Project Manager
Office for National Statistics
Apply before 11:55 pm on Thursday 7th November 2024
Details
Reference number
Salary
Job grade
Contract type
Business area
Type of role
Project Delivery
Quality
Senior leadership
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
ONS operates a flexible hybrid working model across the UK, with colleagues linked to one of our contractual locations in Newport, Darlington & Titchfield (Fareham) and working between office and remote throughout the week.
As part of the hybrid working arrangement there is a 40% minimum office attendance requirement. Attendance is typically at your contractual office, with occasional travel to alternative locations. Due to estates constraints, there are currently temporary exceptions to this for colleagues based at Darlington who are required to attend the office for a minimum of 20% of their work time
This post is available for eligible colleagues with greater flexibility on attendance (which includes those on Homeworking contracts) to apply. Candidates will need to discuss their current greater flexibilities with the Hiring Manager to agree an arrangement that meets the needs of the individual circumstances and on-going needs of the business.
About the job
Job summary
Discover an exciting opportunity as a Project Manager within the UK's Largest Independent Producer of Official Statistics.
In this pivotal role, you will lead and manage projects and project teams on a daily basis. As the Project Manager, you will drive and oversee project delivery, ensuring that objectives are clearly defined and met within established time, cost, and quality parameters. You will play a crucial role in project governance, collaborating with stakeholders to guarantee that the agreed-upon outputs are achieved, ultimately enabling the realisation of benefits. Join us and be a part of shaping data-driven decision-making at the forefront of statistical excellence!
Job description
As the Project Manager you will take the lead on a project within our comprehensive transformation portfolio where you will collaborate with a diverse range of stakeholders, including team members, government officials, and external partners, to establish clear project goals and deliverables. You will play a vital role in developing comprehensive project plans, monitoring progress, and ensuring that timelines, budgets, and quality standards are consistently met.
Your leadership will be essential in fostering a collaborative and motivated project team, providing guidance and support to ensure high performance and alignment with organisational objectives. You will also be responsible for identifying and mitigating risks, addressing challenges as they arise, and communicating project updates to stakeholders.
This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to important national initiatives and support data-driven decision-making. If you are passionate about project management and making a difference through impactful statistical work, we invite you to apply and join our mission at the Office for National Statistics.
Project delivery assignments are time bound with each assignment having specific timelines for completion. When an assignment concludes, or when priorities shift, you will be reassigned based on current demands and organisational needs.
Responsibilities
Project Leadership and Management
- Lead the project to achieve outcomes within time, cost, and quality limits.
- Manage day-to-day project operations and provide strong leadership and oversight.
- Design the project structure and organisation based on its current stage.
Planning and Development
- Develop and draft the Business Case with input from specialists as needed.
- Create and monitor the project budget, ensuring delivery stays within constraints.
- Maintain the Project Plan and set appropriate project control.
Team Management and Development
- Identify skill requirements and allocate resources effectively.
- Manage a medium-sized team, providing support, guidance, and coaching.
- Promote personal development and high team performance.
Benefits Realisation
- Deliver the benefits outlined in the Business Case.
- Establish a Benefits Realisation Strategy to track long-term outcomes.
Stakeholder Engagement
- Build and manage relationships with stakeholders, securing necessary senior-level support.
- Identify and monitor stakeholder needs throughout the project lifecycle.
Risk Management
- Identify and monitor project risks and issues, developing mitigation strategies.
- Collaborate with related projects to manage interdependencies.
Governance and Reporting
- Support effective governance and decision-making, providing regular reports.
- Engage in assurance reviews and act on recommendations.
Change Management
- Implement Change Management processes to document and agree on changes to deliverables.
Communication and Vision
- Communicate the project vision and translate it into clear objectives for the team.
- Manage performance and report progress to sponsors.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
- Leading the successful delivery of projects within budget, time, quality and user expectations across the whole project life cycle, tailoring their approach and applying the appropriate frameworks, methodologies, standards, tools and techniques.
- Active management of project plans, risks, issues, dependencies, and assumptions. Identifying threats and opportunities that arise, understanding their impact on key objectives - taking the appropriate approach to their management.
- Supporting decision-making by identifying, interpreting, analysing, and presenting information. Specifically providing detailed insightful reporting and clear briefings on complex issues to senior stakeholders and chairing boards within a formal governance framework.
- Management of a complex workload. Using innovative approaches and personal resilience to respond quickly and decisively to changing and challenging priorities and deadlines to deliver valued outcomes.
