Programme Manager

Job summary

We are seeking three experienced Programme Managers to lead the governance, assurance and performance of a programme of property projects within Defra Group Property.

You will ensure that projects led by Project Managers are set up and delivered in line with clear governance, robust controls and consistent delivery disciplines. As Programme Manager, you will be accountable for ensuring that a programme of interdependent property projects is governed and delivered effectively.

You will operate at programme level, setting standards, providing oversight, and holding delivery to account across multiple projects led by Project Managers. Your focus will be on ensuring that the right governance, assurance and delivery disciplines are consistently applied.

You will work in close partnership with the PMO, using programme data, reporting and controls to drive insight, inform decisions and maintain delivery discipline across the portfolio.

This is an opportunity for experienced Programme Managers who understands the difference between leading projects and leading programmes, and who can operate as a system leader across a complex delivery environment

Job description

Programme Governance & Assurance

• Alignment with robust programme governance frameworks, ensuring clarity of roles, responsibilities and decision-making
• Lead programme-level assurance, including reviews, controls and gateway processes
• Work with the PMO to ensure governance processes, reporting and controls are consistently applied and adhered to
• Ensure consistent application of project delivery standards, methodologies and controls across all projects
• Monitor programme health, using insight and data to ensure risks, issues and performance are transparently reported and managed
• Provide independent challenge to project teams and stakeholders to support robust, evidence-based decision-making

Portfolio Oversight & Integration

• Maintain the overall integrity and coherence of the programme across multiple projects
• Identify and manage interdependencies, working with the PMO to ensure these are clearly captured, tracked and actively managed
• Intervene where delivery is off track, working with Project Managers and the PMO to resolve systemic issues
• Ensure alignment between project delivery, business objectives and property strategy

Leadership of Delivery Community

• Provide leadership and direction to Project Managers
• Work in partnership with the PMO to drive consistent ways of working, high-quality reporting and a strong delivery culture
• Foster a culture of accountability, transparency and continuous improvement in delivery practice
• Support the development of strong project delivery capability across the team

Strategic Programme Leadership

• Ensure that programmes are aligned to strategic objectives and deliver intended outcomes and benefits
• Oversee the integrity of business cases and programme-level planning
• Use insight from reporting and assurance to inform strategic decision-making
• Engage effectively with stakeholders across property, corporate functions and the wider department.

Person specification

• Significant demonstratable experience operating as a Programme Manager, overseeing multiple projects within a complex delivery environment
• Strong track record of leading governance and assurance frameworks across programmes or portfolios
• Experience of working closely with a PMO to drive effective reporting, controls, assurance and performance management
• Track record of securing project approvals, including developing 5 case model business cases in collaboration with project leads and subject matter experts.
• Working knowledge of scheduling, budgeting and cost management, business change and implementation, change control, assurance, risk and benefits management.
• Significant demonstrable experience of overseeing project delivery through Project Managers or equivalent roles
• Ability to manage complexity, including dependencies, risks and competing priorities across a programme and/or portfolio
• Experience of providing constructive challenge and holding delivery teams to account

Qualifications

• Managing Successful Programmes (MSP)
• A recognised project management qualification such as;PRINCE2 Practitioner, Project Leadership Programme (PLP), APM Practitioner or equivalent.
• Membership of the Government Property Profession or Government Project Delivery Profession.
• A recognised Property Accreditation (or working towards) at Chartered, Certified or Fellow grade (RICS, IWFM, CIOB, CEng, CEnv, RTPI, RIBA) or APM Chartered Project Professional ChPP.

Qualifications

Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) A recognised project management qualification such as; PRINCE2 Practitioner, Project Leadership Programme (PLP), APM Practitioner or equivalent. Membership of the Government Property Profession or Government Project Delivery Profession. A recognised Property Accreditation (or working towards) at Chartered, Certified or Fellow grade (RICS, IWFM, CIOB, CEng, CEnv, RTPI, RIBA) or APM Chartered Project Professional ChPP.

Memberships

Member of the Government Property or Project Delivery Profession

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

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

• Knowledge of RIBA stages and property project lifecycle.Knowledge of governance, assurance and reporting activities within a typical monthly programme management cycle.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £56,375, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £16,331 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%

• Flexi Time Policy. Our Flexi-time policy allows you to vary your hours from day to day, within the requirements of your role, to suit your needs and to offer a better work/life balance.

  Leave. If you work full time at Defra you are entitled to 25 days’ leave (rising, over 5 years, to 30 days’). If you work part time it will be pro-rated.

  Privilege day. You are also entitled to a privilege day off in May to mark the King’s birthday (date varies), plus time off for the 8 public holidays a year.

  Career breaks. We recognise that your work-life balance can extend beyond the short-term to the longer-term, and to support this you are able to apply for career breaks. These are unpaid extended breaks from work, granted at the discretion of the department.

  Volunteering leave - 3 days paid volunteering leave every year (pro-rata). Once you have passed probation.

  Season ticket loan – for a