Programme Manager (Private Law Reform)

Job summary

We’re recruiting a Programme Manager to play a key, strategic role in the development and delivery of Cafcass’ Private Law Reform (Pathfinder) programme.

If you join us, you’ll deliver the programme according to internal and partnership goals and advocate a transformational approach towards delivery of the Cafcass elements of the programme, leading on all programme and project planning, including matrix management of Business Analysts in the core Project Team.

This is a highly visible role in which you will work closely with senior leaders within Cafcass as well as with external partners, including the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).

Job description

As Programme Manager, your key responsibilities will include:

• Developing and maintaining the programme plan, with a key focus on all risks, assumptions, dependencies and issues.
• Providing highly effective short, medium and long-term programme and project plans aligned with Cafcass’ Corporate plans, and MoJ strategies.
• Utilising Cafcass’ Project Portfolio Management (PPM) tool to ensure the programme and its composite projects are clearly planned, documented, and tracked, ensuring a programmatic view is maintained at all times.
• Providing advice and guidance to colleagues during programme implementation, to ensure selection of the most appropriate planning approach, tools and processes, ensuring proportionality.
• Challenging and testing programme assumptions to ensure that plans are realistic and achievable and aligned to wider corporate strategic requirements.
• Monitoring and reporting on the programme budget, ensuring the appropriate financial controls are in place

Person specification

Who we’re looking for

The importance of this strategic programme to Cafcass and the wider sector in which we operate in cannot be overstated. Reflecting this, we have some clear requirements:

• Programme management qualification (or equivalent) is essential.
• Degree level qualification essential.
• Experience leading a team (as well as managing a Project Support Officer, you will matrix manage others).

• Substantial experience of programme, project, risk and issue management.
• Expertise in financial planning as relates to programme and project management.
• It may be an advantage if you have experience of working in the public sector and even better if you have experience of working within the Family Justice System.

We’re expecting a lot of interest in this role, so we encourage you to please ensure the above – and any of the other key requirements we have (please refer to the job description, which is a ‘vacancy document’) – is clearly demonstrated in your CV and/or application form.

Benefits

As an organisation, we’re proud of the extensive wellbeing support available for colleagues, as well as excellent benefits, all of which we hope encourages you to work within our dedicated team. You can find out more from our website.

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

If you’re preparing to apply, we encourage you not to rely heavily on AI tools when creating your application. While we recognise the benefits AI can offer, your application should reflect your own experience, insights, and motivations. This helps us genuinely understand what you will bring to the role.

Applications that appear to contain generalised or inauthentic content may limit our ability to assess your suitability, and where it is clear that AI has been used, it may affect our decision-making during the screening process.

Next steps / timelines

Below we have given you an indication of a timetable we are hoping to work towards, although dates are subject to change.

Closing date:

Initial interviews:

By Friday 13th February

Final Interview:

TBC but between 23rd February and 6th March

Please note, the following:

• We only plan to advertise this vacancy for a short period. If once we’ve done an initial, informal review of applicants we may decide to extend the advert to allow more people to apply. This will not mean anyone that’s already applied has been discounted. If we extend, this may mean the above timeline has to change.
• Initial and final interviews are likely to take place remotely via MS Teams.

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.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

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

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.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.

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

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 : Imogen Nicholson (Head of Practice (Strategic Development & Change)
• Email : imogen.nicholson@cafcass.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : hrresourcing@cafcass.gov.uk

Further information

https://www.cafcass.gov.uk/working-for-us