Navy Command - IPMO Planning Support Officer

Plymouth, South West England, PL2 2BG

Job Summary

• Devonport Naval Base is the largest Naval Base in Europe. It is a 650 acre site with 15,000 acres of water space, employing 12,000 people on site. The Base is primarily focused on delivering timely deep maintenance to the UK’s submarine fleet. It is also the operating home base for frigates, amphibious Ships, Royal Marines. It employs more than 10% of Plymouth’s workforce and contributes to 14% of Plymouth’s economy.
  
  

Devonport Naval Base is the nerve centre for the Royal Navy in the South West. It supports operations around the globe and provides the ships, submarines, people, and equipment to deliver the UK’s defence policy. Its mission is to meet the support and operating requirements for the Naval Service and UK’s allies, from the South West, reaching worldwide.

The unique opportunities offered within are varied, challenging and exciting and support Navy Command’s role to generate and operate forces for today and to ensure we are ready for tomorrow by developing and delivering the Navy of the future. Navy Command provides an open, flexible and supportive work environment and Civil Servants and Armed Forces personnel work together in a wealth of interesting and challenging jobs in different disciplines, from finance; legal services; personnel and HR; project planning, operations and managing contracts, to media and communications.

The MOD provides an excellent opportunity to develop skills through personal development and offers flexible working, excellent annual leave and maternity allowances and a very competitive pension scheme.

In Navy Command we understand the everyday commitments both inside and outside the workplace, so our aim is to provide the flexibility to maintain a great work-life balance. We also offer an impressive range of on-site facilities including a gymnasium, tennis courts and other sporting facilities, a children’s nursery, food outlets, a handy shop, and some of car parking.

To ensure that no one is put at a disadvantage during the recruitment process due to disability, condition or impairment, our intent is to reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Flexible working is available by agreement with the line manager, but due to the nature of the role, candidates must be prepared to spend the majority of their time on site (Civil Service expectation is 60% presence in office per week).

Job Description

To support the Infrastructure Programme Management Office (IPMO) function by gathering artefacts for an information hub, and carrying out activities in relation to the planning of the Naval Base (NB) Infrastructure Programme, to include, but not limited to, the below activities:

