DBS - Programme Support Officer - Project Manager Office

Job summary

Are you a dedicated person who is passionate about making a difference?

Would you like to work for the Ministry of Defence?

Defence Business Services (DBS) is one of the largest shared service organisations in Europe that provides a wide range of corporate services, to over 1.2 million end users, including serving and past military and families, as well as MoD civil servants and industry. DBS delivers large scale administration and smaller specialist services to enable the wider MOD to focus on its core aims, maintaining the UK’s Defence and Security. Services include Human Resources, Pay, Veterans, Finance and Procurement.

• Our Vision - To support UK defence customers with outstanding service every time.
• Our Mission - Together we will proudly support Defence, continuously improving and delivering flexible, timely, sustainable and value for money services that underpin the whole force and enhance operational capability.

DBS is committed to creating a great place to work for all our colleagues. We are building an inclusive culture and respectful environment that reflects the diversity of the society.

We want to maximise the potential of everyone who chooses to work for us through opportunities to develop your skills and experience. We also offer a range of flexible working patterns and support to make a fulfilling career accessible to you and offer a Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%. Where your role permits, we support a blended working approach alternatively known as hybrid working.

Come and join the DBS community today!

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

DBS has recently undertaken a review of its operational locations in the North West, and have consolidated all activities in Norcross, Blackpool. A further move, to the new Government Hub at Talbot Gateway in Blackpool, is scheduled to take place in 2027.

DBS is part of The National Armaments Directorate (NAD) Group which is at the heart of delivering and sustaining the UK’s defence capability. Bringing together organisations responsible for developing, procuring, supporting and modernising Defence equipment, infrastructure and services, the Directorate works closely with industry, international partners and academia to ensure the Armed Forces have the capabilities they need to deter threats, protect the nation and succeed on operations. NAD drives innovation, operational readiness and value for money while supporting economic growth and strengthening the UK’s defence industrial base.

Job description

The CSM portfolio is recruiting to two-year FTAs, with the possibility of extension subject to business requirements and approvals.

If you are a permanent MOD civil servant and are successful in securing an advertised Fixed-Term Appointment (FTA), it may be possible to agree a Temporary Transfer, subject to the agreement of your current MOD business area. Where a Temporary Transfer is agreed and the post is at a higher grade, any promotion will be temporary, and you will return to your substantive grade at the end of the Temporary Transfer.

Existing Civil Servants from outside MOD and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply but will only be considered on a loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant, including arrangements regarding grade on return.

The Role

The role of the Project Manager is to lead and manage the Project Team on a day-to-day basis. The Project Manager is responsible for driving and overseeing the delivery of the project ensuring that the objectives are clearly defined and achieved within the agreed time, cost and quality constraints. The Project Manager has a key role in project Governance and working with Stakeholders to ensure the agreed project outputs are delivered to enable benefits to be realised.

Specific responsibilities include but not limited to:

Delivery – Defines and leads the project to deliver agreed outcomes within time, cost, and quality constraints.

Project Management – Manages and leads the project and team on a day-to-day basis. Sets project controls, designs the project structure suitable for each stage, and selects appropriate delivery methodologies.

Business Case – Coordinates the development of the business case.

Budget – Tracks delivery within budget.

Resources – Schedules and manages resources to deliver the project using data insights. May work independently or with a small team.

Benefits Realisation – Ensures benefits are identified, understood, measured, tracked, and owned. Implements and monitors a benefits realisation strategy to ensure longer-term delivery of benefits against the business case.

Stakeholder Management – Identifies key stakeholders and develops effective relationships.

Risks & Issues – Identifies and monitors project risks and issues, develops mitigating actions, and escalates as needed.

Governance – Provides key reports and supports effective governance and decision-making.

Assurance – Supports or establishes appropriate project assurance measures.

Change Management – Ensures effective change management processes are in place to agree, and documents changes to deliverables with stakeholders.

Guidance and Support – Seeks guidance, support, and coaching from the project community, commits to personal development, and promotes effective individual and team performance.

Person specification

Essential:

Project Delivery experience against appropriate framework.

Desirable:

Knowledge and experience of shared services in the public sector. Knowledge and experience of managing project RAIDO; Benefits Management and or, Stakeholder Management.

Qualifications

Desirable or willing to work towards:

PRINCE2 Practitioner or APM Practitioner Qualification or Agile Project Management Practitioner

Government Project Delivery Accreditation – Practitioner Level

Management of Risk Practitioner

Major Project & Leading Workstreams

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

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

• Government Project Delivery Frame work - Governance
• Government Project Deliver Framework - Risk & Issue Management

We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form:

• Government Project Deliver Framework - Risk & Issue Management

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,040, Ministry of Defence contributes £13,337 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).

• An environment with flexible working options Monday-Friday
• 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service (pro rata). In addition to 8 public holidays per year, you will