishing and food and drink sectors to make them as productive and competitive as possible, whilst also incentivising environmentally sustainable farming and ensuring we achieve the highest standards of animal welfare.
Through an effective system of compliance, enforcement, and assurance we will ensure high standards and satisfy trading partners that the regulation of animal health and welfare, plant health and veterinary medicine/pesticide residues in food is fit for purpose. We will refresh the Plant Biosecurity Strategy for GB and continue to implement the goals of the Tree Health Resilience Strategy.
DEFRA Project Delivery Profession 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
The role of the G6 Senior Project Manager within the Service Transformation Team is to oversee and lead a team delivering a portfolio of projects that will enable the Programme to deliver the Borders Target Operating Model (TOM). You will develop effective project control frameworks and strategies. Working collaboratively, you will drive performance and delivery, minimising risk to ensure the delivery of excellent outcomes.
We can only achieve our purpose through the skill, dedication, and professionalism of our people. You deserve to feel valued, rewarded and connected to the work you do - so through our People Strategy, we’re committed to making DEFRA an inclusive environment that engages, motivates, and ensures a better place to work for everyone.
Person specification
We are looking for candidates who enjoy the challenge of working through complexity, have a real drive to deliver and make the world better for their stakeholders. Candidates will be experienced in working with multiple delivery partners, both within and outside government and be able to demonstrate significant project delivery skills and expertise, such as large-scale business and operational change, digital transformation, and infrastructure delivery.
We are looking for people who have:
- An unwavering commitment to delivering change that meets the needs of our stakeholders, with a focus on high standards, outstanding relationship and client management, and clear, incisive thinking.
- Proven leadership skills – you will show the ability to motivate teams to deliver by developing people and teams and creating a rewarding working environment.
- Problem solving - Experience of creatively shaping and implementing robust solutions to complex problems.
- Excellent project management – you will be a self-starter, able to work through complexity and ambiguity and have shown an ability to initiate, lead and drive delivery.
- Stakeholder management skills – you will be comfortable building relationships, an excellent listener, learner, and influencer and have a habit of getting good results from engagement with colleagues at all levels
- Leadership of major delivery programmes – you will have substantial experience of having designed, planned and executed a range of significant delivery projects and programmes either in the private or public sector.
Your personal qualities will be as important as your professional experience; and we welcome applications from all backgrounds. If you believe you have the skills and qualities we are looking for, then we would like to hear from you. The Defra group is dedicated to having a diverse workforce which represents people in our communities and an inclusive culture where everyone feels they can be their authentic self at work, belong in the organisation and can speak up to challenge. We want everyone to be able to contribute to the success of our organisation, regardless of your background.
Responsibilities
Include:
- Lead on the delivery of one or more major projects to achieve the Government’s objectives.
- Delivery of products and services to agreed outcomes within time, cost and quality constraints.
- Setting project controls and creating the project structure and organisation that will enable successful project delivery.
- Engaging, influencing, and negotiating with a range of senior stakeholders to help deliver desired outcomes.
- Proactively manage and report on progress to senior leaders, taking corrective action as required to keep tasks, teams, and individuals on track.
- Making strong, timely, evidenced based decisions that in order to deliver important strategic policy outcomes.
- Evaluate performance and ensure the continuous improvement of programme/project delivery.
- Champion best practice and governance, ensuring the team has a sound understanding of project management processes
- Identify and monitor risks and issues, implementing responses and mitigations in collaboration with stakeholders.
- Be an inclusive leader, coach and develop the team to ensure a sound understanding of priorities.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Delivering at Pace
- Making Effective Decisions
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Governance
- Stakeholder Engagement
Benefits
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion - We have strong staff networks covering mental health, disability and other needs. We also have a range of special leave policies for hospital appointments and will put reasonable adjustments in place for people who need them. The department places significant emphasis on talent programmes that help everyone to achieve their full potential. The Civil Service as a whole is committed to providing a work environment free from discrimination, harassment, bullying and victimisation. Support available includes a Bullying and Harassment network and mediation services.
