Directorate: MoJ Project Delivery Function

Job Title: Project Manager

Pay Span or equivalent: Band B / SEO

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 a function 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. As Project Manager, you will lead / manage the project and the project team on a day-to-day basis. You will be responsible for driving and overseeing the delivery of the project to ensure that the objectives are clearly defined and achieved within the agreed time, cost and quality constraints. As Project Manager, you will play a key role in project governance and working with stakeholders, to ensure the agreed project outputs are delivered to enable benefits to be realised. These opportunities provide a unique chance to be at the forefront of implementing significant projects across the MoJ. 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

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

Delivery - Create and lead the project to deliver the agreed outcomes within time, cost and quality constraints.
Project Management - Day to day management and leadership of the project and the project team. Set project controls. Design the project structure appropriate to stage. Select and apply appropriate delivery methodologies.
Business Case - Coordinate development of the Business Case.
Budget - Track delivery within budget.
Resources - Schedule / manage resources to deliver the project. May work independently or with a small team.
Benefits Realisation - Ensure benefits are identified, understood, measured, tracked and owned. Ensure appropriate Benefits Realisation Strategy is in place, and monitor longer term delivery of benefits against the Business Case.
Stakeholder Management - Identify key stakeholders and develop effective relationships.
Risks & Issues - Identify and monitor project risks and issues. Develop mitigating actions and escalate as appropriate.
Governance - Provide key reports and support effective governance and decision making.
Assurance - Support or set appropriate project assurance.
Change Management - Ensure effective Change Management processes are in place to agree and document changes to deliverables as agreed with stakeholders.
Guidance & Support - Seek appropriate support, guidance and coaching from the project community. Show commitment to personal development. Promote effective individual and team performance.
Project Performance & Controls - Build Project Plan and apply appropriate project principles to deliver stated objectives. Identify and set appropriate Project Controls. Track and report delivery against milestones.
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.

Location & Terms of appointment

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.

Following the return to offices initiative any MoJ employee based in a MoJ building 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

Band B (SEO)

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.

Selection and Recruitment Process

As this is a 3-month rolling recruitment campaign, various sift/interview dates will be scheduled across the 3 months.

Where high volumes of applications are received the initial sift will be completed against the lead competency. If your application progresses to a full sift, all competencies will then be considered. Feedback is not available for those not invited to interview.

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

Application Process

You will be required to complete an application form providing evidence of how you meet the Project Delivery Competencies as per the Project Delivery Capability Framework.

Details on the PDCF can be found on the Infrastructure and Projects Authority pages

Successful candidates will then be invited for interview and the interviews will take place virtually via MS Teams.

The interview will consist of Project Delivery competency and strength-based questions in line with success profiles.

Project Delivery Competencies

You will be required to provide evidence of the following key competencies at the indicated level:

