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This vacancy is only available to existing Civil Servant employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs). Please review the "Eligibility" section before you apply.

General Information

Salary
The national salary range is £58,511 - £65,329, London salary range is £63,343 - £70,725 Your salary will be dependent on your base location
Working Pattern
Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
Cross Government
Location
National
Region
National
Closing Date
26-Nov-2025
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
Grade 7
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
11768

Descriptions & requirements

Job description
Role Profile - Programme Management Office and Special Projects Change Lead 

Role title 
Programme Management Office and Special Projects Change Lead  

Location
National 

Business area
People & Capability Group - HR HMPPS Programme Delivery Unit 

Reports to
Head of Strategic Delivery 

Grade
Grade 7 

Contract Type 
Permanent

Job summary
The Programme Management Office (PMO) and Special Projects Change Lead is responsible for leading the delivery of change activities across the People and Capability (P&C) Group and HMPPS in support of implementing the delivery of single one-off projects overseen by the Programme Delivery Unit. The postholder will also lead and coordinate delivery for strategic business planning and briefing functions across the whole unit, as well as having oversight of the unit-wide delivery plan and related documents. The postholder will ensure that strategic objectives are clearly defined, resources are effectively allocated, and senior leaders and ministers are equipped with high-quality briefings to support decision-making and external engagement. They do this by working closely with private offices, communications, change portfolio leads, HMPPS stakeholders, and wider P&C teams.

The postholder will be expected to operate as a self-starter, owning delivery within their remit, working methodically to agreed milestones, and maintaining a clear line of sight from strategy to delivery. They will produce high-quality written and visual products, including briefings, papers and presentations, to engage a range of audiences and support effective decision-making.  

Job description

The HR HMPPS Programme Delivery Unit (PDU) was created to bring together people working across P&C on significant HMPPS programmes of work into one team, many of which have ministerial interest and scrutiny. These include HMPPS priorities such as the Enable Programme, the Independent Review of Foundation Training (Prisons), the Rademaker Review into professional standards, and Our Future Probation Service. The Unit sits within the HR Business Partnering HMPPS & HQ Directorate and is part of the P&C Group.

The PMO and Special Projects Change Lead role has a dual function. Firstly, they have a central role responsible for taking charge of programme oversight, business planning and briefing across the Unit. This involves coordinating the overarching programme plan, business planning returns and external commissions for information, as well as overseeing a high-performing briefing and correspondence hub, thereby enhancing People and Capability Group’s reputation and credibility in responding to requests for information and communicating its delivery progress and successes.

Secondly, the role will ensure that implementation of special projects in the PDU are driven forward effectively, with clear governance, stakeholder engagement, and measurable progress. They will ensure alignment with P&C priorities, drawing together necessary stakeholders and work on culture, HR delivery, policy, systems and analytics.

The role requires leadership and delivery skills in a complex, fast-moving environment, with the ability to translate strategic intent into tangible results, and to work collaboratively across multiple professional disciplines and organisations.

Responsibilities

Leadership & Delivery Management

  • Lead the end-to-end delivery of special project workstreams across P&C and HMPPS, ensuring alignment with wider MoJ transformation priorities.
  • Take personal ownership for progressing deliverables, maintaining momentum and accountability against agreed plans and deadlines, and escalating barriers to delivery promptly.
  • Plan and structure delivery activities methodically, using project tools and documentation to track milestones and interdependencies.
  • Provide visible and collaborative leadership to matrixed, multidisciplinary teams.
  • Work closely with the Head of Strategic Delivery to ensure that delivery plans across the projects are integrated and achievable.
  • Commission and use data, insight, and evaluation evidence to progress and ensure benefits realisation.
  • Identify risks and interdependencies, taking proactive steps to resolve them.
  • Develop and maintain the cross-unit integrated programme plan, milestones, and critical paths to delivery and the smooth transition of projects to BAU delivery.
  • Monitor programme performance using appropriate tools and techniques and in line with reporting templates.

Stakeholder and Communications Management

  • Build trusted relationships with stakeholders across HMPPS, P&C, and the wider MoJ, providing confident advice and leadership on complex and sensitive change.
  • Prepare and present engaging products (PowerPoint, dashboards, reports) to communicate progress, insights and proposals clearly to senior leaders and governance boards.
  • Lead engagement with recognised Trade Unions and staff networks to secure support and buy-in for policy and procedural changes.
  • Lead on the development of communications and engagement strategies and products to deliver messages and materials that promote understanding and adoption of reforms, supporting managers and staff through change.
  • Represent the P&C perspective at key governance boards and working groups, influencing direction and securing alignment across stakeholders.

