PMO/Project Support Officer (Ref: 19725)

Job summary

These positions are based Nationally.

Job description

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) priorities include improving public safety and reducing reoffending by reforming prisons, probation and youth justice, and building a justice system which makes access to justice swifter and more certain for all citizens whatever their background. Project professionals in the MoJ help to improve the government’s ability to protect the public and reduce reoffending, and to provide a more effective, transparent and responsive criminal justice system for victims and the public.

The Project Delivery Function aim is to have capable and empowered teams, delivering Project Delivery excellence. As we mature as in future we want to maintain and enhance our reputation as leaders in project delivery, recognised for highly skilled and professional practice that evolves beyond our current achievements to consistently deliver outstanding results. ​We will excel at initiating projects with strong foundations and then deliver on our commitments by improving and sustaining delivery confidence to successfully realise outcomes and benefits. ​Our people will be empowered to develop the skills they need to succeed, and our line managers will be accountable for upholding functional standards and demonstrating excellence in project delivery.

The MoJ’s Functional Operating Model is unique across government. All project delivery professionals are line managed through the Function and then assigned to projects and programmes across the MoJ and its Agencies. The MoJ Project Delivery Function sees the centralisation and coordination of all project delivery within the Ministry. These opportunities provide a unique chance to be at the forefront of implementing significant projects across the MoJ.

Successful candidates will be part of a flexible resource pool and may be placed in roles based on business needs. If we’re not able to offer a post in the specific role applied for, we will match you to a suitable position at the same grade that aligns with your skills and experience. Successful candidates are expected to committee to the role for a minimum of 18 months. MoJ expects its leaders to show openness, honesty and commitment, and, of course, to deliver results.

Key responsibilities of the role

The Project Support Officer performs a variety of activities to help achieve the project’s objectives. This role supports the Project Manager by operating project management processes and coordinating business management tasks and activities.

These may be further shaped and adjusted dependent on business needs and team resources / skills.

• Planning and scheduling – Implement and maintains systems for effective planning and scheduling.
• Monitoring and reporting – Establish and maintains project controls, keeping the project manager informed of the project status. Prepares project performance reports, presents statistics, and researches new information.
• Admin – Ensures that organisational tasks are completed efficiently. Manages and monitors project compliance with departmental policies and procedures. Support with secretariat duties including minute taking and project board support. Manage compliance of the project with Departmental Security, Health and Safety, Equality and Diversity, Business Continuity and Business Planning.
• Resources – Leads a team responsible for identifying, developing, and deploying resources. Manages workforce planning and provides information for the project manager's decision-making. Procures supplies and services related to project support within delegated financial authority limits.
• Stakeholder Engagement – Manages professional relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders and serves as the lead contact for some external parties. Drafting of correspondence.
• Financial Control – Monitors project spending and assists in compiling budgets and developing the business case. Ensures an accurate asset register is maintained.
• Risks and Issues Management– Manages potential risk areas, working with risk managers and escalating issues when necessary.
• Digital and Data - Collects and shares data in line with data standards. Uses data analytics and digital tools to compile and present project information that aids in monitoring progress and identifying potential issues.
• Line Management – There will be line management of Project Delivery Professional(s) within the Professional Delivery Group as part of this role, including the management of direct report’s HR and well-being, development with a focus on coaching and mentoring, ensuring quality and standards of PPM are upheld.
• Experience of successfully supporting projects and working with multi-disciplinary teams to deliver results within fixed timeframes with limited resource.
• Experience of organising teams, establishing processes and working to deadlines.
• Able to use Microsoft Office tools.

Location & Terms of appointment

Travel and Office Attendance

This post is advertised nationally but frequent travel will be required to locations where our Major Projects are based.

Your base office location at an MoJ HQ site, Justice Collaboration Centre, or Justice Satellite Office will be discussed if successful, as we do not offer home working contracts. All available sites can be found on this link.

MoJ employees should be attending the office a minimum of two days a week. Typically, this will be at your base office location at an MoJ HQ site, Justice Collaboration Centre, or Justice Satellite Office. If you are required to travel to another office or site with your project/programme, this will be classed as a day’s office attendance.

Salary & Grade

Higher Executive Officer (HEO)

New entrants to the Civil Service will be expected to join on the minimum of the pay range and this is non-negotiable.

Existing Civil Servants will have their salary calculated in accordance with the Department’s pay on transfer / pay on promotion rules.

Flexible Working Options

MoJ offers a flexible working system in many of its offices.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying. Our people are at the heart of what we do, and we'll do our best to agree a working pattern that works for everyone.

All applications for job sharing or reduced hours will be treated fairly and on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the MoJ’s flexible working policy and equality policy.

Excess Fares and Relocation Allowances

This job is not eligible for relocation allowances, but excess fares may be considered in accordance with MoJ’s excess fares allowance policy.

Selection and Recruitment Process

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Experience and Technical skills.

To apply for this vacancy, you will need to submit the following documents which will assessed against the Civil Service Technical and Experience success profiles:

• An anonymised CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you provide employment history and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 2 x A4 pages.

• An application form providing evidence of how you meet the Project Delivery Competencies as per the Project Delivery Capability Framework.

Merit List of successful candidates based on location will be retained after this campaign for 12 months.

In-tray Exercise

Candidates will also be asked to complete an In-tray Exercise the day prior to the interview. Instructions will be sent to candidates directly before their interview date. This is used to test a candidate’s admin responsibilities and planning tools. This will be one of the key responsibilities of the role alongside technical knowledge of project delivery.

Interview

Interviews will only be held at 5 Wellington Place, Leeds, LS1 4AP and 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf, London, E14 4PU. Please keep this in mind when applying.

The interview will consist of Project Delivery Technical competencies only.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples, statements and CV provided, must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Further Information

Existing Civil Servants are eligible to apply and will only be considered on a loan basis (Civil Servants). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Technical Skills

Knowledge Management - The ability to identify, share and promote best practices and lessons learned to create a culture of learning and good practice that supports continuous improvement to optimise project delivery.

Collaboration - The ability to establish and develop productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders, bringing people together to benefit the project.

Risk and Issue Management - The ability to systematically identify and monitor risks and issues, planning how to mitigate or respond to those risks and issues and implementing the responses.

Credible Action - The ability to promote the wider public good in all actions and to act in a morally, legally and socially appropriate manner at all times. Challenges unacceptable behaviour.

Planning - The ability to define the fundamental components of the work in terms of its scope, deliverables, time scales, resource requirements and budget. It also includes the production of broader plans incorporating risk and quality to provide a consolidated overview of the work.

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Technical skills

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

• Please refer to Job Description
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Benefits

Alongside your salary of £35,335, Ministry of Justice contributes £10,236 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• Access to learning and development
• A working environment that supports a range of flexible working options to enhance your work life balance
• A working culture which encourages inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• Annual Leave
• Public Holidays
• Season Ticket Advance

For more information about the recruitment process, benefits and allowances and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page.

Link: https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Experience and Technical skills.https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team
• Email : moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk
• Telephone : 0345 241 5359

Recruitment team

• Email : moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles and would like to raise this, please contact SSCL (Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com) in the first instance. If the role has been advertised externally (outside of the Civil Service) and you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitm…

https://jobs.justice.gov.uk/careers/JobDetail/19725?entityId=19725