DD Defra Major Projects Portfolio and Project Delivery

General overview

Defras work lies at the heart of the Governments mission to grow the economy and raise living standards. From reforming the water system to ensuring food security, showing how economic development and nature restoration work hand in hand, supporting farming profitability, resetting our trading relationship with the EU, Defras work is foundational to our economic way of life and to our national security and resilience. Our major programmes deliver much of this work. Defra is a ministerial department that is supported by and works collaboratively across a large number of agencies and public bodies, other government departments and external partners.

DD Defra Major Projects Portfolio and Project Delivery

This role sits at the heart of all our major programmes and the outcomes they seek to achieve. You will manage teams directly supporting major programmes, from set up, to tracking and assuring delivery, getting involved in the full breadth of Defra's policy areas. Your remit encompasses leadership of the Project Delivery Centre of Expertise, which delivers three core services: Portfolio Management, Enabling Successful Delivery, and Project Delivery People and Profession.

The Directorate acts as the central hub for delivery across the Defra Group. It provides strategic leadership, oversight, and coordination of major projects and programmes, with deputy and cross Government representation requirements at key departmental and governmental forums. It influences and is highly visible, leading Defras overarching delivery governance, which reports in at Senior Executive level and to the Permanent Secretary.

The position leads Defras Major Projects Portfolio. You will have oversight of a large and complex major delivery portfolio, with a whole life cost of c55bn. A significant number are included in the GMPP, along with the extended portfolio and pipeline of major delivery across the Defra Group.

Key responsibilities include establishing and conducting effective second and third-line assurance for programmes within the portfolio, helping them to course correct and keep delivery on track. The Setting Up for Success service recognises that initiating programmes requires wide participation and engagement, and has received excellent feedback. It ensures new programmes and projects receive early support, strong foundations, and the right conditions to deliver.

The postholder holds the title of Deputy Head of Project Delivery Profession, leading our profession with c800 members in core Defra, strong cross government connections and significant opportunities to influence and support the project delivery profession across the whole of Whitehall.

This is a critical, visible and highly influential role, spanning significant responsibility. It requires exceptional leadership and stakeholder engagement skills, operating across a complex system of senior officials and delivery partners.

Essential Criteria

• Significant experience leading complex major projects or portfolios, including GMPP, and experience of assurance, including independent reviews and implementation of recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to lead Executive-level engagement, providing strategic insight to senior boards and influencing a wide range of senior stakeholders to support effective decision-making and delivery.
• Ability to generate high quality portfolio, programme (or equivalent) insight and analysis to drive prioritisation, decision making, escalation, and reporting.  
• Investing in people. Demonstrable experience building and leading people, including capability development, workforce planning, interacting with professional standards and pride in your profession.  
• Knowledge and experience of government delivery. May include knowledge of frameworks, working with NISTA delegations, HMT controls, and delivery standards and/or other external partners.  
• Excellent leadership, communication, and judgement, with the ability to operate at pace, manage complexity, and set strategic direction for delivery across a system. 
• Professional Qualification: Must hold relevant professional qualifications in project, programme, portfolio, or change management, such as Project Management, MSP, PRINCE2, Change Management, Portfolio Management, PLP, MPLA, or equivalent.