- Successfully leading across functional and organisational boundaries. Specifically, evidence of influencing decision-making through strong, collaborative relationships, inspiring and motivating people by providing clear direction amidst uncertainty, role modelling appropriate behaviors, and challenging inappropriate ones
Useful Information
- Find out more about what we do, the opportunities available and benefits we offer on our 'Careers that Count' video
- Join us on Thursday 24th October at 13:00 for an exclusive engagement session tailored for prospective Project Manager applicants at the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This is your chance to hear from current Project Delivery Professionals and gain insights into the dynamic role of a Project Manager within our organisation.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Communicating and Influencing
- Making Effective Decisions
- Delivering at Pace
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Planning (Practitioner Level) - Project Delivery Capability Framework
- Frameworks & Methodologies (Practitioner Level) - Project Delivery Capability Framework
Benefits
The Office for National Statistics is part of the Civil Service, and as such we share a number of key benefits with other departments, whilst also having our own unique offerings to support our 5400 valued colleagues across the business.
Whether you are hearing about us for the first time or already know a bit about our organisation, we hope that the benefits pack attached (bottom of page) will give you a great insight into the benefits and facilities available to our colleagues, and our fantastic working culture.
Inclusion & Accessibility
At ONS we are always looking to attract the very best people from the widest possible talent pool, and we are proud to be an inclusive, equal opportunities employer. As a member of the Business Disability Forum and a Disability Confident Leader we’re committed to ensuring that all candidates are treated fairly throughout the recruitment process.
As part of our application process, you will be prompted to provide details of any reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process that you need. If you would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments before applying, please contact the recruitment team in the first instance.
If you would like an accessible version of any of the attachments or recruitment documents below or linked to in this advert, please contact the recruitment team who will be happy to assist.
ONS are committed to flexible ways of working that support a healthy work-life balance. ONS has already considered how this job could be right sized for applicants working flexibly and we are happy to explore options with you about working part time, in a job share or flexibly, in line with our hybrid working policies.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Security Clearance
The requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for 3 consecutive years immediately prior to applying.
A lack of UK residency in itself is not always a bar to security clearance but the Department will need to consider eligibility by exception on a case-by-case basis. You will be asked to provide information regarding your UK residency during your application, and failure to provide this will result in your application being rejected.
If you are unsure that you meet the eligibility above, please contact the recruitment email on the advert before applying to discuss, as failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected and any offer of employment being withdrawn.
At the point of SC application you will need to provide or give access to the following evidence:
- Departmental or company records (personnel files, staff reports, sick leave reports and security records)
- UK criminal records covering both spent and unspent criminal records
- Your credit and financial history with a credit reference agency
- Security Services records
Applicants may utilise AI resources in their submissions; ensuring all information provided is factually accurate, truthful, and original, avoiding any form of plagiarism to maintain the authenticity and credibility of the application process.
Please note that all campaigns may be subject to withdrawal at any stage if the internal resource position changes.
Assessment at application stage will be based on your work history, skills and experience and personal statement. Your application should be tailored to demonstrate any skills, knowledge and experience that are relevant to the content of the role.
In your personal statement you are required to answer the question below using up to 750 words
- Describe how you've led a high complexity project using a combination of delivery frameworks or methodologies. How did you determine the appropriate mix, and what strategies did you use to ensure effective coordination and successful project delivery?
The question require a response. As this response to the question is scored, we would recommend that you give a clear example including the impact of your actions.
In cases where there is a high number of applications the sift pass mark may be adjusted and candidates will be invited to interview in merit order, i.e., those scoring the highest.
Should you be invited to interview you will be assessed against all the behaviours and technical skills as outlined in the advert.
A presentation may be required at interview. Further information will be provided to shortlisted candidates prior to interview.
Interviews will be held via video conferencing.
A reserve list may be held for a period up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made.
Sift will take place from 11th November 2024
Interviews will take place from 18th November 2024
Dates are subject to change
Civil Service Online Test
Upon submission of your Part 1 application form you will be sent an invitation to complete a Civil Service Management Judgement online test.
There will be full instructions on how to complete the test including an opportunity to practice before undertaking the actual test. These tests are not time limited.
If you pass the test for this vacancy, you will be invited to complete the final stage of your application, this is where you will provide information such as your work history. Skills and experience and your personal statement.
If you fail the test your application will not proceed to the next stage.
For the full terms and conditions of the post, please see attachment below.
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 : planning.and.portfolio.management@ons.gov.uk
- Email : planning.and.portfolio.management@ons.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : Recruitmentoperations@ons.gov.uk
Further information
