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General Information

Salary
The national salary range is £39,803 - £43,783, London salary range is £42,817 - £48,824. Your salary will be dependent on your base location
Working Pattern
Full Time
Vacancy Approach
Cross Government
Location
National
Region
National
Closing Date
25-Sep-2025
Business Unit
AGY - NOMS Agency
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
HEO
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
9774

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Overview of the job

This is for additional Programme Management Office (PMO) capability to be brought into a delivery team.   

We require PMO Controls Managers who will report to the Head of PMO, who in turns reports to the Programme Manager, within the Directorate. They will operate the full suite of standard programme management controls.   

The role does not have line management responsibilities and the job holder does not need to be operational.
 

Summary

The job holder will be responsible for providing essential programme management office support to the Programme Manager, Programme Director and Programme Board to ensure that progress is maintained, risks and costs are managed and if required Treasury and Cabinet Office controls are adhered to.   The job holder will be responsible for operating the suite of programme management controls as a team member:  
  • schedule (MS Project plan) and dependency management
  • resource management
  • risk, issues and assumptions management
  • change control
  • information management and reporting
  • cost and benefits management
  • quality assurance and external gateway assurance management
  • lessons learned
  • programme administrative and secretariat duties.
     

Responsibilities, Activities & Duties

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties. The job holder needs to operate as part of a small multi-skilled team where each team member can cover for each other (absence, emergency activity, etc) maintaining a rapid pace in a technical environment (commercial, ICT). 

A lead responsibility may be assigned to each team member but collective responsibility will be shared across the team of PMO Controls Managers, with capabilities across all of the PMO control processes to support the flexible team working to deliver:  
  • An effective programme management service to the programme manager and director (line with MSP® principles)
  • Develop, review and maintain an appropriate risk management strategy and registers for the programme, ensuring risks and issues are identified, appropriately recorded and are effectively managed in line with the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) policy and guidance.
  • Manage the programme’s change control process, documentation configuration management and communications relating to them across the programme team, providing support to the associated governance forum
  • Manage and maintain documentation and information baselines, using in line with the programme’s information management plan and wider HMPPS information management policies   
  • Operating the programme reporting cycle ‘drumbeat’, delivering rigorous MI in a timely and quality manner to the appropriate audiences, including supplier and senior stakeholders
  • Assisting the programme manager with budget control for the programme; maintaining status reports on all projects’ costs in the programme
  • Support the maintenance of the end-to-end integrated programme schedule using MS Project
  • Support the maintenance of the programme’s resource plan, ensuring the resource profile matches the needs of the programme; maintaining a view of resource commitments on business-as-usual activities, assisting as needed with the acquisition and allocation of resources
  • Develop and agree benefit profiles in line with the programme’s benefits realisation plan; track and report the status of benefits realisation
  • Develop, review and maintain an appropriate programme quality assurance strategy; manage the programme’s quality assurance, product/deliverable description and product / deliverable acceptance processes; liaise with and arrange external assurance reviews, for example, MPA, TAP, MoJ Corporate where necessary
  • Manage the internal ‘lessons learned’ process, including assuring that recommendations are followed up
  • Provide administrative support such as meeting logistics support, co- ordination of IT and on-boarding arrangements for new joiners, and providing secretariat duties for programme governance meetings
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

  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Delivering at Pace
  • Working Together
  • Managing a Quality Service


Essential Experience

N.B. Converting job descriptions to the new Success Profile format means areas captured in experience could also be assessed as a strength. Vacancy managers should use their own judgement to decide where best to assess these  
  • Experience of setting up and running a programme office
  • A successful track record in implementing governance and reporting processes
  • A comprehensive knowledge and experience of programme and project management tools and techniques, especially project planning, and change management, within a large and complex programme/project environment
  • Excellent interpersonal skills to build, influence and maintain partnerships with programme staff, delivery work streams, Senior management and other stakeholders
  • Good organisational skills and attention to detail
  • Influential and able to persuade others to adhere to new processes and procedures
  • Effective management, interpersonal and communication skills
  • Experience of stakeholder communications
  • Time management and prioritisation skills
 

Technical requirements

  • Recognised project management qualifications or equivalent experience e.g. PRINCE2, APM, MSP, P3O
  • Competent in the use of MS Office products and particularly in the use of MS Word, MS Excel and MS Project
  • Awareness of the broader perspective and how it affects programmes/ projects
  • Have technical knowledge of project and programme management approaches

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.

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: 9774

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: 9774

Please contact Adam Metcalf – adam.metcalf@justice.gov.uk for any further queries

Application form stage assessments

Behaviours
A sift based on the lead behaviour, Working Together, 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
Delivering at Pace
Making Effective Decisions
Managing a Quality Service
Working Together

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
TBC
Behaviours
Delivering at Pace
Making Effective Decisions
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
Enhanced Baseline Standard (EBS)