G7 Project Delivery Roles

Defra is the UK government department responsible for safeguarding our natural environment, supporting our world-leading food and farming industry, and sustaining a thriving rural economy. Our broad remit means we play a major role in people's day-to-day life, from the food we eat, and the air we breathe, to the water we drink. In terms of programme and project delivery, Defra has one of the largest and most complicated portfolios in Government.

Water is vital for life - clean, freshwater for drinking and sanitation, providing for farms and industry, creating and sustaining the ecosystems on which all life depends. Yet water is a finite natural resource, facing increasing pressures from climate change and population growth. Never before has political, media and public attention been focused on water as it is now. The Independent Water Commission made recommendations for reform of the system. The White Paper set out the actions now needed to fix the system. This brings a great opportunity, and we have been given a mandate to make some once in a generation changes. The Water System Reform Programme is mobilising alongside delivery of existing commitments to improve water outcomes, including in the Environmental Improvement Plan and 2024 Price Review.

We are seeking Grade 7 Project Delivery Managers to work across the water portfolio. We have a number of roles available supporting delivery of the Water System Reform Programme, and delivery of existing commitments contributing to improved water outcomes.

Encouraging diverse applicants

We recognise the challenges that people with (multiple) protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups.

Location

This role can be based at any Main Defra Policy Hub. You will be expected work in the office at least 60% of the time

As a project delivery professional, you will be responsible for embedding best practice project procedures, tools and methodologies in line with government project delivery standards. Experience of working in policy-led environment would be beneficial.

You will provide expert guidance, support and insight which will be typically moderate in complexity, and act as the source of all project information and metrics.

This role is aligned to the Project Delivery Capability Framework (PDCF). Further information on the PDCF can be found on the gov.uk homepage (search "Project Delivery Capability Framework").

Across all roles you will be responsible for:

• Applying recognised delivery methodologies, tools and techniques to drive successful delivery.
• Leadership of teams, workstreams, projects or programmes to achieve agreed outcomes, including working as part of multidisciplinary teams
• Developing and managing plans, schedules, resources and controls to deliver successful outcomes.
• Establishing and operating effective governance, assurance, risk and issue management arrangements.
• Building productive relationships and secures commitment from stakeholders at all levels.
• Understanding organisational objectives and supports the delivery of sustainable business change.
• Working as part of multidisciplinary teams, including with policy, corporate functions and regulators.
• An active member of the Defra Project Delivery Profession Community, and the project delivery professionals across water.

We have roles available in the following areas:

PMO Manager

The Water System Reform Programme PMO team operates at the heart of the programme, operating as the hub that develops, sets and implements programme controls. Working as part of a Grade 6 led PMO team, you will work closely with the other G7 PMO Managers to bring together intelligence across the programme to support decision making, provides governance, assurance, planning, reporting and performance management across the programme, ensuring projects are delivered consistently, risks are managed effectively, and strategic outcomes are achieved.

We are particularly looking for individuals with planning and reporting experience on complex policy reform and delivery programmes.

Single Regulator Project Manager

The single regulator project is a central delivery project within the Water System Reform programme, that will reshape the institutional structures for regulation in the water system. We are looking for three G7 project managers to join the existing Single Regulator Project team and work as part of a G6 led project team that is responsible for planning and delivery of the project, including running effective governance, reporting, risk and financial management. This is a highly complex transformation delivery project, working with a wide range of policy and corporate functions, as well as with delivery partners in the existing regulators.

We are particularly looking for individuals with experience engaging with a wide stakeholder group and the ability to guide teams through complex project timelines.

Water System Reform Project Manager

The water system reform programme has a 10 programme workstreams led by policy teams across the water group, with complex dependencies across the programme. We are establishing a G6 led pool of project managers who will work across the workstreams to build capability and provide targeted support throughout the life of the programme on planning, reporting, risk management, and delivery. Workstreams have a range of deliverables ranging from test and learn policy, publication of guidance, and shaping new capabilities for the new regulator.

Water System Delivery Manager

This role is part of a new G6 led system delivery and transition team. The team will shape and deliver reform through the transition of the reform journey. This will include working across the programme, shaping and delivering the transition delivery plan. The role will include working closely with stakeholders across the programme, regulators and wider system partners. The team will work closely with the PMO and stakeholder engagement team to work across the programme. The postholder will work as part of a small delivery team, working alongside another G7 to lead delivery of aspects of the system reform programme.

Water Delivery Project Manager

Two Grade 7 roles are available, each embedded into policy teams leading delivery of existing commitments in the water portfolio. One of the posts is embedded in the Clean Waters and Public Health division, the other in Water Infrastructure Delivery division. These policy divisions lead policy work, delivery of existing commitments as part of the Environmental Improvement Plan and Price Review 2024, as well as leading policy work on water system reform. The Grade 7 project manager roles will work across the division to work alongside policy leads to embed structured planning and delivery of the delivery commitments, run effective governance, reporting, and risk management. A key part of these roles will be leading input to Perm Sec stocktakes on delivery of our water outcomes, and ensuring that ministers feel sufficiently sighted on delivery progress, working closely with the water portfolio team.

• Experience of leading a PMO team, or managing complex projects, with detailed knowledge and experience covering planning, risk and issue management, governance, and assurance.
• Working knowledge of resource management, scheduling, budgeting and cost management, business case development, change and implementation and change control in a project or programme environment.
• Ability to proactively drive delivery to achieve results and outcomes against challenging timelines.
• Detailed knowledge of project methodologies and frameworks.
• A visible leader with experience of promoting diversity, inclusion and equality of opportunity, respecting differences.
• Strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to develop effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, collaborating across boundaries.
• Ability to work well under pressure, motivating and supporting others to deliver under challenging timescales and with competing priorities.
• Excellent presentation, briefing and drafting skills.
• Knowledge and experience of Project Management methodology supported by professional qualifications such as: PRINCE2 Practitioner, P3O Practitioner, Managing Successful Programmes Practitioner, Agile Project Management Practitioner, APM Project Management Qualification, APM Chartered Project Professional, Project Leadership Programme, APMG International Project Planning and Control Foundation or Practitioner, Leading and Managing Project Workstreams