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General Information

Salary
£52,316
Working Pattern
Full Time
Vacancy Approach
External
Location
Birmingham
Region
Midlands
Closing Date
03-Mar-2026
Business Unit
Birmingham
Post Type
Fixed Term, Loan
Civil Service Grade
SEO
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
14717

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Overview of the job

**PLEASE NOTE** This position is being offered on a Fixed Term Contract for an initial period of 2 Years.

The Project Lead is responsible for developing and influencing the strategic direction for the key project area, alongside the initiation, leadership and implementation of the project plan and key milestones. This is a strategic role that will involve influencing internal and external stakeholders to secure buy in to the project and ensure ambitions and benefits are realised. The Project Lead will be establishing, managing and implementing a range of key deliverables. The post holder will need to work flexibly to adapt to the changing landscape whilst ensuring the project remains a high priority across the organisation, despite competing demands. The Project Lead will be responsible and accountable for the effective delivery of the project, task managing and holding regular checkpoint meetings with multiple workstream leads. The Project Lead will be contributing to effective delivery across the programme due to the range of dependencies on structures and policies.

The need to ensure the rapid pace of change is maintained means the Project lead needs to be innovative and flexible in the way he/she provides project leadership and management. The role needs to ensure that all processes are lean, fit for purpose and applied pragmatically ensuring that systems provide a balance between facilitating decision making and applying suitable governance arrangements.

Summary

Responsible for the development, implementation and management of appropriate governance structures and reporting arrangements to ensure that the Project is derisked and delivers its commitments within time, cost and quality.

The Project Lead works with senior stakeholders from within HMPPS and MoJ.  The Project Lead is responsible for ensuring that the project undertakes suitable external scrutiny at key points.

The Project lead leads a small team to deliver effective management and specialist support to facilitate the smooth running of the project.

Responsibilities, Activities and Duties

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

  • To be responsible for the overall definition and conduct of the project.
  • Lead on the definition, implementation and management of appropriate project delivery arrangements providing an effective balance between control and support.
  • Working with professional procurement and commercial colleagues to ensure all procurement and contracting activities are carried out on time and deliver effective contracts that support operations but also deliver value for money.
  • Organise, chair, facilitate and support any stakeholder and working group meetings as well as ad-hoc meetings and workshops.
  • Manage Project resources and prioritise work within delegated limits to deliver the necessary outputs.
  • Manage the acquisition of resources for the project.
  • Escalate issues to the Programme Board and other governance bodies where these are outside own remit to resolve or where there are conflicting issues or matters which could affect delivery of the project.
  • Ensure stakeholders are kept informed routinely and at key milestones as appropriate. Manage the development and implementation of stakeholder strategy and management plans. Ensure communication plans and tools deal with the management of the difficult and sensitive messages to Staff (unions re: competition and in/out of scope arrangements).
  • Ensure action owners are reminded of outstanding actions from Boards / sub-committees / working groups.
  • Oversee planning with key work stream representatives and suppliers in relation to the activities required to be delivered by the project to produce a detailed and integrated work plan for the overall project.
  • Escalate forecast slippage beyond agreed tolerances and propose remedial action in response, amending the project plan as appropriate.
  • Responsible for ensuring the effective coordination of input to and maintenance and management of risks and issues logs for the project, ensuring risks and issues are fully articulated and evaluated and have an identified responsible owner; escalate those that cannot be managed or contained within the Project.

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant adjustments may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation Scheme and shall be discussed in the first instance with the job holder.

Behaviours

  • Managing a Quality Service
  • Delivering at Pace
  • Leadership
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Working Together
  • Changing and Improving

Ability

  • Working knowledge of business case development and approval.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and experience of building, influencing and maintaining strategic partnerships with other government departments, agencies, suppliers and other senior level stakeholders.
  • Excellent written communication skills to produce comprehensive reports and briefings for Directors within HMPPS and MoJ.
  • Excellent understanding of MS Office products and particularly in the use of MS Word, MS Excel and MS Project.

Experience

  • Significant experience of managing large and complex prison construction projects.
  • Experience of supporting at senior level providing briefing and reporting arrangements in a variety of roles across several projects/programmes.
  • Comprehensive knowledge and hands on experience of project delivery techniques and management of major projects or programmes.
  • Experience of building and managing a multi-functional team and getting the most out of it in a senior, dynamic and complex environment.
  • Excellent written communication skills to produce comprehensive reports and briefings for Directors within HMPPS and MoJ.

Technical

Recognised project delivery qualifications, ISEB accreditation, Practitioner or Advanced Practitioner in MSP, Prince2, MoR.

Additional Information

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks.

Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week excluding breaks which are unpaid. HMPPS welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the HMPPS’ Flexible Working policy.

If you are a current NPS employee, this vacancy may be available on a Loan basis for up to 2 years. Applications are invited from suitable qualified staff.

The Loan/Secondment is subject to the approval of the selected candidate's Business Unit, which should be obtained before confirmation of appointment.

Benefits

Annual Leave

-The holiday year runs from 1 March. If you work a non standard work pattern your leave entitlement may be expressed in either hours or days as appropriate. Leave entitlement is calculated on a pro-rata basis and you will be advised of your actual entitlement on appointment. If you were appointed internally and your leave was previously calculated in days, this will continue to be the case.

Bank, Public and Privilege Holidays

-You are entitled to 9 days (66 hours 36 minutes) in recognition of bank, public and privilege holidays. These hours are added to your annual leave allowance. There is a requirement to work some public and bank holidays subject to your shift pattern and the operational needs of the establishment

Pension

-The Civil Service offers a choice of two pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Work Life Balance

HM Prison & Probation Service  (HMPPS) is keen to encourage alternative working arrangements. Work life balance provides greater opportunities for staff to work more flexibly wherever managers and establishments can accommodate requests to do so. HMPPS offers flexible working subject to completion of a satisfactory probationary period and NVQ

Season Ticket Advance

-After two months’ service, you’ll be eligible to apply for a season ticket advance to purchase a quarterly or longer-period season ticket for travel between home and your place of work

Childcare Vouchers

For any moves across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers

Training

HMPPS is committed to staff development and offers a range of training and development opportunities, including areas such as Equality and Diversity, Dealing with Challenging Behaviour, Suicide Prevention and Anti Bullying Programmes

-There are opportunities to access promotion programmes and HMPPS provides a variety of training appropriate to individual posts

-All staff receive security and diversity training and an individual induction programme into their new roles

Eligibility

-All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post

-All external candidates are subject to 6 months probation. Internal candidates are subject to probation if they have not already served a probationary period within HMPPS

-All staff are required to declare whether they are a member of a group or organisation which the HMPPS considers to be racist

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.

You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.

Diversity & Inclusion

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

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

Civil Service Nationality Rules

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) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
  • 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) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

Reserve list

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.

Contact Information
 

MoJ:

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference 

HMPPS

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference -14717

Application form stage assessments

Behaviours
A sift based on the lead behaviour, Seeing the Big Picture, may be held if a large number of applications are received. If a large number of applications remain after the initial sift, your application will be progressed to a full sift, where all behaviours will then be considered.
Behaviours Application Form Question Word Limit
250
Making Effective Decisions
Working Together
Seeing the Big Picture
Communicating and Influencing

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
Expected 23/2/26
Behaviours
Making Effective Decisions
Working Together
Seeing the Big Picture
Communicating and Influencing
Strengths
Strengths will be assessed but these are not shared in advance. To learn more about Strengths and how they are assessed please click here.
Level of security checks required
DBS Standard

Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)

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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.