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General Information

Salary
The national salary range is £54,148, London salary range is £57,580 - £59,366. Your salary will be dependent on your base location
Working Pattern
Full Time, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
Internal
Location
National
Region
National
Closing Date
14-Sep-2026
Business Unit
AGY - NOMS Agency
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
SEO
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
21215

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Introduction to the role 

The Improvement Support Group (ISG), within the Directorate of Prison Operations, plays a key role in supporting prisons and probation services to continually improve the quality and effectiveness of frontline delivery across HMPPS. 

Working alongside operational colleagues, ISG identifies opportunities for improvement, develops practical guidance and evidence-based tools, shares effective practice, and provides targeted specialist support. Through this work, ISG helps frontline services achieve better outcomes for staff, service users and the wider organisation. 

The Programme Delivery Specialist is part of the Project Support Unit (PSU), which sits at the centre of ISG's delivery function. The PSU provides the coordination, governance and assurance required to manage a diverse portfolio of projects, programmes and priority business-as-usual activity. It ensures work is effectively planned, prioritised and delivered in line with organisational needs, applying proportionate oversight based on scale, complexity and risk. 

As a strategic enabler, the PSU supports informed decision-making, promotes evidence-based practice, drives consistency and efficiency, and helps ISG respond effectively to changing organisational priorities. 

Role purpose

As a Programme Delivery Specialist, you will play a key role in helping ISG deliver its priorities and maximise its impact across HMPPS. 

Working within the Project Support Unit (PSU), you will provide project and delivery support across a diverse portfolio of projects, programmes and priority business-as-usual activity. You will help ensure work is effectively planned, coordinated and monitored, applying proportionate governance, assurance and controls to support successful delivery. 

The role requires collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders, bringing together information, evidence and insight to support informed decision-making. You will contribute to planning and prioritisation, monitor progress and risks, support governance and reporting processes, and identify opportunities to improve ways of working.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys bringing structure to complex work, improving processes, and supporting effective delivery across a diverse portfolio. Through your contribution, you will help strengthen organisational capability, enhance delivery standards, and ensure ISG continues to provide high-quality improvement support that contributes to better outcomes across prison and probation services. 

Key responsibilities

Project and priority work support

  •  Act as the main point of contact for a range of projects and priority initiatives, providing practical support to help ensure work is delivered successfully.
  • Work closely with project and workstream leads to plan, coordinate and organise activity, including defining objectives, scoping work, engaging stakeholders and developing communication plans.
  • Help identify, monitor and report on project benefits, risks, issues and dependencies, ensuring potential challenges are recognised and managed effectively.
  • Provide flexible and proportionate project support, adapting your approach to meet the needs and complexity of different pieces of work. 

Assurance, evidence and continuous improvement

  • Support assurance activities by helping teams learn from experience, assess impact and manage risks and issues in a structured way.
  • Gather, analyse and present information, data and insights to support evidence-based decision-making and continuous improvement.
  • Promote the use of Continuous Improvement and Human Factors approaches to help improve delivery, performance and outcomes across ISG.
  • Identify opportunities to improve processes, increase efficiency and strengthen the way projects and priority work are delivered. 

Digital, data and capability building

  • Provide advice and support on the effective use of digital tools, including SharePoint and Power BI, to help teams plan, manage and monitor their work.
  • Help develop and maintain tools, templates and guidance that support consistent and effective project delivery across ISG.
  • Support colleagues in making the most of Microsoft 365 applications and emerging technologies by sharing knowledge, coaching others and promoting best practice.
  • Contribute to the development of innovative and efficient ways of working through the effective use of data and technology. 

Stakeholder engagement, communications and governance

  • Develop positive working relationships with colleagues and stakeholders across HMPPS and partner organisations to support successful delivery.
  • Help plan and deliver communications that promote ISG's work, priorities and objectives.
  • Provide high-quality governance and secretariat support for senior boards and meetings, including coordinating agendas, preparing papers, tracking actions and supporting follow-up activity.
  • Ensure stakeholders have the information they need to make informed decisions and monitor progress effectively.

Leadership and people management

  • Provide advice and insight to the PSU Programme Manager, highlighting emerging risks, issues and opportunities.
  • Contribute to a positive, inclusive and collaborative team culture that supports continuous improvement and high performance.
  • Line manage staff where required, helping them develop their skills, build confidence and achieve their objectives.
  • Act as a role model for professional and effective ways of working, supporting colleagues to deliver their best work. 

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The Job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant adjustments may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation scheme and shall be discussed in the first instance with the Job Holder. 

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). 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, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks.

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.

Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week excluding breaks which are unpaid. HMPPS 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 HMPPS’ Flexible Working policy.

If you are a current NPS employee, this vacancy may be available on a Loan basis for up to 2 years. Applications are invited from suitable qualified staff.

The Loan/Secondment is subject to the approval of the selected candidate's Business Unit, which should be obtained before confirmation of appointment.

Benefits

Annual Leave

-The holiday year runs from 1 March. If you work a non standard work pattern your leave entitlement may be expressed in either hours or days as appropriate. Leave entitlement is calculated on a pro-rata basis and you will be advised of your actual entitlement on appointment. If you were appointed internally and your leave was previously calculated in days, this will continue to be the case.

Bank, Public and Privilege Holidays

-You are entitled to 9 days (66 hours 36 minutes) in recognition of bank, public and privilege holidays.

Pension

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

Work Life Balance

HM Prison & Probation Service  (HMPPS) is keen to encourage alternative working arrangements. Work life balance provides greater opportunities for staff to work more flexibly wherever managers and establishments can accommodate requests to do so. HMPPS offers flexible working subject to completion of a satisfactory probationary period and NVQ

Season Ticket Advance

-After two months’ service, you’ll be eligible to apply for a season ticket advance to purchase a quarterly or longer-period season ticket for travel between home and your place of work

Childcare Vouchers

For any moves across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers

Training

HMPPS is committed to staff development and offers a range of training and development opportunities, including areas such as Equality and Diversity, Dealing with Challenging Behaviour, Suicide Prevention and Anti Bullying Programmes

-There are opportunities to access promotion programmes and HMPPS provides a variety of training appropriate to individual posts

-All staff receive security and diversity training and an individual induction programme into their new roles

Eligibility

-All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post

-All external candidates are subject to 6 months probation. Internal candidates are subject to probation if they have not already served a probationary period within HMPPS

-All staff are required to declare whether they are a member of a group or organisation which the HMPPS considers to be racist

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.

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

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:

  • UK nationals
  • nationals of the Republic of Ireland
  • nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
  • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
  • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
  • individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
  • Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

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: 21215

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: 21215

Please contact Mike.Smith@justice.gov.uk if you have any questions regarding this vacancy.

Application form stage assessments

Behaviours
A sift based on the lead behaviour, Managing a Quality Service, may be held if a large number of applications are received. If a large number of applications remain after the initial sift, your application will be progressed to a full sift, where all behaviours will then be considered.
Behaviours Application Form Question Word Limit
250
Communicating and Influencing
Leadership
Managing a Quality Service
Seeing the Big Picture
Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
TBC
Behaviours
Communicating and Influencing
Leadership
Managing a Quality Service
Seeing the Big Picture
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.

Other Assessments

Which assessment methods will be used?
Presentation
Level of security checks required
DBS Standard

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.