Defence Digital Project Manager

Defence Digital ensures our Armed Forces remain among the most technologically advanced in the world. We do this by putting innovative and effective technology into the hands of over 200,000 users, from the boardroom to the front line.

We lead on cutting-edge data science, automation, and cybersecurity at scale. Our mission goes beyond the battlefield by leading humanitarian efforts and driving digital innovation that impacts lives across the globe.

Defence Digital forms part of Strategic Command which manages the MOD’s joint capabilities for the Army, RAF, and Royal Navy.

Watch to find out more about what we do.

Passionate about using your skills to make a critical difference? Your next career move could be here!

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

We’re looking for a dynamic Project Manager to join one of our high-performing teams and deliver transformational projects and programmes valued between £10M to £300M.

In this role, you’ll lead from the front, driving the direction, pace, and processes of projects throughout their entire life-cycle. You’ll have a critical influence, collaborating with delivery partners and agencies to ensure seamless execution.

As one our Project Managers, you will take ownership of project execution, ensuring time, cost, and quality objectives are met. You will be confident in developing robust project strategies and oversee progress every step of the way. Keeping programmes on track by managing schedules, budgets, and quality benchmarks will be key to success as well as identifying, mitigating, and tackling risks and issues as they arise.

Responsibilities:

• Oversee test programmes to independently check that a product, service, or system meets requirements and specifications and that it fulfils its intended purpose.
• Supply key reports and support effective governance and decision making.
• Set, control, and ensure effective configuration and change control is applied to all documentation and records.
• Confirm effective change management processes are in place to agree and document changes to deliverables as agreed with stakeholders.
• Oversee contracts ensuring the quality of delivery against the requirements.
• Write comprehensive business cases for approval.

For further information on the skills required for a Project Manager, please refer to the Project Delivery Capability Framework: 6.7775_IPA_Project Delivery Capability Framework 2021 Refresh sample pages (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Person specification

This role is perfect for someone with a solid background in project management practices, methodologies, tools, and techniques. Ideally, you have experience working on project teams handling tasks of medium to large complexity, or you have served as a specialist or led on smaller, less complex projects.

You will collaborate with a diverse group of stakeholders, including team members, government representatives, and external partners, to clearly define project goals and outcomes. Therefore, strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders are essential.

When submitting your CV, please highlight your career history and experience relevant to this role. Additionally, refer to the "Things You Need to Know" section of the advert and provide a personal statement (max. 1250 words) demonstrating the essential criteria listed below:

• Demonstrate your professional credibility required to work collaboratively across project and organisational boundaries.
• Provide an example of your ability to interpret and analyse data to inform decision making.
• Provide evidence of where you have communicated with, and managed, a diverse group of stakeholders, to deliver a product.

Please note:

• Due to the nature of the role and the IT systems you will be required to use on a regular basis, you may need to attend site regularly.
• Due to the remote locations, you will need to travel to, which lack access to public transport, and the specific tasks required, having access to a car is essential.
• Due to security and information access restriction, the role is only open to a sole UK BRITISH national. 

Candidates must possess a Practitioner Level Qualification, such as PRINCE2 Practitioner or APM Project Management Qualification. If invited for an interview, candidates will be required to provide documentary evidence of their qualifications. Equivalent qualifications will be considered, so please specify any equivalent qualifications you hold in your supporting statement. Please ensure all qualifications are up to date.

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:

• Planning and Scheduling
• Risk and Issue Management
• Stakeholder Engagement

Alongside your salary of £44,590, Ministry of Defence contributes £12,917 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

We offer a generous total package to our employees which includes the following:

• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• 25 days annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
• Ability to roll over up to 10 days annual leave per year
• In addition to 8 public holidays per year you will also receive leave for HM The King's birthday
• Minimum of 15 Days Special Leave in a rolling 12-month period to for volunteer military or emergency service reserve commitments
• Special Paid Leave for volunteering up to 6 days a year
• Enhanced parental and adoption leave
• Employee Assistance Programme to support your well-being
• Most sites have good travel links with free car parking; many also have other facilities such as a Sports & Social Club and Gyms
• Benefit Pension Scheme:   Civil Service pension
• Please see Benefits link for more info: Civilian Discover My Benefits (mod.gov.uk)

Equality and Diversity

Our people are at the heart of everything we do at Defence Digital. It’s vital that our workforce reflects the diversity of both our audience and the wider society in the UK, so we’re proud to be an equal opportunities employer and we actively seek candidates from diverse backgrounds and communities. We also recognise the importance of a good work life balance, so we do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including part-time and job shares for all our roles. Please let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process if this is something you want to explore.

Professional Framework Statement  

Defence Digital operates an organisation model in which every individual belongs to a Government Profession. The successful applicant will be posted into one of the defined Government Professions on Standard Terms of Reference for the grade. Defence Digital reserves the right to move individuals between roles, within their allocated profession, to meet the needs of the business and in support of agile resourcing.  Within Defence Digital each profession is led by a Professional Head of Community who will lead professional development and support the Continuous Professional Development path for their group.

Learning & Development

In Defence Digital we have a strong learning and development ethos, supporting you to fulfil your potential by providing:

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• Professional and Personal Development of skills
• Access to thousands of training courses through Civil Service Learning, some free or paid by MOD
• Ability to obtain industry recognised qualifications supported by MOD

Hybrid Working

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working.  This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity.  Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office will also count towards this level of attendance.  Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the vacancy holder (see advert for contact details).  This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.  The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.  Due to the nature of the role and the IT systems you will be required to use on a regular basis, you may need to attend site regularly.  Please note that due to the remote locations, you will need to travel to, which lack access to public transport, and the specific tasks required, having access to a car is essential.

The post does not offer relocation expenses.

External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.

Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.

Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.

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