Seo Project Management Office Lead

Do you want a career where you can make a real difference to people’s lives?

Do you want to work in a government department where you can help to shape and deliver government’s objectives?

In Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), we are proud of our purpose which is to enable everyone to live more independent, healthier lives for longer. To achieve this and create a great place to work, we have four values: we are inclusive, we constantly improve, we challenge, and we are agile. Our work is varied, interesting and most importantly its impactful. If this sounds like an environment you would like to work in, we’d love to hear from you.

The Adult Social Care (ASC) Group in DHSC leads on all matters relating to adult social care in the department. Putting social care on a sustainable footing, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect, is one of the biggest challenges that our society faces. The role is in the Project Management Office (PMO) within the Data, Assurance and Support (DAS) Division, which oversees delivery of work to improve transparency and accountability in the ASC to drive improvements in quality and outcomes for people who draw on care and support.

You can find more information about this and the wider area of work in ‘Next Steps to put People at the Heart of Care’, and 'Care Data Matters'.

We are looking to recruit a Project Portfolio Management (PPM) professional to support governance across the division and to lead our response to a recent Government Internal Audit Agency (GIAA) report which looks specifically at arrangements and reporting for data projects.

This is a fantastic opportunity to shape and grip wide-ranging development and implementation of changes to governance and reporting arrangements to ensure they are robust and meet established best practice. This includes leading work to ensure (amongst other things) that programmes and projects are: suitably defined, including having proportionate and robust governance frameworks; have benefits and dependencies which are thoroughly mapped; have clear and deliverable roadmaps, project plans and critical paths; that progress against plans is effectively scrutinised and that risks and issues are effectively monitored and mitigated.

The post holder will therefore be expected to use their knowledge and experience to support setting the direction, and then communicate this effectively to mobilise colleagues behind shared goals and deadlines. You will also need to support colleagues to understand PPM/governance requirements, encourage them to prioritise these and support and collaborate with them to ensure high quality outputs are created. This is a priority area for SCS/SRO and you will be supported to have developmental exposure to senior figures when developing and agreeing plans and organising set-piece governance.

The role will suit somebody who is comfortable at working at pace and across boundaries to deliver required results.

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. We also welcome applications from people with experience of working in the social care sector. We view flexible working and inclusive leadership as essential for all our employees. The Department of Health and Social Care is committed to equality of opportunity for all.

Your normal place of work will be your contractual primary workplace, usually either London or Leeds. Within DHSC we offer non-contractual hybrid working. The expectation at present is a minimum of 60% of your working time spent in the office, enabling in person interaction and collaboration and enhancing team working, learning, and support.

You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas and some travel may be required across the DHSC estate.

Opportunities for some working from home may be available; other flexible working options may be discussed with the hiring manager in line with individual circumstances and business need.

There are a limited number of DHSC colleagues who have existing agreed homeworking contracts resulting from Our Future Estate Programme 2023-2024. Colleagues covered by these arrangements are eligible to apply for this role whilst continuing their agreed existing home working arrangement. Occasional travel to DHSC offices or other locations may still be required according to business need. Travel and subsistence will be provided in line with the pre-agreed homeworker arrangements.