Pension - Your pension is a valuable part of your total reward package.
Defra contributes at a rate between 20% and 24.5%, dependent upon salary. Pension contributions you make are deducted from your salary before tax is taken.
Generous Annual Leave & Bank Holiday Allowance - Defra offers 25 days’ annual leave (rising, over 5 years, to 30 days) for full time new entrants to the Civil Service. Employees receive 8 public holidays a year.
Staff Recognition - We have a Staff Recognition Scheme to reward exemplary work.
Learning & Development - All new employees joining (and returning to) Defra will have an induction to the department, our work and policies. You will have access to a broad range of learning and development opportunities with world class providers.
Mentoring & Coaching - Mentoring is way of developing your career and boosting your confidence that benefits both mentor and mentee. All our employees have the opportunity to work with a mentor or coach, if they wish to.
Volunteering - Defra employees are entitled to 3 days’ special leave with pay, each year, for volunteering. We encourage our employees to take this up: it can be a great way to share skills with worthy charitable causes, while developing new insights and stronger links with the civil society sector.
Reservists - We fully support reservists and offer 15 days’ special leave with pay for training.
Bicycle Loan Schemes - Defra offers interest-free loans towards the cost of a bike and the Cycle to Work scheme. Defra ‘lends’ you a bike for your commute as a tax-free benefit. At the end of the loan period, you have the option to buy the bike, saving 30% of the original cost.
Season Ticket Loan - We offer interest-free season ticket loans to all Defra employees with more than three months’ service, for purchasing train and bus season tickets, as well as station car parking.
Sick Pay - We have a supportive sick pay policy. Pay progressively increases, by length of service, beginning at one month’s sick pay in your first year.
Employee Discounts - Defra employees have access to a range of discounts at hundreds of top retailers via our employee discount scheme.
Give As You Earn - Defra is registered with the Give as You Earn scheme, which enables you to make regular deductions directly from your salary, in support of a chosen charity. This is simple and tax efficient.
Blended Working
Defra operates a blended working policy subject to business need, giving people the flexibility to choose when and where they work and collaborate with others.
Individuals are expected to work from one of the office locations stated in the advert to connect with their colleagues, as required by their role and business team needs. There is flexibility to split the working week, spending minimum of 40-60% in the workplace, unless exceptional circumstances apply and/or you are a contractual home worker.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application Process
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete;
- A CV detailing your career history (including any relevant qualifications. Your CV will be used for Information Only).
- A Personal Statement (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 Leadership, Delivering at Pace and Making Effective Decisions. Using the STAR process will help achieve a structured document.
- Experience (assessed in Personal statement ): evidence of previous working knowledge and experience in a project delivery role.
Interview Process Details
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 be required to give a 5 minute presentation, the subject will be provided to you in advance of the interview.
You will also be asked questions based on the following Civil Service Behaviours;
- Leadership
- Delivering at Pace
- Making Effective Decisions
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)
- Governance
- Stakeholder Engagement
Sift and interview dates as well as the interview location to be confirmed.
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.
- 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 – Nobel House and 2 Marsham Street.
If you are successful in your application and your base working location is London, please be aware that Defra’s Nobel House Office at 17 Smith Square, London will be closing in December 2023.
This means that Defra new joiners will be located alongside existing colleagues in offices a short distance away from Nobel House in our other office at 2 Marsham St, London.
To work from 2 Marsham Street, you will require the higher level of CTC clearance. Therefore, confirmation of appointment to the advertised post will be dependent upon successful CTC clearance being confirmed as part of pre-employment checks.
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 Defra hub locations. All other applicants will be based in one of the advertised Defra hub locations. Defra continues to support a blended working model and candidates are currently expected to attend their office base for 40-60% of the week. Travel and subsistence will not be paid for travel to a base office location.
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.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
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 [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.
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.
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.
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 [email protected] stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
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.
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 Marsham Street 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
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
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission:
Click here to visit Civil Service Commission