Competencies	Description	Level required
Project Delivery Profession - Technical Competencies
Commercial and Procurement Skills	The ability to gain financial approval for project costs and work with commercial colleagues to monitor spend against contract. It is also the ability to ensure the process by which the goods and services are procured by a project in line with the relevant regulatory framework.	(A) Basic knowledge and limited or no experience You understand how it can be applied. You can describe the benefits and importance. You may have applied it in a low complexity project under supervision or assisted others in delivering it.
Requirements Management	The ability to process of capturing stakeholder needs, assessing, defining and justifying those needs to arrive at an agreed schedule of requirements.	(W) Working knowledge and practical experience You have a good understanding of this competence. You have applied this independently in low complexity projects and/or under supervision in more complex projects.
Solutions Development	The ability to identify, document and analyse the various delivery options and select the optimal solution.	(A) Basic knowledge and limited or no experience You understand how it can be applied. You can describe the benefits and importance. You may have applied it in a low complexity project under supervision or assisted others in delivering it.
Planning	The ability to define the fundamental components of a project 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 a project.	(W) Working knowledge and practical experience You have a good understanding of this competence. You have applied this independently in low complexity projects and/or under supervision in more complex projects.
Scheduling	The ability to develop, produce and maintain schedules for activities that take account of dependencies, resource requirements and constraints in order to enable the efficient realisation of benefits.	(W) Working knowledge and practical experience You have a good understanding of this competence. You have applied this independently in low complexity projects and/or under supervision in more complex projects.
Resource Management	The ability to identify, profile and secure the resources required to deliver a project.	(W) Working knowledge and practical experience You have a good understanding of this competence. You have applied this independently in low complexity projects and/or under supervision in more complex projects.
Budgeting & Cost Management	The ability to estimate costs, produce a budget and control forecasts and actual spend against budget.	(W) Working knowledge and practical experience You have a good understanding of this competence. You have applied this independently in low complexity projects and/or under supervision in more complex projects.
Risk & Issue Management	The ability to systematically identify and monitor risks & issues, planning how to mitigate / respond to those risks and issues and implementing the responses.	(W) Working knowledge and practical experience You have a good understanding of this competence. You have applied this independently in low complexity projects and/or under supervision in more complex projects.
Quality Management	The ability to plan, develop, maintain and apply quality management processes to ensure the adherence to those standards throughout the project delivery lifecycle.	(W) Working knowledge and practical experience You have a good understanding of this competence. You have applied this independently in low complexity projects and/or under supervision in more complex projects.
Business Change & Implementation	The ability to integrate the project outputs into ‘business as usual’ (BAU) ensuring that activities are planned and completed to enable the business to implement the change and realise the benefits.	(A) Basic knowledge and limited or no experience You understand how it can be applied. You can describe the benefits and importance. You may have applied it in a low complexity project under supervision or assisted others in delivering it.
Governance	The ability to clearly define roles, responsibilities and accountabilities and establish controls and approval routes appropriate to each stage of the project to monitor project progress and compliance.	(W) Working knowledge and practical experience You have a good understanding of this competence. You have applied this independently in low complexity projects and/or under supervision in more complex projects.
Frameworks & Methodologies	The ability to identify and amend appropriate project frameworks and methodologies to enable a consistent and efficient approach to delivery at all stages of the project lifecycle.	(W) Working knowledge and practical experience You have a good understanding of this competence. You have applied this independently in low complexity projects and/or under supervision in more complex projects.
Stakeholder Engagement	The ability to systematically identify, analyse and communicate with stakeholders, using appropriate channels, to ensure all those impacted by the change are engaged, taking account of their levels of influence and particular interests.	(W) Working knowledge and practical experience You have a good understanding of this competence. You have applied this independently in low complexity projects and/or under supervision in more complex projects.
Assurance	The ability to establish, plan and manage reviews at appropriate points during all stages of the project life cycle to provide evaluations of progress against time, cost, quality, compliance and ongoing viability.	(W) Working knowledge and practical experience You have a good understanding of this competence. You have applied this independently in low complexity projects and/or under supervision in more complex projects.
Change Control	The ability to establish protocols to manage and document all requests that alter the scope of a project. This includes the capture, evaluation and approval or rejection of any requests.	(W) Working knowledge and practical experience You have a good understanding of this competence. You have applied this independently in low complexity projects and/or under supervision in more complex projects.
Business Case Development	The ability to prepare, develop, commission and update business cases to justify the initiation and continuation of projects in terms of benefits, value for money and risk.	(A) Basic knowledge and limited or no experience You understand how it can be applied. You can describe the benefits and importance. You may have applied it in a low complexity project under supervision or assisted others in delivering it.
