Portfolio Manager
Forestry Commission
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 10th November 2024
Details
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Loan
Secondment
Length of employment
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Environment and Sustainability
Project Delivery
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Contents
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About the job
Job summary
Forest Services (FS)as part of Forestry Commission are the Government’s forestry experts. We advise nationally and locally on how to unlock the full potential of woodlands and support the forestry sector to protect, improve and expand England’s valuable woodland assets, ensuring that they continue to provide benefits to people, the environment and the economy.
We are looking for a positive person with substantial experience of programme and project management to join us. You will work closely with our change and development teams, and with business experts across Forest Services to define and manage a portfolio of business transformation projects.
If you are passionate about the role of forestry in creating a better future for England, and want to play a key part in that, we want to hear from you.
Job description
Purpose of the job
As Portfolio Manager for Forest Services you will:
- Define and manage the business transformation portfolio for Forest Services and lead key transformation projects
- Act as project management lead for Forest Services, with responsibility for project management tools and templates and the associated upskilling of staff
Key work areas
You will:
- Lead the development of a portfolio of business change and development projects for Forest Services, establishing a prioritisation framework and appropriate governance
- Actively manage the portfolio including:
- the overall portfolio plan, with key milestones and decisions to support delivery
- allocation of resource to agreed priority projects (and reprioritise as necessary)
- management of risks, assumptions, issues, and dependencies via a RAID log
- the effective operation of the Portfolio Evaluation Board
- progress reporting as required to Forest Services Executive Team, and to other governance groups
- working closely with the strategy and business planning team to ensure transformation projects are aligned with FS strategy and are included within the business planLead specific transformation projects, from concept phase through to benefits realisation
- Lead the ongoing development of the project management toolkit and establishment of a regular review cycle
- Lead the upskilling of staff across FS in project management (working closely with the Learning and Development team)
- Directly line manage a team of up 6 project managers, coaching them to effective delivery and ensuring their continuing professional development
- Make an active contribution to wider business transformation team’s work as a senior manager within the team.
Person specification
ESSENTIAL
An experienced project and portfolio manager, you will also have:
- Excellent people management skills (both directly and through matrix management)
- Experience of leading the development and continual review of project management tools and templates
- Excellent knowledge of the government project delivery profession and associated standards
- A recognised project, programme or portfolio management qualification
- Experience of working with multiple internal and external stakeholders
- Experience of leading business case development for projects
- Proven ability to deliver at pace
- Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
Qualifications
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Making Effective Decisions
- Working Together
- Changing and Improving
- Delivering at Pace
Benefits
- Civil Service pension.
- A range of family friendly benefits.
- An environment with flexible working options.
- Learning and development tailored to your role.
- A culture which promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment.
- A range of wellbeing benefits including discounted Civil Service Healthcare, access to an Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, Bike to Work Scheme, plus many more.
- 25 days annual leave, with 1 additional day for each years’ service up to 5 years (pro rata), plus 10.5 bank holidays/privilege days (pro rata).
- Ability to buy or sell 5 days annual leave.
- 3 days volunteering per year (pro rata).
We aim to provide a great place to work, whichever location you work from. Blended working forms part of our flexible and inclusive approach to future ways of working. It is an informal arrangement which gives you the option to work some of the week from home, and some of the week from our Forestry Commission workplaces, subject to role requirements, business needs, and regular review. Informal blended working arrangements will be available as agreed with the line manager. Further information will be available for candidates invited to interview.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This is a Fixed Term Appointment until 31st August 2026, with the possibility of extension or permanency but no guarantee.
As part of the application process, you will complete the following:
- A tailored CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years. The CV will be split into 2 parts and request: Job History, Full Qualification Details.
- A personal statement- in no more than 750 words please provide details of how you meet the criteria of the person specification.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
At interview, you will be assessed against Behaviours, Experience and Strengths skills. You will also be asked to prepare a presentation.
Indicative timeline:
- Shortlisting to take place w/c 11th November 2024
- Interviews to be carried out w/c 18th November 2024
Please be aware dates may be subject to change for both sifting and interviews.
We will be conducting online interviews with the use of Microsoft Teams or equivalent online communication methods. Candidates would therefore require access to a computer and internet at interview stage.
Further Information
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Any move to Forestry Commission from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.
However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.
Where a role has been identified as one which falls under the scope of the Public Sector English Language Requirements, within Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016, it is essential that applicants should have the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English. Applicants will be assessed in the selection process in accordance with the requirements.
This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.
Successful candidates if using their own private vehicle for business travel will need to comply with the Forestry Commission travel policy on CO2 emissions (115g maximum CO2/km from April.
Reasonable Adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
Contact Government Recruitment Service via fcerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : FS Recruitment Team
- Email : fs.recruitment@forestrycommission.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : fcerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
