Project Support Officer

Job summary

The Future Enterprise Resource Planning and Shared Services Provider (FESSP) Programme in the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST) (formally known as DBT) will simplify, streamline, and improve the services HR and finance provide. It will upgrade and replace BIST’s current HR, finance, and domestic payroll systems, and transform transactional activities.

FESSP is the BIST arm of the Matrix Programme, a cross-Government transformation initiative involving several Other Government Departments. The objectives for shared services are:

• Better experience for all users – intuitive systems that are easy to use and mobile-enabled.
• Efficiency and value for money – better systems and services which support productivity and seek to reduce costs.
• Standardised processes and data – support interoperability, making it easier to understand and compare corporate data.

Your role as a Project Support Officer is to support activities with the FESSP Programme’s Portfolio Management Office (PMO) team for the whole programme.

Job description

Project Support Officers support the effective delivery of the FESSP Programme by contributing to the design, implementation and operation of project management processes and governance.

Working as part of the PMO, the role provides hands-on support across core delivery disciplines such as planning, reporting, risk and issue management, and governance. The postholder will work closely with workstreams and the wider PMO to ensure that project delivery standards are applied consistently and proportionately.

The role will also support programme delivery through the administration and coordination of governance arrangements, including boards, commissions and submissions.

Working within a PMO provides exposure to a broad range of activities and priorities. The postholder will be expected to manage competing demands, adapt quickly to changing requirements, and reprioritise work as programme needs evolve. In return, the role offers a varied and engaging working environment with opportunities to develop a wide range of project and programme management skills.

• Support PMO delivery disciplines by contribute to the operation of core PMO processes including risks and issues, planning, reporting, resources, or governance. Maintaining and updating data, logs, and reporting products in line with agreed standards.
• Supporting Workstreams through partnership to support delivery in line with Project Delivery Functional Standards. Providing practical support to ensure timely and accurate completion of PMO and broader BIST or Matrix requirements.
• Engage with stakeholders by building effective working relationships with people across the programme. Communicating clearly and appropriately, adapting style to audience.
• Support a Continuous improvement environment by identifying opportunities to improve processes, tools and outputs. Contributing to the development of practical solutions to improve efficiency and quality.
• Provide flexible PMO support across the full remit of the programme, responding flexibly to priorities and emerging needs.

Person specification

The Project Delivery Capability Framework defines the general competencies required to be successful in this role. Of those competencies these are key for this position.

Technical Competencies

Risk and Issue Management

• Supports the identification, recording and tracking of risks and issues
• Maintains logs and ensures updates are accurate and timely
• Escalates risks and issues where appropriate

Frameworks and Methodologies

• Applies agreed project delivery frameworks, tools and templates
• Supports workstreams to follow governance and process requirements
• Suggests practical improvements to ways of working

Digital and Data

• Uses digital tools to manage and report project data
• Applies basic analysis to support insight and reporting
• Ensures data quality and consistency across PMO products

Essential Criteria

The below criteria are essential and will be assessed at application stage;

A proactive and organised individual with strong attention to detail and an ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced delivery environment.

You will be comfortable working with data and stakeholders, and able to support delivery through clear communication, structured analysis and effective coordination.

You will demonstrate:

• Ability to work collaboratively with a range of stakeholders
• Good organisational and planning skills
• Strong written and verbal communication
• Analytical thinking and attention to detail
• A willingness to learn and develop within the Project Delivery Profession
• A continuous improvement mindset

Desirable Criteria

The below criteria are desirable only. These will not be assessed throughout the recruitment process, but will be used in the event of tied scores between candidates;

• A relevant Project Delivery qualification: the candidate is expected to work towards Project Delivery Accreditation which includes the need to achieve a qualification if this is not in already place. Example qualifications include:
  • APM Project Management Qualification
  • PRINCE2 Practitioner
  • Managing Successful Programmes Practitioner

More general information about the Project Support Office role as part of the Cross Government Project Delivery Profession can be found here: Project Support Officer SEO - Government Project Delivery

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Changing and Improving
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,666, Department for Business and Trade contributes £10,911 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).

• 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 employer contribution of 28.97%

We recognise the challenges that people with (multiple) protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups, including ethnic minorities, people with a disability, and people with gender diverse identities.

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 Behaviours and Experience.

Interviews for this vacancy will be conducted virtually. We will, however, consider in-person interviews by exception.

Please ensure that you check your emails regularly as all updates from us will be sent to you this way.

To apply for this post, you will be asked to complete the following as part of the online application:

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Provide employment history that relates to the essential criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last two years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than two A4 pages.
• A Personal Statement of up to 750 words, explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the essential criteria.

Your application will be sifted against the Experience criteria of the Civil Service Success Profiles.

It is likely that the sift will take place 1-2 weeks after the closing date and interviews 3-5 weeks after the closing date, though this is subject to change.

We aim to sift both the CV and the Personal Statement but, in the event of a large number of applicants, an initial short sift may be conducted on the Personal Statement only. Candidates who pass the initial sift of the Personal Statement will either progressed to a full sift where the CV is then assessed, or progressed straight to further assessment/interview.

Candidates who pass the sift will be invited to interview, where we will assess you on the Success Profiles elements of Behaviours.

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). 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. This includes grade on return.

Please note, following a recent change to the Machinery of Government, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) will be renamed to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST) as of 20th July 2026. BIST will connect the UK’s world-class science and technology base directly to the businesses, places and workers that will drive good growth across the country. Such changes will not affect the selection process for this campaign; however, we wanted to take this opportunity to advise you of the recent changes to our department.

You can find further information here regarding recent governmental changes Machinery of Government changes: Fact Sheet - GOV.UK.

Reasonable Adjustments

We are committed to supporting candidates so they can perform at their best throughout the recruitment process. This includes making reasonable adjustments to our process. In order to request an adjustment:

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section on the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process.

Alternatively contact the Government Recruitment Service at DBTrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Please see attached Candidate Pack for further information on: Diversity and Inclusion; Benefits; Learning and Development; Working Patterns and what we deliver as a department.

Further Information:

• Any move to the Department for Business and Trade from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments.
• The Department will not consider sponsoring a visa or issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship. We are unable to offer advice on any Visa and Immigration cases.
• 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. Any applicant who has 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.
• Terms and Conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
• Candidates that do not quite meet the standard for this role may be offered a position at a lower grade.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service /Disclosure Scotland/Access NI 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 Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

For further information on the Access NI confidential checking service telephone: the Access NI Helpline on 0300 200 7888 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email accessni@ani.x.gsi.gov.uk

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) 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 : Andrew Dutton
• Email : andrew.dutton@businessandtrade.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : dbtrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of appointment on the basis of fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact DBT by email at Resourcing@trade.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: Civil Service Commission Complaints

Attachments

DBT candidate pack July 2024 (1) Opens in new window (pdf, 943kB)DBT T&Cs 2025-08-18 Opens in new window (doc, 46kB)