Asset Allocation	The ability to recommend how financial and other resources should be allocated between projects in order to optimise the organisations return on investment (ROI). This includes the determination of which projects should be initiated continued or closed to best support the organisations strategic objectives.	(A) Basic knowledge and limited or no experience You understand how it can be applied. You can describe the benefits and importance. You may have applied it in a low complexity project under supervision or assisted others in delivering it.
Benefits Management	The ability to identify, quantify, map and track project benefits to justify investment in the project, and to provide assurance that the benefits identified can be realised.	(W) Working knowledge and practical experience You have a good understanding of this competence. You have applied this independently in low complexity projects and/or under supervision in more complex projects.
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.	(A) Basic knowledge and limited or no experience You understand how it can be applied. You can describe the benefits and importance. You may have applied it in a low complexity project under supervision or assisted others in delivering it.
Project Delivery Profession - Behavioural/Leadership Competencies
Visible Leadership	The ability to engage, motivate and coach others. To act as a role model and inspire and empower others.	(W) Working knowledge and practical experience You have a good understanding of this competence. You have applied this independently in low complexity projects and/or under supervision in more complex projects.
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.	(W) Working knowledge and practical experience You have a good understanding of this competence. You have applied this independently in low complexity projects and/or under supervision in more complex projects.
Working with Ambiguity	The ability to work in an environment of uncertainty and continual change. Able to feel comfortable making decisions and setting direction without having the full picture and re-focus as details emerge. Can apply knowledge and techniques to reduce ambiguity.	(A) Basic knowledge and limited or no experience You understand how it can be applied. You can describe the benefits and importance. You may have applied it in a low complexity project under supervision or assisted others in delivering it.
Collaboration	The ability to establish and develop productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders, bringing people together to benefit the project.	(W) Working knowledge and practical experience You have a good understanding of this competence. You have applied this independently in low complexity projects and/or under supervision in more complex projects.
Influencing	The ability to influence, change and impact decisions with both internal and external stakeholders.	(W) Working knowledge and practical experience You have a good understanding of this competence. You have applied this independently in low complexity projects and/or under supervision in more complex projects.
Conflict Resolution	The ability to recognize, anticipate and effectively deal with existing or potential conflicts at an individual, team or strategic level.	(W) Working knowledge and practical experience You have a good understanding of this competence. You have applied this independently in low complexity projects and/or under supervision in more complex projects.
Inspiring Others	The ability to create and present a compelling vision and set clear direction, that motivates others to work towards a common goal.	(W) Working knowledge and practical experience You have a good understanding of this competence. You have applied this independently in low complexity projects and/or under supervision in more complex projects.
Resilience	The ability to adapt to changing circumstances and adverse situations whilst remaining calm, reassuring others and maintaining performance.	(W) Working knowledge and practical experience You have a good understanding of this competence. You have applied this independently in low complexity projects and/or under supervision in more complex projects.
Innovation	The ability to think of, research and apply new ideas and ways of doing things. Encourages and supports innovations from others, is willing to experiment and follow ideas through to implementation.	(W) Working knowledge and practical experience You have a good understanding of this competence. You have applied this independently in low complexity projects and/or under supervision in more complex projects.
Culture Change	The ability to plan, lead and effect positive cultural change, securing commitment and buy-in and promoting a positive long term vision. Recognizes when broader culture change is necessary to deliver a project.	(A) Basic knowledge and limited or no experience You understand how it can be applied. You can describe the benefits and importance. You may have applied it in a low complexity project under supervision or assisted others in delivering it.

Travel

Frequent travel to other sites is required for this post.

Flexible working options

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

Job Sharing and Reduced Hours

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.

MoJ offers a range of benefits

Annual Leave

Generous allowances for paid holiday starting at 25 days per year and rising as your service increases. There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege days. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

Pension

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

Training

MoJ is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities. As a member of the MoJ Project Delivery Function you will also have unique access to the Government Project Delivery Online Skills Tool which will support the development of your skills and assist with your career progression aspirations.

Support

A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
Access to flexible benefits such as salary sacrifice arrangements for childcare vouchers, and voluntary benefits such as retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

Networks

The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

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.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity.

There is a guaranteed interview scheme (GIS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.