Briefing, communications and ministerial and senior stakeholder support

  • Lead the production of high-quality, timely briefings for ministers, senior officials, and external stakeholders (e.g. press enquiries).
  • Coordinate responses to parliamentary questions, FOIs, select committee inquiries, and corporate reporting requirements.
  • Ensure briefing materials are accurate, consistent, and aligned with strategic messaging and establish and oversee a repository of core lines and briefing requests to ensure a clear audit trail.
  • Provide guidance and oversight on PDU submissions to maintain high quality and standards.
  • Develop and manage a comprehensive communications and engagement plan for the PDU.
Team leadership
  • Manage the SEO Strategy and Programme Delivery Manager
  • Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team culture
Knowledge, experience and skills

Essential:

  • Demonstrable experience of successfully managing business change in HR or programme transformation contexts with project management capability and ability to turn strategy into delivery (assessed via CV and statement of suitability)
  • Strong evidence of effective and collaborative leadership in complex, high-profile organisational change with multiple stakeholders including navigating ambiguity and maintaining progress against milestones (assessed via behaviour – working together)
  • Highly organised and methodical, with demonstrable ability to manage competing priorities and deliver at pace to deadlines (assessed via behaviour - delivering at pace)
  • Excellent written and visual communication skills — able to produce concise, compelling board papers, briefings, reports, and presentations for senior stakeholders and respond to requests for written narratives at short notice (assessed via CV and statement of suitability)
  • Strong stakeholder and influencing skills, with the ability to handle sensitive issues with discretion and confidence (assessed via behaviour - communicating and influencing)
  • Proven experience of using evidence, data and organisational insight to inform design, delivery, monitor performance, issues, risks and dependencies, and demonstrate strategic impact (assessed via behaviour – seeing the bigger picture).

Desirable:

  • Experience of leading Trade Union engagement or consultation on people-related change.
  • Line management experience.
  • Understanding of Civil Service governance, ministerial processes, and parliamentary procedures.
  • Familiarity with government planning and reporting frameworks (e.g., Single Departmental Plans, Spending Reviews).

*Please note that whilst we don’t assess or score ‘desirable’ criteria, we may consider evidence provided that demonstrates meeting the desirable elements of the role, only after essential criteria is assessed and where there is a need to differentiate between closely scored candidates.

Application process

Sift Stage

You will be assessed against the Civil service success profiles framework. Please refer to the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade: Success Profiles: Civil Service behaviours - GOV.UK

Experience

Please provide:
  • An anonymous copy of your CV
  • A 500-word statement of suitability to cover the two specific essential points listed above under knowledge, experience and skills.
 

Behaviours

Please provide examples of how you have met each one of the behaviours listed below against the relevant essential criteria above:
  • Working Together (lead behaviour)
  • Communicating and influencing
  • Seeing the Big Picture
  • Delivering at pace
If we receive a large number of applications, we will carry out an initial sift on the statement of suitability.

Interview Stage

Please note that interviews will be carried out remotely via MS Teams.   During the interview, we will be assessing you on Behaviours (listed above) and Strengths from the Success Profiles framework.

Further Information

Please contact Charlotte Jackson, Head of Strategic Delivery, HR HMPPS Programme Delivery Unit, for more information about the role at Charlotte.Jackson@justice.gov.uk

Additional Information

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.

Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised roles: All successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale.  This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) – See Map. All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity). 

For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its location’s respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).

Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.

All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.

Flexible working hours 

The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.

Benefits 

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual Leave

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.

There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

Pension 

The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Training 

The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

Networks 

The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

Eligibility

Staff on fixed term appointments must have been recruited through fair and open competition.

Vacancies advertised “cross-government” are only open to all Civil Service employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) who were appointed on merit following a fair and open competition; or were appointed to a permanent post through an exception in the Civil Service Commissioners' rules.

Support

  • A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
  • Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
  • For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on www.www.GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
  • Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
  • Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.

You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

Civil Service Nationality Rules

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

Reserve list

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.


Contact Information

MoJ:

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference 11768

HMPPS

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference 11768

Application form stage assessments

Behaviours
Behaviours Application Form Question Word Limit
250
Working Together
Communicating and Influencing
Seeing the Big Picture
Delivering at Pace
Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability
Statement of Suitability
Guidance for the Statement of Suitability
A suitability statement is your opportunity to demonstrate how your experience, skills and values align with the job role for a quality assurance and evaluation lead.

Pease provide a 500-word statement of suitability to cover the two specific essential points listed in the Job Description under knowledge, experience and skills.
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
Interviews expected mid to end of December
Behaviours
Working Together
Communicating and Influencing
Seeing the Big Picture
Delivering at Pace
Strengths
Strengths will be assessed but these are not shared in advance. To learn more about Strengths and how they are assessed please click here.
Level of security checks required
Baseline Personnal Security Standard (BPSS)

Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.  Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.