Project Officers

Ministry of Justice; Stevenage; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A governmental department is seeking a Project Officer to facilitate change within delivery teams. You will work closely with change managers, providing support in project execution while ensuring compliance and effective stakeholder engagement. The ideal candidate will possess strong change management skills and experience monitoring performance. This role supports hybrid working arrangements within the UK and offers a comprehensive benefits package, including annual leave and pension contributions.

Benefits

Annual leave of 25 days

Local Government Pension Scheme

Extensive training opportunities

Employee-run support networks

Qualifications

• Experience in liaising with stakeholders and managing relationships.
• Familiarity with change management best practices.
• Ability to monitor performance and deliver reports.

Responsibilities

• Ensure smooth running of Area and National Change Delivery teams.
• Engage with key regional and national stakeholders.
• Support project delivery and compliance with systems.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Change management

Risk management

Performance monitoring

Job description

Role Overview

The Project Officer role is instrumental in ensuring the smooth running of both the Area and National Change Delivery teams. Project Officers will work directly to either Area Change Managers, or in the case of the National Directorates, to the National Head of Change delivery. This role is pivotal in facilitating both the area and national teams to deliver local and national change initiatives. Project Officers will be expected to use digital systems and tools to enable them to provide effective support to their respective teams. As well as providing general secretariat and coordination for the change delivery teams the Project Officers will also be responsible for liaising with the Change Systems Project Officer who will oversee the Gateway Management System (GMS).

Team Role

Team Role: Working collaboratively in order to provide effective secretariat and support to all team colleagues. Provide, and also seek, opportunities to support the professional development of themselves and others where appropriate. To support in the delivery of change initiatives, as appropriate. To uphold civil service values and model principles of equality, diversity, inclusion, and belonging across the team.

Stakeholder Engagement

Stakeholder Engagement: Engage, and build effective relationships, with key regional, or national stakeholders across prisons and probations. Maintain good communication to gather requirements, seek feedback, and provide change updates and milestones.

Compliance

Ensuring compliance with the Gateway Management System (GMS) is a critical aspect of the role. The Project Officer will uphold the professional standards of their team by working in accordance to national expectations as defined in our service level agreement. They will ensure accuracy and completeness of project records and actions and monitor compliance with relevant policies and procedures. In addition they will work collaboratively with Change Systems Project Officers with regards to GMS and Project for the Web.

Change Management Excellence

The Project Officer will support their teams in the application of best practices in change management. They will assist in the management of projects, supporting successful delivery and alignment with organisational goals. Contribution to task and finish groups, project meetings, and focus groups to drive project success.

Performance Monitoring and Reporting

The Project Officer will be responsible for pulling together performance reports for dissemination to the team and other relevant stakeholders. This will require collaborative working with Change Systems Project Officers. In addition, the Project Officers will be responsible for preparing slides and materials for any area Change Boards or similar meetings and also maintain action logs of meetings and chase attendees for outstanding actions. They will be responsible for providing regular project updates to line managers, track the impact of changes based on performance data and they will identify and escalates issues where milestones are missed or progress is not being made.

Risk Management

Proactively identify risks, decisions, and opportunities, and develop maintain and update risk registers for change activity, ensuring all potential risks are documented and communicated effectively.

Continuous Improvement

Apply continuous improvement and lean methodologies to identify system improvements and enhance project delivery. To actively seek ways to improve knowledge of operational change and its potential impacts and share insights with the team.

Working Arrangements

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.

EEO and Disability

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

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.

Behaviours

Behaviours Application Form Question Word Limit 250

• Changing and Improving
• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates In Person Interviews - To be confirmed

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 DBS Standard

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, plus public holidays. Leave for part‑time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro‑rata basis.
• Pension: The National Probation Service is covered by the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) run through the Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF). Please visit www.gmpf.org.uk for further information. Please note: Any current Civil Servant who is a member of the PCSPS, by accepting an offer of employment to the National Probation Services will be opted out of the PCSPS and auto enrolled into the Local Government Pension Scheme.
• 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.
• Eligibility: Staff on fixed‑term appointments must have been recruited through fair and open competition. All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post. 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.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.