1. Tracking and reporting - liaise with other nominated members of the Nuclear and Non-Nuclear Asset Management Teams to assist the IPMO Manager with the creation and maintenance of 1-year, 3-year and 10-year iterations of the NB Infrastructure Programme, aligned to and embedded within the Infrastructure Portfolio, which reflect all relevant Maintain, Sustain and Change initiatives on site.
2. Tracking and reporting - track measurements and progress of projects and sub-programmes within the NB Infrastructure Programme in order to establish any impact on short-, medium- and long-term planning.
3. Tracking and reporting – work with the IPMO function, Devonport Portfolio Office (DPO) and Industry Partner PMOs to translate the various demand signals into clear project and programme scope requirements. These scope requirements to be managed into delivery via collaborative sentencing meetings and the Infrastructure Programme Steering Group, to agree prioritisation and affordability.
4. Information Management – be responsible for the maintenance of NB Infrastructure Programme planning information, keeping a single version of the truth at each level in an electronic library of programme information. This information to be cognisant of, and aligned to, the Infrastructure Portfolio, held centrally by Babcock.
5. Investment Appraisals - Understand the requirements of JSP655 Investment Appraisals, and HMNB(D) Business Management processes applicable to the approval of Business Cases and Major / Capital Project delivery. Ensure there is a suitable plan in place for the Approvals and Scrutiny process on a project-by-project and programme basis, including clarity regarding when projects move between the Infrastructure and MPP Delivery Teams.
6. Financial accounting - assist the IPMO Mgr with budget planning for the NB Infrastructure Programme and its deliverable sub-programmes, maintaining close links with the Senior Project Manager responsible for Major Projects Delivery and his embedded PMO Team to maintain the holistic view and input required for Annual Budgetary Cycle submissions.
7. Risk and issue tracking - ensure that POL risks and NB Infrastructure Programme Delivery Risks are supported by appropriate mitigations, including bespoke projects to address these risks where necessary. The risks identified and their mitigation plans should be stored centrally to enable ease of access for Risk reporting into the Estates Director and NBC as required.
8. Risk and issue tracking – ensure that a regular drumbeat of meetings is diarised to facilitate upward reporting of Risks at a project, programme and portfolio level, including interfaces with the Estates Director via the Infrastructure Programme Governance Group, and NBC as SRO via the Infrastructure Programme Sponsor Board.
9. Stakeholder Management - Maintain an up-to-date list of stakeholders and their interests relevant to Infrastructure planning, stored centrally and aligned to the NB Infrastructure Programme Delivery Teams’ Stakeholder Lists.
10. Stakeholder Management – Work with the IPMO Mgr to develop and maintain a Communications Plan relevant to the Stakeholder List and Stakeholder Management Strategy, taking into consideration any relevant direction and Lines To Take from Defence, Navy Command and NBC(D).
11. Quality Control - establish consistent practices and standards in project and programme planning in line with P3M best practice. Ensure that there are templates held centrally which reflect planning milestones in terms of approvals, pre-construction, construction and handover phases of project development and delivery. Seek to align these with other workstreams within the Infrastructure Portfolio (e.g. the Capex Programme) where possible.
12. Change control - register changes for subsequent investigation and resolution in relation to the NB Infrastructure Programme, monitoring items identified as requiring action, promoting timely actions, and producing a plan for when these will be carried out.
13. Provide timely and appropriate management information to Infrastructure reporting systems, under the guidance of the IPMO Mgr.
14. Ensure compliance with appropriate MoD, DIO and Government policy and processes, in terms of project planning, monitoring, control, quality and assurance activity and records.
15. Contribute to the composition and maintenance of a dossier of programme/project documentation, utilising MSP and APM or equivalent guidance, tailored to individual project needs.
16. Assist the IPMO Mgr, MPP PMO Mgr, DPO and other key stakeholders in contributing to a L0 programme of site integration activities in relation to the impact of the MPP.
17. Build positive relations with other MOD and Industry Partner PMO teams to ensure alignment in terms of project and programme planning in relation to the Infrastructure Portfolio.
18. Represent the IPMO team on committees, sub-committees and working groups as directed by the line manager, chairing meetings as required.
19. Provide NB Infrastructure Programme planning updates to the Line Manager.
20. Contribute to formal Learning from Experience (LFE) reviews throughout the process at key milestones and ensure that these are captured in accordance with MoD policy.
21. Contribute to the preparation of reports for the NBC(D) Directorate, Navy Command and Devonport Programme Boards relating to aspects associated to planning of projects within the NB Infrastructure Programme as required.
22. Act as guide for VIP and TSP (or their specialists) visits to projects being undertaken at HMNB(D).
23. Carry out any other reasonable tasks as requested by the IPMO Manager.

• Minimum Level 4 in Project Management or equivalent, or other relevant experience in lieu at the discretion of the Infrastructure Director.

• Extensive and demonstrable experience in Project Management

• MSP
• Mandatory Local HMNB(D) Training
• Continued Professional Development in line with APM requirements
• Asset Management Training
• MS Project Training

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Working Together
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Working Together

Alongside your salary of £36,530, the Ministry of Defence contributes £10,582 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.

The post does not offer relocation expenses.

External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.

Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.

Any move to MOD 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/.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.

MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours.

Sift & Interview to be held at HMNB Devonport, dates TBC.

During the Application stage, candidates will be assessed against the following behaviours:

• Leadership
• Seeing the Bigger Picture
• Working Together

When choosing your Behaviour examples, please make sure you use real life scenarios that relate to your own experiences. Whilst technology may help to enhance your written submission, presenting the ideas of others or those generated by technology, could result in your application being rejected.

During the Interview stage, candidates will be assessed against the following behaviours:

• Working Together
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk.

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came in to effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system.

Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard checks.

Open to UK nationals only.

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.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

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.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

• Name : Nicholas Bidwell
• Email : nicholas.bidwell100@mod.gov.uk

• Email : DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk

Further information
Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address: Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email: info@csc.gov.uk.