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General Information

Salary
The national salary range is £41,463 - £45,276, London salary range is £47,657 - £52,040. Your salary will be dependent on your base location
Working Pattern
Full Time
Vacancy Approach
External
Location
National
Region
National
Closing Date
30-May-2025
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
SEO
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
5718

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Overview

The MoJ Property Directorate is a customer focused organisation that exists to enable our customers to perform to their very best. We do this by providing high quality, easy to use services, and working environments that our customers want to work in, which support them to deliver their individual outputs efficiently. Our job is to manage one of the most diverse and complex estates in Government – hosted by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). Our remit brings together a property portfolio including Prisons, Probation, MoJ HQ and Arm’s Length Bodies.

MoJ Property provides specialist services including Facilities Management, Health and Safety, Fire Safety, Security, Technical Design expertise and Sustainability. Additionally, we have dedicated business management teams supporting the entire Directorate and each of our partners is supported by Account Management teams. We are part of the Government Property Profession (GPP) and through active membership and engagement we will work with the Office of Government Property to develop the maturity of the profession and encourage our people to join the GPP. We aim to build our capability through training and recruitment, aspiring to be the best that we can be as individuals and as a Directorate.

We continue to deliver new ways of working across our portfolio leading on the scale and pace of activity for central government. Our approach involves proposing effective solutions, offering dynamic and flexible workspaces, and significantly reducing the cost of the estate.

MOJ Property delivers a variety of Special Projects, addressing specific capacity needs across the HMPPS Estate. The Portfolio Manager Role will be part of the Rapid Deployment Cells Programme and will support the team deliver against the current delivery strategy.

The RDCP aims to deliver capacity across the prison estate at pace. RDCs represent the fastest current deliverable supply option for the prison estate to reduce the capacity gap in the short-medium term whilst other work is underway on both demand and supply measures.  

Units will be modern, decent, and offer the prisons a good option to manage their progressive regimes (independent living to those prisoners who are nearing the end of their term of risk assessed as not being a danger to themselves or others).  

RDC units differ from other temporary accommodation in a number of ways. The units can be stacked to effectively utilise space and accessible sleeper units can be provided.     

In December 2022, the Full Business Case (FBC) Addendum to secure funding for 520 additional RDC places was approved by HM Treasury and Cabinet Office. Overall, this takes delivery of the first two Tranches to a total of 1,000 places across 17 prisons. c.400 RDC places were delivered in 2023, with the majority of the remaining 600 places due to deliver over 2024.     

As of June 2024, we have delivered 767 places across 14 sites.

Team Overview

The RDC Programme is a top priority for HMPPS and MoJ as a key solution to manage short-to-medium term capacity pressures. There is significant interest from the Lord Chancellor and No10 with the programme having secured funding to deliver c.1700.

The rationale for the delivery of all spaces was to deliver much needed capacity for the estate in the short-to-medium term and will enable the department to meet its legal obligation to ensure sufficient prison capacity to uphold court sentences in the longer term. RDCP is the preferred short-term option at our disposal to support HMPPS and deliver prison places.

The Programme team consists of a team of Senior Project Sponsors and a Head of Programme Delivery.

Job Description, Duties and Responsibilities

Responsibilities will include the following:

 ·      Contribute effectively to the development of the strategic outline business cases (custodial, non-custodial and probation), by engaging and working closely with Directorate stakeholders: Strategic Account Managers; and project sponsors at all levels to ensure all approvals are required for good governance and portfolios are compiled that meet business needs, within spend allocated and achieve value form money.

·   Work closely with the Technical Standards and Performance teams to maintain accurate records on the delivery of agreed programmes.

·         Prepare and issue mandates to project sponsors.

·  Lead on behalf of the Head of Programmes and Portfolio’s on key workstreams, for example: benefits management, risk and issue management, lessons learnt and Medium term supply submissions.

·   Provide accurate project and portfolio performance reports for strategy, investment and delivery boards.  Which may include RDC Programme Board, Senior Delivery Group and Working Groups

·    Regularly review the Programme with key business stakeholders, ensuring projects follow change control process when changes are required. The portfolio manager will draft, manage and keep updated a rolling five-year portfolio.

·         Regularly review expenditure profiles with finance colleagues and Head of Programme Delivery(s), to ensure robust forecasting of in-year expenditure.

·     Maintain the mandated Programme budget, ensuring robust forecasting, and approve payments efficiently including requests to release contingency funding, challenging delivery teams as appropriate to ensure value for money.

·     Timely consideration; evaluation and if appropriate escalation to the Head of Programmes and Portfolio’s of assigned projects within the portfolio in relation to change control and issues in relation to time, cost and quality outside of agreed tolerance.

·        Maintain and be accountable for the completion of wider programme and portfolio reporting.

·         Maintain Programme change logs, analysing data sets and influencing change with programme to deliver enhanced value for money

·         Liaise closely with the key RDC Stakeholders, namely RDC Programme Team, Finance, CCMD, Mobilisation and IT.

Skills and Experience

Essential

  • Ability to look at the big picture and consider the wider factors and long-term implications of everything you do
  • Ability to take a positive approach to tackling problems and find ways to identify suitable solutions
  • You work well as part of a team and strive to ensure the team pulls together and is effective
  • To be detailed, focus, and ensure that everything is accurate and error free

Highly Desirable:

  • Financial management experience
  • Ability to work with minimal supervision, taking responsibility for outcomes
  • Awareness of Government Property Profession

Qualifications

Further Opportunities

·         opportunities exist to develop skills and gain qualifications in the area e.g. Management of Portfolio Foundation / Practitioner course.

Behaviours

We will assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

·         Seeing the Big Picture

·         Changing and Improving

·         Managing a Quality Service

·         Working Together

At application stage candidates will be asked to provide a 1,000 word personal ‘Statement of Suitability’ and CV giving examples of any relevant technical skills, experience and behaviours they feel demonstrate their suitability for the role, as outlined in the role profile.

Flexible working hours

The Property Directorate offers a flexible working system in many teams.

Requests for reduced hours contracts will be considered in line with business needs.

This is a full-time role.

We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce and pride ourselves as being an employer of choice. We are happy to accommodate any reasonable adjustments you may require during the selection process. To find out more about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity

The Directorate is supportive of and encourages flexible working. 

Non-civil service candidates will start on the pay band minimum.

 


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). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.

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 role: all successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale.  This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) – See Map. All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity). 

For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its location’s respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).

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.

MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.

All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.

Flexible working hours

The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ 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 MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.

Benefits

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual Leave

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.

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 day. 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

The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

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.

Support

  • A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
  • Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
  • For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on www.GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
  • Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
  • Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

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.

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

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.

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 5718

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 5718

Application form stage assessments

Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability
Statement of Suitability
Guidance for the Statement of Suitability
A 1000-word Statement of Suitability along with your CV is required. This statement should clearly demonstrate how your skills and experience align with the job description, highlighting your relevant experiences and skills to allow us to effectively evaluate your application.

Please note that this Statement of Suitability and CV will be assessed and scored as part of the selection process. If the statement of suitability does not meet the requirements, or is not provided, candidates will be automatically rejected.
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
Interview dates to be confirmed.
Behaviours
Seeing the Big Picture
Changing and Improving
Managing a Quality Service
Working Together
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.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)
You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application, including your CV, statement of suitability and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.
Level of security checks required
Counter Terrorism Check (CTC)